The morning call., 1893-03-22
SHARING A CARIBOU.
How 1t Is Done by Guides in the
Wilderness of Maine.
Lewiston Evening Journal

4-S"iStNA i@fI4l4lS q Jul H"4-
] was on a hunting trip with Jules Iris
tam in the Eagle Lake region. The third
day out we had struck the track of a carl
bOu, sighted it once or twice, but never
came near enough to get a shot, though for
eighteen hours we tramped aud plowed our
way through the thick wood and treacher-
Gus underground in the animals rear. To
atone for this the NaraGuaguS hunter pro-
posed that we snare one.
go ahead" | said, for though a trife in
credulous, having never trapped anything
larger than a rabbit myself, if IL could be
done l certainly wished TO see it.
Oar camp was pitched on the shores of a
small pond. The country around US was
thckly tlmbered. a coupla Of miles to the
north Jules had noticed caribou run lead
ing in from the hills to the water and it
was along this pathway, leading in and out
among the trees like clearly defined cow
path, that he proposed to put this plan int
operation.
BY way of appliances Jules carried an ak
and coil of stout wire, and, selecting
spot where the trees were thckest and
most regular, he was soon at work. HIS
scheme was simple and looked effective. 1t
was to erect a barrier directly across the
run, leaving an opening in Ii about four
feet from the ground and adjusting moose
fastened to a sapling in such manner that
a caribou in attempting to force his way
through would get hung up like jack
rabbit.
The barrier was built of branches freshly
cut, woven in and out to give the appearance
of a natural hedge but yet stout enough 20
offer considerable resistance to an animal
attempting TO pass it. The hole left in it
was about in the cen.eT, and large enough
for a caribou, stOOping, to get its antlers
through. The moose was the size of the
opening, cunningly concealed from view,
and the young rec to which it was attached
stood some twelve feet back like a tail auc-
ti1neer, tough and strong, but with plenty
OF spring and give.
Two hours was my friend Jules in con-
structrg the eXtempOre galows. Then
turning 10 me he offered to bet that inside
of three days it would have an occupant.
Partly for deyllment, partly from doubt,
took him up, as the saying is, and new hat
hung on the hanging OF that caribou.
On the way back jules explained that the
efficiency of the trap rested on the fact that
animals of the horned species, once accus-
toned to run, will not be lightly turned out
of 1t, but will try to effect passage through
anything in their way, and the hole locking
10 be The weakest point. it is into this they
stick their necks first. Then there is a
pushing forward, a hauling backward, a
believing noise, wild struggle for about
five minutes, during which the sapling
bends and the wire tightens, aud the deed is
done.
Early next morning we were both on hand,
as tho guide said, 10 pick up the pieces, but
to my surprise and his disgust the hedge
was broken and the wire and moose gone.
The animal, caribou to certainty, had
been caught around the antlers instead of
around The neck, and with desperate Jerk
had freed himself. This, Jules informed
me, had never happened to him before and
it was with more than usual care that he re-
paired The trap and readjusted it for q sec
ond attempt.
The day following found it untouched.
but on the third day a noise and movement
among the trees told US, as we approached,
that the moose had done its " Ork and the
captive awaited us. Nor were we mistake
for, sure enough, there swung a bull carl
bon, a beauty-4S0 he weighed-pulling for
all he was worth and choking to death as
the wire tightened and cut his throat.
y bullet from my rife soon put the anil
NAL out of his misery, and Jules had WOE
his hgt.