St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-11-22
A Moose Hunt in the wiIds of Main.

A vi loose Hunt in the Wilds of Maine.
AS usual, Outing" furnishes a most
interesting sketch of moose hunt in
that very popular sporting country, the
Pine Tree State, OF which the following
is an excerpt =
"A hunt in the Maine woods; limit OF
time, two weeks; sole object, 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 moosewood
and maple will furnish him food during
the heavy SHOWS. The sportsman in
quest of moose in Maine arrives at the
little station nearest the hunting region,
puts up at the country hotel, listens to
stories of the heads carried out OF the
woods, and is assured by his guide of the
ing-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 ones
footballs. The hunter, with whatever
rifle he iancies, and the guide with his
pack make an early start. Three or four
miles over one range, with here and there
view of distant lake, or a glimpse Of
long stretch of crimson and blue hills,
down into a swamp, across treacherous
brooks, when 10 moose.tracks. Imme-
diately 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 young
bull. At any rate, it will probably lead
to yard or to other moose, so for the
next three or four hours the trail is fol-
lowed through bogs, over fallen treetops
and under over-hanging boughs, which
the guide scrutinizes closely. Bark fresh
ly peeled from young trees, bushes bent
over, and the fresh tracks the guide de-
cides were made during the early morn
ing. There are three in the herd, big
tracks, and from the bark scraped off the
trees, there is evidently bull 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 d.
rection of the wind. Taking note OF the
general appearance 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, fortun.
ately, leads up the valley and against
the wind Creeping, halt crawling, they
cautiously select a 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 a
little rise, black object is seen to move
amongst the growth some hundred y ards
distant. Crouch low and be ready. A
moment later the object turns, and pre-
sents broadside showing fine pair Of
horns. Now quick, but take careful aim
Bang once, twice. Shoot again as he
runs-three, four-yea, more times i
necessary. The old bull stops and
weakens, then, staggering, falls heavily
to the ground, dead. moment to
realize that he has actually killed hi.
moose, and then the triumphant hunter
produces flask that he and his guide
may drink to their success, and to each
others health-and to everybody else's
good health. They then fill their pipe:
and sit down to enjoy little OF that
calm contentment that follows the com
plete and successful accomplishment o
ones most cherished desires. The mex
day is spent in blazing and swampinG
out a way by which the moose may b.
hauled out and after much labor ano
difficult driving, he is hauled into camp
on sled"
II you want to know all about tn,
hunting regions, send a two-cent STAMP
to the General Passenger Department o
the Boston & Maine Railroad for tn,
,Ll..t &c mall ..-e,rIL .oaI.x,.r