The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-16
NOW FOR MOOSE IN MAINE.
THE HUNTING SEASON OF SIX
WEEKS HAS REGUNo
A Considerable Increase In the Numbers OF
Moose In the Last Year or Two-Best
Shooting to Come Later in the Season
Calling the Moose-The Law on Them.

BANGOR. Me-. Oct 15-The season for
hunting Maine moose opened to-day. In
Canada the moose hunting season began
in the western part of the Province Of
Quebec on Oct. l. and in the eastern
part Of the Dominion on Sept. /,
Names moose have increased consider
ably in numbers in the past year or two,
and there has been an increase, also. in
Canada. Whether the increase in Canada
is due to the protection afforded by law,
as is undemably the case in Maine, or to
the fact that the forests are so wide and 30
difficult Of access to all save native hunters
or visitors of ample means, is hard to de-
termine; but it is certain that moose are
numerous in New Brunswick and in the
eastern part Of the Province Of Quebec
this fall and also in some parts Of Nova
Scotia.
The valley of the Metapedia River and
the interior regions of the counties of Gaspe
and Teniscouta are among the best hunting
grounds in eastern Quebec, while the ami
mails are very plentiful in Pontiac and
Ottawa counties and in the district Of Mat
tawa, in the western part Of the province.
The season Is little early yet for good
moose shooting, because the leaves ara still
thick upon the trees but several parties
from the United States have already had
fine sport in Canada The leaves are now
falling rapidly. and the next few weeks
will be lively time for the antlered game.
The later a moose Is killed, the better
his coat, for, while most other animals
whiten as the snow season comes on, the
moose takes on darker colors, and his coat,
az well as his head, is thus made more at
tractive, A late October or November
moose is the best trophy, for at that time,
although the coat may not have attained
the glossy black OF midwinter, the horns
are intact-and without the horns a head
amounts to nothing.
The hunter who waits too long for his
mo ose may find that the biggest Of the
bulls have shed their horns, which gen.
orally OCCURS in December, but sometimes
In November. The older bulls shed their
horns rirst and sometimes immense ant
lers are found in the woods by sportsmen
and sent to the taxidermist's to be mounted
alone or to be affixed to other heads This
has often been done by skilful taxidermists
30 cleverly that no one could detect the
trick.
The habits OF the moose are interesting
to observe. About the first Of May, or
as soon IA the snow has disappeared, the
ANIMALS leave their winter haunts In the
depths Of the forest and assemble In the
peighborhood OF lakes or streams. whens
their favorite summer foods are plentiful.
They are especially fond OF the water
lily, and frequently may be seen wading
out shoulder deep, after this tender fodder,
plunging their great heads under water
to pull up the plants by the roots-the
roots being the choicest morsels to tempt
the moose appetite. Rushee and young
twigs OF many kinds are also included
in the moose bin Of fare.
About the first OF June the COW moose
retire to deep thckets, not Ear from the
water, and there the calves are born. Cows
two years old seldom produce more than
one calf at birth, while those more than
three years old generally bring forth two.
ana occasionally three little ones.