TRACKS AND TRACKING 



for bears where signs are most numerous. They 

 invariably leave their home thicket very quietly 

 before dark, and start their noisy feeding, chew- 

 ing up logs, and breaking down berry bushes, 

 not less than half a mile from their abiding 

 place, near which no signs except a few tracks 

 are visible. 



For the entertainment of a visiting friend the 

 thicket was driven a few times by the wind 

 method, which worked splendidly. An " old 

 mule," which was shot through the lungs with 

 a .30-40 rifle on the previous evening, was the 

 only one that left the shelter slowly. All the 

 others, presumably the same on every occasion, 

 appeared to be very much frightened, and ran 

 for about three-quarters of a mile after they had 

 passed the danger point 



To locate the abode of bears in such thickets 

 during the summer and early autumn, it is best 

 and simplest to trail them by the signs they make 

 during their nocturnal rambles, such as over- 

 turned logs, etc.; and if only a few of such 

 signs are found near dense cover, facing north 

 or northwest, the ground should be carefully ex- 



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