The sun., 1908-11-01

O lick for bears, and this gsntlsman's
demlgod, Col. Roosevelt. writes rather
soornfully OF the practice In his books.
Now these two last named gentlemen
may be dismissed from the disoussion
for tho good and simple reason that they
are both altogether too inexperienced In
moose hunting to express an authorita-
tive opinion, and ! believe that neither.
Of them ever shot q moose when calling
or ever tried to. Reste Mr.. Huntington
and others who know about IL.
Heis right when he says that the hunter
practically monopoliEes the real sport OF
the thing. but there would seem to be no
orime In being tho spectator Of euoh
splendid and exciting game as moose
calling, even IL the sportsman does help
the ToTk to finish by o straight shot.
May ask whether there is not . keen and
legitimate delight In Watching the work
of a first class bird dogf And yet 1t
vastly simplifies the task OF the hunter
in telling him not only when but almost
exactly where his game will rise. ..
1t would seem TO bear the same rela-
ton to our stalking grouse without dog
up here in Nova Scotia, as moose calling
does to forest ranging after them. And
in my experience there is no comparison
in excitement or interest between calling
and still hunting. the advantage being
all in favor Of the former.
Add the fact that nowadays the sports
man has begun TO do his own calling, and
it becomes one Of tho finest pieces OF
sport in any country In the world. The
hot he htfi nj N
are unmatchable.
Nor is calling commonly done at night
here. but In the morning. beginning at the
first streak of dawn. In the evening one
calls only when a dead calm sets In early
enough to give at least an hour and half
daylight. or when there is brilliant moon.
In the afternoon loud calling isnot prac-
tised, in order not to call bull from such
4 distance that he will arrive after dark,
IL will be noted that calling can be done
only in a dead calm, for the reason that
il the slightest breeze blows--a steady
breeze anyhow-the bull will not answer,
but will circle your position. get your
scent. and then good-by Sir Moose
Bulls have all sorts OF ways OF coming
AS general thing the very big chaps and
the youngsters are the wariest. and some
times will approach and even appear
without having spoken once.
Who has not hoard a moose walk around
him in the woods. his position being indi-
Gated by the impact Of his antlers on tho
trees and the stealthy tread OF his COM
paratively small hoofsi 1t is generally
a little fellow who Is bashful or afraid OF q
rival. Other moose will come fearieesly.
giving out the challenge boldly.
Nevertheless tbs high time to correct the
general and most erroneous impression
that in tho rutting season, which is that
when calling is practised. the bull moose
is so blinded by passion that he is COM
pletely Of his guard and is easily lured to
his d ,ath by the caller Nothing Is fur
ther from the truth.
The author Of @The Way Of the Woods
is quite right when he says that. far from
being so blinded by passion as to be un-
suspicious, the bull moose is never in the
whole course of his existence 30 abso-
lutely suspicious and on his guard as whom
he approaches either o COW or q caller
in the mating season. He is eager for the
tryst, but his s-ory sense Is alert, for his
instinct and often his experience tell
him that many danger turks.
His eyes, his ears and most Of all his
abnormal nose are never 90 keenly at
work. Let the slightest breath Of air be
stirring and he will never come to the call
except from the leeward. circling the
locality OF the call il necessary. and then
his coming will depend entirely upon the
scent his delicate nostris receive. II q
COW Is calling he viii come; II q man,
never.
Would this be the case IL he were the
passion blinded. unsuspecting beast the
fair and square" still hunters would
make him out? True, he is hunted by
calling only in q dead calm, when he is
deprived Of his chief defensive weapon,
his nose. But does the still hunter take
no such advantage Of hims
Van Dyke. the chief authority. says
that you had better stay at home unless
the day is windy and the quarry can be
approached from the leeward 90 that
scent and noise will be deadenod.
In still hunting time the moose's storm
and stress period Of life has passed. He
is yarded and quietly browsing. He is
as unsuspecting as he ever is; he Is not
looking for trouble.
At this time the hunter. under cover
Of a strong wind, creeps up within range
and shoots him down In cold blood. often
before he knows Of his enemy's existence.
And this is sport compared with calling?
No, a hundred times mol Enough Of the
cant Of fair and square hunting a
phrase forever dinned into our ears by
certain sportsmen in high places. Teach
wild animals to use high power modern
rifles and to practise with them in their
own defence. Then we shall have fair
and square hunting!'
Killing beasts can be defended only
on the ground that the chase brings
advantages that outweigh the brutality
Of the actual killing. which every true
sportsman must ever regard as but q
very disagreeable necessity. In fact.
the hunting with a camera man has
a pretty strong case. and every year his
tribe 10 incr creasing. But most OF US are
still too strenuous for that.
We don't believe in the sanctity OF
life. for we see that every beast preye
on some other and that nothing In this
world IA 90 cheap and easily sacrificed
by nature as just life. We hate to kill,
and we never do 30 unless we make an
le1uate gain, either In health, recrea-
ton, rest from city cares. and never
unless we can use what We kill.
This year our little party returned with
out a moose because. though we might