HINTS TO SFOIiTSMEN. 31 



at once where to place his hand on his own, even in the 

 darkness. 



All these precautions may be unnecessary ; yet it would 

 be well to pay some attention to them when parties are 

 camping out, and are traversing new or dangerous ground, 

 as a detachment of white or red thieves might consider a 

 raid upon a camp a profitable enterprise, aud nothing proves 

 so efficacious an antidote to their avariciousness as a few 

 prompt and well- delivered bullets. In ordinary hunting 

 expeditions there is very little danger of being attacked by 

 anything fiercer than a wounded animal, and that in very 

 rare instances ; so that, except under very unusual circum- 

 stances, life is as safe there as it would be in the heart of a 

 great city, if not safer. 



Sporting dogs of all kinds can be Utilized in every quar- 

 ter of the country ; but the most valuable are pointers, 

 setters, and hounds. The greyhound can be employed in 

 coursing hares and antelopes ; the deerhound, for following 

 on open ground the lordly elk, burly moose, or swift and 

 cunning white -tailed deer; the terrier, for routing foxes 

 and badgers from their burrows, or measuring its strength 

 against them in deadly combat ; while the beagle, harrier, 

 fox and otter hound will find all the work they wish to do, 

 and more than they may care for, almost every day in the 

 year. 



The weapons required for the chase in the region are a 

 rifle, a breech -loading shot-gun, a heavy revolver, and a 

 good hunting-knife. The rifle should be of large calibre, 

 not less than forty-five at least, and its trajectory should be 

 as flat as possible ; for in shooting at rapidly moving game 

 one cannot stop to elevate the rear sights; and even if he 

 did, he might raise the wrong one, in his hurry and excite- 

 ment, and shoot either over or under the quarry. It is, be- 

 sides, a difficult matter to estimate distances in that coun- 

 try, even with an extensive experience, owing to the clear- 

 ness of the atmosphere, which causes all objects to seem 

 nearer than they actually are. For shooting on treeless 

 plateaus at a distance of three hundred yards and under, I 



