164 Hunting Trips of a Ranchman 



had to be killed. Indeed, a full-grown buck with 

 antlers would be a match for a wolf, unless surprised, 

 and could probably beat off a cougar if he received 

 the latter's spring fairly on his prong points. 



Bucks fight fiercely among themselves during the 

 rutting season. At that time the black-tail, unlike 

 the white-tail, is found in bands, somewhat like 

 those of the elk, but much smaller, and the bucks of 

 each band keep up an incessant warfare. A weak 

 buck promptly gets out of the way if charged by 

 a large one; but when two of equal strength come 

 together the battle is well fought. Instances occa- 

 sionally occur, of a pair of these duelists getting 

 their horns firmly interlocked and thus perishing; 

 but these instances are much rarer, owing to the 

 shape of the antlers, than with the white-tail, of 

 which species I have in my own experience come 

 across two or three sets of skulls held together by 

 their interlacing antlers, the bearers of which had 

 doubtless died owing to their inability to break 

 away from each other. 



A black-tail buck is one of the most noble-looking 

 of all deer. His branching and symmetrically 

 curved antlers are set on a small head, carried with 

 beautiful poise by the proud, massive neck. The 

 body seems almost too heavy for the slender legs, 

 and yet the latter bear it as if they were rods of 

 springing steel. Every movement is full of alert, 

 fiery life and grace, and he steps as lightly as though 

 he hardly trod the earth. The large, sensitive ears 

 are thrown forward to catch the slightest sound; 



