Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-11-22
A Moose Hunt in the Wilds of Maine.

AS usual "Outing" furnishes most
interesting sketch of a moose hunt in
that very popular sporting country,
the Pine Tree State, of which the fol-
lowing is an excerpt:
ga hunt in the Maine woods: limit
of time. two weeks: sole object, a
moose. The leaves have fallen, the
underground has become comparat-
lively clear, and the moose have left
the lakes and streams and sought shel,
ter 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 Il
yard, on some we'll protected hillside,
where the tender tops Of the moose
wood and maple will furnish him food
during the heavy SHOWS. The sports
man in quest of moose in Maine ar
rlves at the little station nearest the
hunting region, puts up at the coun-
try hotel, listens to the stories OF the
heads carried out of the woods. ana Is
assured by his guide of the plentiful
ness of the game.
The next morning-what joy. The
ground is covered with snow, soft and
velyety, 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
fancies, and the guide with his pack,
make an early start. Three or four
miles over one range, with here and
there a view of distant lake. or a
glimpse of long stretch of crimson
and blue hills, down into swamp,
across treacherOuS brooks, when 10 .
moose tracks. Immediately the hun
ter's spirits mount high, his strength
is doubled, and every sense is on the
alert. The guide examines the tracks
critically: il might be a young bull.
At any rate, it will probably lead to a
yard or to other moose, SO for the next
three or four hours the trail is followed
through hogs, over fallen treetops and
under overhanging boughs, which the
guide scrutiniZes closely. Bark fresh
ly 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 oil
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 direction of the wind. TAX
ing 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, fortunately, leads up the
valley and against the wind. Creep
ing, half crawling, they cautiously
select a place for each step. The
signs grow fresher every minute, and
the hunters grow more alert and care
full. Just as they reach the top of a
little rise, black object is seen to
move amongst the growth some hun
dred yards distant. Crouch low and
be ready. A moment later the object
turns and presents a broadside show
ing a fine pair of horns.
Now quick, but take careful aim.
Bang. once, twice. Shoot again as he
runs-three, four-yes, more times If
necessary. The old bull stops and
weakens, then staggering, falls heav-
lily to the ground dead. A moment to
realize that he has actually killed his
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 pipes and SIT down to
eniOv little of that calm content
ment that 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 after much labor
and difficult driving, he is hauled into
camp on a sled. "
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