Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-12-24

moose 10 Maine, the Northwestern
States and Canada, and the sportsman
who desires 70 bag a grizzly bear may
still ind an occasional member Of the
Ursus hOrribIlis family in California
and other States.
The American elk, or moose. as 10 is
more popularity known, is one Of the
grandest targets the Yankee sportsman
ever draws bead on. 10 excelS all
other existing deer is size and ST ength,
aud is wary and courageous enough 70
satisfy the most eXactlng hunters fan
CT. A big bull moose sometimes has
autlers five feet across from tip % tip
and a temper OF immese proportions,
especially when be is wounded and
brought 20 bay by an adventurous sports
man. Such big fellow will weigh half
a ton or mere, and when be lowers his
immense horns, gets his sharp hOOfed
fore feet ready for a deadly strike, and
bears down upon q hunter In q mad
charge, the latter will find excitement
enough TO last-a lifetime crowded into
the few seconds that follow:
Those few seOOcds, too, may easily be
his last II he Is not quick Of eye aud
foot and accurate Of aim. A misstep, a
bad attack Of chuck fever that causes
a wild shot, or a cartridge that fails TO
20 of when 10 is needed as never before
and the nimrOd may be a dead man 10 a
few moments unless he can reach and
mount friendly tree. AS a usual
thing, however, the moose considers
prudence the better part Of vaIOr and
will trOt away with extraordinary speed
unless enraged by wounds, cOrnered or
attacked IN September aud October, the
months when the moose pair and when
the males are very fer0ciOus.
The female moose leaves the fighting
TO the bulls ordinarily, but when with
her young she proves very dangerous
foe 90 the hunter. September and
March are considered the best months
for moose hunting, for 10 the former
month the antlered monarch Of the for
est Is 10 his prime, and in the latter the
crust aids the hunter and makes the
moose an easy prey. The true sports
man, however, rarely demeaIs himself
by resorting to "crust hunting" for In
such sport the moose has little chance
foe his life, and one OF the honest MIN
rods cardinal principles is that game
should not be taken by an unfair adyan-
tage. In crust hunting the hunter easi-
IN glides over the hard snow on snow
shoes, but the moose breaks through
and can be run down with comparative
ease. When exhausted the bull moose
will return GA the enemy and make
desperate eight for life.
There are probably more moose in
Maine than 10 any other State 10 the
Union TIE reason Of this is the fact
that lt costs 500 90 shoot COW or calf
moose at any time in the State, and bull
moose can only be legally shot during
October, November and December. The
result Of this far sighted policy is that
that there are from $500 TO 5000 moose
now ranging the woods Of the Pine
Tree State. Ii is asserted that the
Maine moose is a very knowing crea-
ture and thoroughly posted on inter
national law. In proof Of this state
ment it is said that the moment
Maine moose learns that a
Yankee hunter Is on its trail 10
strikes a fast trot makes q Decline for
the Canadian frontier aud never stops
TO bite of a single twig until something
tells It that the British flag is waving
above 10. When a Canadian hunter goes
cunning for this student OF the game
laws 10 concludes that there is nothing
the matter with the United States and
proceeds % get into Maine with speed
ana dispatch. Audubon once said that
the head of the moose reminded him Of