TRACKS AND TRACKING 



claw mark, must serve as base for a conclusion, 

 which must be verified by watching at a good 

 point near the thicket during the morning or 

 evening. The snapping of a twig or the break- 

 ing of a log on which Bruin carelessly steps often 

 confirms the conclusions, though the bear may 

 sometimes remain invisible to the hunter for sev- 

 eral consecutive visits. 



When the thicket they prefer is once located, 

 the rest is easy. If quick results are desired, 

 driving or, perhaps, calling will yield results. I 

 once shot a bear which made its appearance im- 

 mediately when, by way of experiment, I imi- 

 tated the distress cry of a jack-rabbit. If the 

 hunter has plenty of time to spend in the woods 

 it is a good plan to watch for the quarry. Dur- 

 ing autumn proper, bears retreat to the more 

 remote districts and the fastnesses of the moun- 

 tains ; here they are usually found during the day- 

 time where they are accustomed to feed. In 

 places where berries are plentiful, on ridges and 

 in gulches where blue jays and squirrels are stor- 

 ing their winter supply of mast, here will be 

 found the bears' favorite autumn haunts. In 



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