The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-02-03
Still Hunting for Deer.

The visitor to-day of our city mar
kets at the present season, seeing a row
OF deer carcassed hanging before him,
would be apt to assume that it must be
very easy 20 kill such large game. But
If he should venture into the woods with
rifle. intent on shooting deer, he would
find it a very difficult undertaking.
There are two ways of shooting deer,
hunting with dogs and stalking. The
latter is the method adopted by the
hunters who supply our markets, and is
the most effective way. Hunting with
pack of keen nosed dogs is find sport,
for the music of the pack thrills the
nerves, and IS it approaches the hunter
he braces himself TO face the game and
bring it down. But in still hunting a
knowledge of woodcraft is necessary.
The man who shoots deer for sport alone
usually tries to kill bucks with their
branching antlers, and is col.ent with
the possession of magnificent head as
u trophy of the chase. The still hunter
for market venison is humber minded
but wiser in his purpose, for it Is the
doe or the yearling which affords the
best venison, being free from the musky
odor so noticeable IN all bucks. A deer
hanging ut the door of restaurant is
one thing. Alive and on the alert IN its
native wilds is quite another.
The men who shoot deer for the money
earned in the pursuit, being inhabitants
of the neighborhood and familiar with
the ground and every trick and device
rof the game. are the most successful
hunters. They are deeply learned in
woodcraft, and have a natural bent for
following the track of a browsing deer
until they come within range and sighs.
When much hunted the ears of deer
Become very acute, and then he is very !
difficult to approach. One of the most !
marvellous traits of deer is his quick |
ness to notice a movement, no matter /
how slight. The hunter slowly raises |
his head over ridge OF fallen log as he |
creeps from one tree TO another, yet the /
deer instantly detects it unless the move
ment is made when the animal has It's 4
head down while feeding or walking.
Having discovered his quarry the stIll /
hunter now exercised the utmost care
and calls on his stock of patience. |
Cyouehing and watchtul, the hunter
always waits until the deer lowers his |
head TO seed before he endeavors TO |
creep a foot or two nearer. I
Not being yet within fair shooting dis !
tDnce, for the still hunter takes no rash |
chanches, the deer is kept in sight and |
allowed 20 feed at his leisure (; the dis |
tance being gradually and carefully re-
duced at evrry opportunity. y young
buck is a gentleman of elegant leisure,
and aristocratic in his bearing and man. |
ner. Having satisfied his appetite, and |
Ignorant of the presence of danger, he !
stands tor a few minutes and surveys
the scene, then he may put down his |
head and scratch an ear with his hind |
foot, giving the hunter an opportunity
TO steal forward. Fawns will skip and !
play after feeding, and yearlings are apt |
to be frisky at this time, while even an
old buck or doe will sometimes conde-
scend to romp with the young ones.
This over, the deer takes to wander |
ing, nibbling as he goes. At length the |
animal takes a stand and remains al |
most motionless for from five TO even |
twenty minutes. The hunter now steals |
forward zach by inch until within range |
then up goes the trusty rifle, a careful! |
sight is taken at the glistening coat, and !
the next instant the echoes ring with !
the report of the weapon, the peculiar
dull sound of the bullet striking the
deer, telling the trained ear of the
hunter that his aim was a true one.
Then the brush seems alive as the deer
go crashing through the bushes but
the eve of the hunter is fixed upon the
one he has just covered, and as he rush
es forward he sees the traces Of blood on
the track and follows it. If the bullet
has struck vital spot he has seldom
to 60 far before he either oYertakes the
dying animal or finds it stretched in the
last agonies, its large eyes full of tears
at the cruelty that has caused its pain.