CHAPTER XXXVI. 



DEN BEARS. 



A phase of hunting that I do not remember 

 ever seeing described in the H-T-T is of track- 

 ing bears to their den and killing them there. 

 The two seasons that this mode of hunting is 

 resorted to by the Indians is after the first fall 

 of snow and again in February, March or April, 

 according to the different locality of the coun- 

 try, when the snow is soft and the days are mild 

 and spring-like. Some very knowing trailers 

 will follow up signs even before there is snow on 

 the ground. They watch out for broken 

 branches, shredded birch bark or other stuff 

 which the bear has torn down to make his bed. 



At times, however, the bear will change his 

 mind, even after considerable work has been 

 done, and move off to some other ridge of hills 

 and there begin over again in what he has de- 

 cided a more favorable situation. It is a much 

 more dangerous job to tackle a newly denned 

 bear than in the spring when they are stupid 

 from their long spell of hibernation. Earely 

 does a lone hunter undertake to kill a bear in 



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