A Sportsman 73 



the maximum of depth is reached, and the season 

 when surface crusting occurs, a location generally 

 in black growth where browsing is favorable, and 

 yard, so to say. This yard is not particularly limited 

 in extent, sometimes extending over several miles, 

 depending somewhat upon the number of animals 

 yarding. Here they will remain unless disturbed 

 until the full snow season is on. The traversing of 

 the yard keeps the soft snow broken up, and when 

 the day thawings come along the indentations of the 

 feet not only pack the snow at the foot imprints, but 

 extend several feet outside, which, freezing, makes a 

 stronger surface crust than over adjoining untouched 

 tracts. Crossing and recrossing, as moose and deer 

 will do a great deal of in a yard, imparts a favorable 

 footing, and one passing over will readily discover 

 that he is in a yard, though he may see no other signs 

 of animal existence, and sometimes it requires a good 

 deal of travelling to find the occupants when a yard is 

 extensive. 



The deer in a winter yard will evade the search by 

 keeping out of sight, though their fresh tracks may 

 be observed. If the snow outside is deep and heavily 

 crusted they will show a great deal of reluctance 

 in leaving a yard. Sometimes they will lie down 

 in the yard together in the best place of shelter, and 

 in such cases will allow the seeker to pass pretty near 

 before taking flight, and will then perhaps round 

 about in the yard, well aware of the difficulties which 

 await them. Although accompanied by a dog, which 

 will materially aid him, a hunter will often find great 

 difficulty in ousting a herd of deer from a yard. 

 I came into a deer yard in the winter of 1859 the 



