162 The Black-Tail Deer. 



in some particular space of ground, and then hunt through 

 it, guiding himself by his knowledge of the deer's habits 

 and by the character of the land. Tracks are of most use 

 in showing whether deer are plenty or scarce, whether 

 they have been in the place recently or not. Generally, 

 signs of deer are infinitely more plentiful than the animals 

 themselves although in regions where tracking is espe- 

 cially difficult deer are often jumped without any sign 

 having been seen at all. Usually, however, the rule is the 

 reverse, and as deer are likely to make any quantity of 

 tracks the beginner is apt, judging purely from the sign, 

 greatly to over-estimate their number. Another mistake 

 of the beginner is to look for the deer during the daytime 

 in the places where their tracks were made in the morning, 

 when their day beds will probably be a long distance off. 

 In the night-time deer will lie down almost anywhere, 

 but during the day they go some distance from their 

 feeding- or watering-places, as already explained. 



If deer are at all plenty and if scarce only a master 

 in the art can succeed at still-hunting it is best not to try 

 to follow the tracks at all, but merely to hunt carefully 

 through any ground which from its looks seems likely 

 to contain the animals. Of course the hunting must be 

 done either against or across the wind, and the greatest 

 care must be taken to avoid making a noise. Moccasins 

 should be worn, and not a twig should be trodden on, nor 

 should the dress be allowed to catch in a brush. Especial 

 caution should be used in going over a ridge or crest ; no 

 man should ever let his whole body appear at once, but 

 should first carefully peep over, not letting his rifle barrel 



