130 Tke Black-Tail Deer. 



where game is expected should, as a rule, be hunted over 

 on foot. This rule is by no means a general one, how- 

 ever. There are still many localities where the advan- 

 tage of covering a great deal of ground more than 

 counterbalances the disadvantage of being on horseback. 

 About one third of my hunts are still made on horse- 

 back ; and in almost all the others I take old Manitou to 

 carry me to and from the grounds and to pack out any 

 game that may be killed. A hunting-horse is of no use 

 whatever unless he will permit a man to jump from his 

 back and fire with the greatest rapidity ; and nowhere 

 does practice have more to do with success than in the 

 case of jumping off a horse to shoot at game which has 

 just been seen. The various movements take a novice a 

 good deal of time ; while an old hand will be off and 

 firing with the most instantaneous quickness. Manitou 

 can be left anywhere at a moment's warning^ while his 

 rider leaps off, shoots at a deer from almost under his 

 head, and perhaps chases the wounded animal a mile or 

 over ; and on his return the good old fellow will be graz- 

 ing away, perfectly happy and contented, and not making 

 a movement to run off or evade being caught. 



One method of killing deer on horseback is very excit- 

 ing. Many of the valleys or ravines extend with continual 

 abrupt turns and windings for several miles, the brush 

 and young trees stretching with constant breaks down the 

 middle of the bottom, and leaving a space on each side 

 along which a surefooted horse can gallop at speed. 

 Two men, on swift, hardy horses, can hunt down such a 

 ravine very successfully at evening, by each taking a side 



