62 



HUNTING AND PISHING IN FLORIDA. 



viz. : (I) Hunting on horseback and running the deer with hounds; 

 this method to be successful requires a party of hunters and some 

 one to direct operations who is thoroughly acquainted with the 

 country. (2) To "slow trail" them, which is usually the most 

 satisfactory way to hunt them. A hound trained to follow a trail 

 slowly and without barking is used, and must go slow enough to 

 enable tlie hunter to keep within a few yards of him all the time ; 

 sooner or later the deer is " jumped," usually within easy shooting 

 distance. The third method is known as still hunting. To be a 

 successful "still hunter" requires keen eyesight combined with a 

 knowledge of woodcraft and the habits and ways of deer which 

 comparatively few wliite men possess. Indians always hunt deer in 



this manner, but they have been 

 trained to it all their lives, and 

 always hunt where they know 

 there is plenty of game. A single 

 deer may often be stalked and shot 

 almost in open ground where there 

 is only an occasional bush or clump 

 of grass for cover. 



By keeping to leeward of the 

 animal, and creeping forward while 

 it has its head down feeding, and remaining perfectly motionless 

 when it lifts its head, one may often approach within easy shooting 

 distance. A deer, as a rule, shakes his tail before lifting his head. 

 On one occasion I had approached within perhaps 125 yards of a 

 buck in an open prairie when the grass was not over twelve or fifteen 

 inches high. I was creeping along on my hands and knees, when he 

 suddenly raised liis head and looked directly at me before I had 

 time to lay down in the grass. I remained perfectly still, and after 

 gazing steadily at me for a moment he stamped once or twice, 

 advanced a few steps and stamped again, but after examining me 

 for some time he apparently came to the conclusion that I was part 

 of the scenery and not dangerous : whereupon he commenced to feed 

 again. 



