Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-02
MOOSEAMONG LILYPADS
CHANCE OF NOVICE WHO WANTS
EASY HUNTING.
Less Difficulty in Getting Shots at the
Big Beasts at This Season
Than Later.
Hull tcansds) Cor. New York Sun.

Ihe novice who likes to take his hunt
ing easily will find no better time than the
present for getting a shot at moose In
good moose country there are always
many swampy ponds lakes with shall
low. muddy edges. In such muddy places
the scented water lily and the yellow
pond lily grow to perfection. In many
cases the thick round or oblong pads COM
pletely cover the surface of the water
These are the fayorite feeding places of
the moose in the early autumn. AT the
end of the long stalks of these leaves or
pads is a thick tuberous kind of root
greatly liked by the big deer.
He has to dig for his dainties. There Is
no pulling up of the plants by the roots.
They are too firmly planted for that
When, therefore the moose Is on the
lookout for roots he wades out to where
the pads thickest, makes few pre-
liminary thrusts with his big muzzle to
ascertain Just where the roots are likely
to be, and then, with long inspiration,
sometimes almost a whistle draws In all
the fresh air his lungs will contain
Digging in the Mud.
He thinks nothing of cropping In the
deepest mud with his prehensile upper
lip until his head, ears and horns are COM
pletely submerged. Taking good grip of
the tuber. his body heaves from side to
side as he pulls steadily to loosen its hold
upon its native soil. AS the tenacious MA,
ments give way under the strain the mead
reappears, the long-stemmed leaves droop-
ing from the mouth which has secured the
parent stock.
The water and foul air which have col
lected in the mouth and lung passages are
then expelled with a prolonged snortlng,
which may sometimes be heard nalf niue
away. When the sportsman hears tne
noise it Is an easy matter for him before
the leaves are down to approach the edge
of the lake without creating disturbance
to alarm the animal intent upon feeding
The first time the writer came upon
moose in the root-grubbing season he re-
NAMED hidden behind the scrub bush whlle
the big fellow secured several great
clumps of roots. once the moose puiieu
so hard that the tuber broke suddenly In
two and he slipped back on his haunches
and reeled over into four or hVe iee' VI
liquid mud. ,Lo,,
he regained his footing he jumped stralsht
up and down as though in sheer rage.
Then he plunged his great spadellke hofhs
down deep into the mud, and bringing
them out with violence. hung mud anu
roots all about and behind him.
The reason why he was not fired upon
while in his tantrums was the lear that IL
killed right where he stood 1t might prove
., no nossfble to get his carcass out OF
the deep mud A chuckle OF sympathy es
GA ned the watcher as the brute snorted ms
disgust at the trick played upon him. anu
that slmplfed things Immediately
Rifle Stays Him.
In a couple of bounds the moose was clear
of the water and was stalking with greatly
ruffIed majesty to see what was DONG oe-
hind the alder bush. He never came near
enough to vent his spite further, lor the
snider carbine sent a heavy ball into the
n;+ of his chest, which by some fiuke
ranged upward and broke the splilai coi-
urnn flooring him instantly 49,
On another similar occasion. wnen .ile
writer was with an experienced gu-oe, inc
latter broke a little twig, whereupon a
moose then engaged in cropping III
the mud lifted his head gravely ana
stood in grand position for a shot on s sns
edge of the swamp, SHINING tne an 70 IN. M
ont the direction whence danger threaten
cd This time soft-nosed bullets Were useo'
and both shoulder blades were cracked.
Nevertheless the beast pitched himself
forward so cleverly that his great IoIe
foot struck the guides thigh and cut II
sariously making a cash six inches long
and a good inch deep. Inc game peasI
had plunged forward thirty yards with DIS
abled shoulders, right toward the point MS
death had come from.
Generally, especially when the cow ac-
companies the male, the young car VIII
be found lying under coyer near py. ana
the least movement on his part Will bring
the parents rushing to inquire into the
cause of the disturbance. Still when or
binary precautions arc exercised II Is easier
TO get moose early IN the season imam 1t -
later on, by a good deal
1t is Just the time for calling also There
is some misrepresentation regarding this
sport. 1t is true that an advantage Is
taken of the amatory instincts Of the moose
sometimes. But no one who has done much
calling believes the moose is always obedi-
ent to the call of love when he responds.
Most often he comes rushing in stately
fashion over the hills with name erect head
tossing and a below of defiance.
Moose Fights Moose.
The call means to him, in such cases,
another moose on his territory, and never
went north countryman to Donnybrook fair
more eagerly than does bull moose rush to
prvoke deadly encounter with bull moose
in September and early October.
The last of the velvet is being rubbed
from the great antlers just as the leaves
ripen. and the clashing of the wide horns
against the stems of the trees this goes
on is heard a considerable distance In the
woods. Often another moose hears this
rubbing and banging of horn against wood,
and comes charging up.
Sometimes a lack of nice discrimination
in judging sounds sends the big fellows
into dangers they little expect. For in
stance. one night, when a doctor who was
Of a large hunting party was in his own
scientific fashion driving the tent pegs,
Beaudouin. the guide, whispered:
Keep 1t up. doctor; keep it up; don't stop
hammering, and We'll get a moose sure as
you live"
Sure enough. after a while one of the
rifles rang out, and a fine moose limped off
with a broken shoulder for a few yards
when another old moose attacked him
fiercely coming up from another direction
The last conner soon bowled over the
wounded one. but not before Beaudouin had
mustered his whole force. and a regular
salvo of musketry, to which every man
contributed, sang the requiem OF the grim
old warrior.