TRACKS AND TRACKING 



The buck of this deer, whose tracks always 

 register, walks with hoofs pressed close together, 

 puts the heels firmly on the ground, w r hich action 

 moves the ground or snow toward the front, and 

 steps off by making a deep imprint w r ith the 

 toes. The result is a small hillock in the middle 

 of the track and, as this deer never drags its feet, 

 a small dust heap in front of it. In snow or 

 mud, of course, the latter sign cannot be found. 



As this deer is much smaller than the ordinary 

 white-tail, its steps are consequently shorter, and 

 in loose snow, where no individual track is visi- 

 ble, its trail may be mistaken for that of a fawn, 

 and only by following it a distance can an error 

 be avoided. 



Once a friend and I on our way home struck 

 a trail, and while walking alongside it we both 

 expressed our opinion that the deer which made 

 it was the smallest fawn in that territory. We 

 never would have given that trail any considera- 

 tion had it not run along our path. As it was, 

 we followed it, and after we had gone a hun- 

 dred yards or so, my indifference changed to 

 intense interest ; for it could be seen that the deer 



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