The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-14
NKlDo:u.

struggle. his legs are cut by the cruel
crust. so that often he has left long
trail marked with blood. which has whet-
ted the. appetites of his pursuers. His
horns at this season are rarely more than
sprouted. and his sole weapons are his
hoofs.
Some men, expert snowshoers, powerful
Of heart and lungs and capable Of with
standing the fatigue of possibly two days
steady travelling, have been able to get
within gunshot of moose after stern
chase. But the country was comparative
ly level. the snow very deep and somewhat
crusted, or drifted hard enough to inter-
fere with the animals progress.
Few but Indians ever attempt this meth
cd of hunting. 1t is always good plan,
however, IL one happens upon the fresh
track Of moose going against the wind to
follow cautiously and quickly as possible.
A mile or so may bring one upon the ami
NAL unconsciously browsing. 1t Is USE
less to attempt this IL there is the slight
est breeze blowing past the hunter in the
direction taken by the animal, or If the
moose has had scent or sight of the hunt
err The smell of man is peculiarly terri
flying to nearly every species of wild ami
NAL, whether or not it has ever experience
ed his power. and no horned animal has
keener sense of smell or greater dread of
man than the moose. IL he gets one
Whit of hunter, he is off like an arrow
from bow. and he never stops until he
has put leagues and mountains between.
- !.
More Luck Than Brains.
N hunting game. as well as in hunting
j gold there is more in luck than in
brains, but the chances are usually in
favor of the man best equipped with
knowledge. The Indian knows that in
summer the moose seeks swampy re-
org
with stalk running deep into the innumer-
able little shallow lakes. Nature has pro-
vided the animal with an abnormally
long nose and powerful upper lip, giving
him a member somewhat similar to an
elephants trunk With this he reaches deep
for the grass. sometimes cropping 1t a
couple of feet below the surface.
The Indian cautiously seeks some bit of
cover close to the lake on the side away
from the wind, which he tests by tossing
a tuft of dry grass in the air. Then he
waits with stoical patience, not needing
time or mosquitoes. II he is lucky, some
time In the night usually at the darkest
hour (Which in summer is not very dark.
he will become suddenly aware that
moose Is cropping grass just across the
little sheet of water The animal always
travels with the least possible noise, and
will often glide away from the hunters
path almost as stealthily as a panther.
The lying-in-wait plan is the one usual
ly followed by summer hunters for moose.
1t is about the only one that can be count
ed on to give reasonably close shot. The
favorite time selected by the Indians and
many old-timers in Alaska for securing
the winters supply Of fresh meat is dur
ing the animal rutting, or running, sea-
son, which is just before cold weather be-
gins. At this time all horned animals,
and particularly the moose, seem to lose
fbair hah iitin nd will
into danger which at any other season
they would have widely avoided The
hunter, selecting a favorable point sur
rounded by two or three moose lakes"
a place close to well-worn moose trail,
WILL If he has patience, be almost sure to
see a male and female moose pass him
at such a season. He may have to wait
several days, retiring to his camp, mile
or more distant, occasionally at midday
for food He should stir as little as posi-
Bile, but arrange himself as comfortably
as he may. with his blankets on a bed of
brush, and bit of canvas over him. II
he can find a high point of rock overlook
ing chain of little lakes, he is especially
fortunate, as then 1t does not matter so
much which way the wind blows, the scent
apparently being carried over the animal
Where can one find these little moose
lakes or ponds? They are scattered like
the moose all over Alaska. Nearly all the
wide. low, fiat bars of the Yukon have one
or two of them. They dot the valleys of
all the tributaries. and until one has
learned from the contour of the landscape
about where to look for them he will al
ways happen upon them quite unexpect-
eddy. There are Salt-licks near some of
these lakes, and moose like deer, will come
far for lick of salt.
The male moose is often dangerous ami
NAL to tackle at bay, or wound, without
disabling, at close quarters, particularly