Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-24
ANDI
Get MOOSE HEAD

w eSley ana l DECIDED that we had
to have a moose head, not an ordinary
head either, a head that would satisfy
a very particular taXidermist friend
OF ours who had EXPIRE ssed a wish for
one. In the second place, we had
Planned to pass the winter trapping
one of the widest wildernesses in
northern Maine, and reeded a big sup
ply of frozen meat. Moose there were
in plenty, we could have shot a half
dozen in a weeks time, but, as before
mentioned, it was the Old Bull himself
that we wanted, and Wesley knew
where he made his home. So one
evening we found ourselves encamped
just on the dividing line between a big
swamp and a beech ridge, our tent
was pitched beside a boiling spring.
and a few hundreds yards distant a
pretty little pond snuggled down into
the swamp, full of lily pads and trout,
and the moose sigls were thick all
about its muddy shores. After we had
our camp arranged, with a nice bunk
of smoked cedar, ana a stone fireplace
TO cook our meals over, Wesley and
went out to the shore of the pond and
constructed sort Of blind out of
boughs and rushes, and went back to
wait for shutdown. After our supper,
consisting of fritters, fried trout and
blueberries freshly picked, Yves got
out his birch horn and softly COM
menced to call, granting and believing
in a manner that sounded very odd to
me, as it was the first time l had
heard the call made. When he final
ly got his answer, believing roar
from far up the ridge caused me to
snatch up my 5000, but Yves smiled
and whispered, Wait, he's long way
off yet" and went on with his calling.
Suddenly he stopped, and we took our
guns and went noiselessly out to the
shore blind, where he resumed calling
with such good effect that the big
moose came down with a fierce crash :
ing of boughs to the shore opposite
where we We're in hiding.
Yves filled the horn with water and
let it fall back into the lake, and then
commenced swapping small, dry twigs
With his fingers, now and then sending
the low call echoing through the
swamp, and the effect on the monarch
Of the woods was electric, he thrust
caution to the winds, stepped out into
plain sight on the shore directly across
from us, and Yves whispered Shoot, y
two vivid flashes cut the gloom, Yves
beat me to the second with his auto
matte, and his third shot crashed
fraction behind my second one.
The big bull had gone down at the
first fire, great threshing in the
swamp across the pond told us that
our shooting had not been wasted, So
with couple of Comanche whoops we
both struck out on the dead run for
the point where the big 'un had last
been sighted.
After falling into muck and mud
ripping madly through brush and
leaping over fallen logs, we finally
reached the spot, only to find a ire
mendous wallow in the mud where
our target had dropped, and after fol-
lowing the bloody trail into the swamp
for a short way we gave it up and
went back to camp, there to discuss
our chances of finding the wounded
bull in the morning. In the grey dawn
we hit the trail and followed it for
pS d QudIISI VI d lille through
the swamp, finding plenty Of blood, and
now and then a great hollow where
the bull had lain down, here and there
the ground would be torn up and little
trees with chewed trunks showed how
cur big victim was suffering. On and
on we went, and suddenly l saw my
companion toss up his Remington,
looking ahead I got a quick glimpse Of
a monstrous set of antlers topping a
great head. which sank YEARLY as the
gun crashed out, and a moment later
Yves and I shook hands over as fine a
bull as Maine woods provide. We
found that he had been hit twice the
night before, once high through the
back, missing the spinal column mar
rowly, and once through the hind
quarters. Neither shot had hurt him
for travelling, although he doubtless
would have died II left to himself So
passed the old king Of the swamp
game to the final gasp. and both Yves
and I felt a certain shamefaced regret
as we clasped hands over the remains
Of what had been one Of Natures
finest creatures.
nY n Unlimited