OF A RANCHMAN 187 



them: if they are in a dense wood, they 

 feed along its edges; but, by preference, 

 they keep in the little glades and among the 

 bushes underneath the trees. Wherever 

 they may be found, they are rarely far from 

 thick cover, and are always on the alert, 

 lifting up their heads every few bites they 

 take to see if any danger threatens them. 

 But, unlike the antelope, they seem to rely 

 for safety even more upon escaping obser- 

 vation than upon discovering danger while 

 it is still far off, and so are usually in shel- 

 tered places where they cannot be seen at 

 any distance. Hence, shots at them arc 

 generally obtained, if obtained at all, at 

 very much closer range than at any other 

 kind of game; the average distance would 

 be nearer fifty than a hundred yards. On 

 the other hand, more of the shots obtained 

 are running ones than is the case with the 

 same number taken at antelope or black- 

 tail. 



If the deer is standing just out of .1 

 fair-sized wood, it can often be obtained 



