The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-11-22
A MOOSE HUNFIN THE WILDS OF
MAINE,

AS usual, OUTING" furnishes a most
interesting sketch OF moose hunt in that
very populrr sporting country, the Pine
Tree State, Of which the following is an ex-
cerpt:-
"a hunt in the Maine woods limit OF
time, two weeks; sole object, a moose.
The leaves have fallen, the underground
has become comparatively clear, and the
moose have left the lakes and streams and
sought shelter in the more thickly wooded
hills and RANGES. The rutting season is
over, and all the fight has left the bull who
busies himself in selecting yard" some
well protected hillside, where the tender
tops OF the moOsew God and maple will fur
nish him food during the heavy SHOWS.
The sportsman in quest OF moose in Maine
arrives at the little station nearest the
hunting region, put up at the country ho-
tel, listens to stories Of the heads carried
out of the woods, and is assured by his
guide of the plentiiulness Of game. The
next morning-what Joy The ground is
covered with snow, soft and velvety, four
or five inches, just the right depth, not
too much for fast travelling, yet just
enough to cushion the leaves and deaden
one fOotf lis. The hunter, with whatever
rifle he fancies, and the guide with his
pa k, make an early start. Three or four
miles over one range, with here and there a
view Of distant lake or a glimpse Of a
down into swamp, acr SIS treacherous
brooks, when lol moose tracks. Immedi-
ately the hunters spirits mount high, his
strength is doubled and every sense is on
the alert The guide examines the tracks
critically; it might be a young bull At
any rate, it will probably lead to yard or
other moose, so for the next three or four
hours the trail is followed through DOGS,
over fallen treetops and under overhanging
boughs, which the guide scrutnizes close
ly.
Bark freshly peeled from young trees,
bushes bent over, and the fresh tracks the
guide decides were made during the early
| morning. There are three in the herd, big
tracks, and from the bark scraped off the
trees, there is evidently a ball amongst
them. The trails CROSS and wander about
aimlessly. The beasts are possibly in the
near neighborhood. Now great caution
must be observed A finger is wetted and
held up to find the exact direction of the
wind. Taking note of the general appear.
auce Of the surrounding hills and valleys.
the guide leads the sportsman circuitously
TO leeward OF a certain narrow little valley,
where they again discover the trail, which
fortunately, leads up the valley and against
the wind Creeping, half crawling, they
| cautiously select place for each step.
| The signs grow fresher every minute, and
the hunters grow more alert and careful.
just as they reach the top Of little rise, a
growth some hundred yards distant.
| Crouch low and be ready. moment later
the object turns, and presents a broadside
showing a fine pair of horns. Now quick,
hut take careful aim. Bang once, twice.
Shoot again as he runs-three, four-yea,
more times il necessary. The old bull stops
and weakens, then, staggering, falls heavi-
| ly to the ground dead.
"a moment to realize that he has actually
| killed his moose, and then the triumphant
hunter produces a flask that he and his
guide may drink to their success, and to
each Others health-and to everybody else's
good health. Then they FIJI their pipes and
sit down to enjoy little OF that calm con-
tentment thai follows the complete and
successful accomplishment Of ones most
cherished desires. The next day is spent
in blazing and 'swamping out a way by
which the moose may be hauled out, and
and after much labor and difficult driving,
he is hauled into camp on sled"
If you want to know all about the hunt
ing regions, send two-cent stamp to the
General Passenger Department of the Bos-
ton and Maine railroad for the pamphlet.
1t is well worth reading.