, 1888-01-15
STILL HUNTING FOR DEER.
The Utmost Caution and Patience Re
quired on the Part OF the Hunter.

The Utmost Caution and Patience Re-
CURED on the Part OF the Hunter.
The visitor today of our city markets
at the present season, seeing n row Of
deer ~carcasses hanging before him, would
be apt to assume that it must he very
easy to kill such large game. But if he
should venture into the woods with n
rifle, intent on shooting n deer. he Would
find it a very difficult undertaking.
There are two ways of shooting deer,
hunting with dogs and stalking. The lat
ter is the method adopted by the hunters
who supply u markets, and is the most
effective way. Hunting with n pack of
keen noscd dogs is fine sport, for the
music of the pack thrills the nerves. and
as it approaches the hunter he brace,
himself to ice the game and bring it
down. But in still hunting a knowledge
of woodcraft is necessary. The mar who
shoots deer for sport alone usually tries
to kill bucks with their branching antlers.
and is content with the possession of n
magnificent head as trophy of the chase.
The still hunter for market venison is
humber minded but wiser in his pur-
pose, for it is the doc or the y%earling
which affords tho best vcnison, being free
from the musky odor so noticeable in all
bucks. A deer hanging mt the door of a
restaurant is one thing. Alive and on
the alert in its native Willis is quite
another.
The men who shoot deer for the money
earned in the pursuit, being inhabitants
of the ~ncighborhood and familiar with
the ground and every trick and device of
the game, arc the most successful hum
tors. They are deeply learned in wood
craft, and have a natural bent for follow
ing the track of n browsing deer until
they come within range and sight.
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 a deer is his quick
ness to notice n movement, no matter
how slight. The hunter slowly raises his
head over II ridge or n fallen log rs lie
creeps from one tree to another, yet the
deer instantly detects it unless the move
ment is made when the animal has its
head down while feeding or walking.
Having discovered his quarry the still
hunter now exercises the utmost care and
calls on his stock of patience. Crouch
ing and watchful, the hunter always
waits until the deer lowers his read 10
feed before he endeavors to creep "A foo.
or two nearer.
Not being yet within fair shooting dis
lance, for the still hunter takes no rash
chances, the deer is kept i'll sight and
allowed to feed AT ms leisure; the dis
lance being gradually and carefully re-
duced at every opportunity, A young
buck is n 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 for n 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 ycarlings are apt to be frisky
at this time, while even an old buck or
doe will sometimes condescend to romp
with the young ones.
This over, the deer takes to wander
ing, nibbliug as it goes. AT length the
animal takes a stand and remains almost
motionless for from five to even twenty
minutes. The hunter now steals for
ward inch by inch until within range
then up goes the trusty rifle, n careful
sight is taken at the g~listening coat, and
the next instant the echoes ring with the
report of the weapon, the peculiar dull
sound of the bullet striking the deer, tell.
ing 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 eye of the
hunter is fixed upon the one he has just
covered, and rs he rushes forward he
gees the races of blood in the track and
follows it. If the bullet has struck a
vital spot he has seldom to go far before
he either overtakc6 the dying animal or
finds it stretched in the last agonics, its
large eyes full of tears at the cruelty that
has caused its pain.-New York Press.