84 GAME ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



of which may be very true, but still we do not believe in jacking. 

 In Wisconsin deer are killed by a method somewhat similar to the 

 one last mentioned, and which is to be classed under the same 

 head. 



Scaffold shooting is resorted to during the summer and fall 

 months on the Peninsula. The deer go north from Central and 

 Northern Wisconsin in the spring, and are then called "spring 

 poor." Though the game law prohibits it, they commence float- 

 ing for deer in July, and also shooting from scaffolds. Scaffolds 

 are generally built from ten to thirty feet high, with a place on top 

 for the hunter to sit. The latter generally takes advantage of 

 small trees close together, and nails slats on them to serve as lad- 

 ders. They are placed along the deer trails, which here run nearly 

 due north and south, unless there should be streams or lakes near, 

 when they diverge to them. For the month of July they place salt 

 licks early in the spring, and shoot from scaffolds when they come 

 to the salt licks. From Escanaba to Negamm the Chicago and 

 Northwestern Railroad runs northwest and southeast. As these 

 deer trails are, in some places, close together, some are called main 

 trails, and some branches. They generally go back from the rail- 

 road track fifty to one hundred rods, as it is nearly all woods along 

 the line, and run a deer fence, consisting of small and medium 

 trees, lapped over in one direction, with the interstices filled with 

 small branches, etc. As this fence is built parallel with the track, 

 it cuts across several deer trails in a diagonal direction, so when 

 deer are travelling south they reach the fence and turn east to find 

 an opening. This takes the travellers over several trails, all down 

 the fence, to the lower or southeast end, where the scaffold is 

 placed. By cutting several small avenues through the brush, the 

 hunter can get a good range on the deer. They travel mostly from 

 daybreak to nine o'clock, few crossing from eleven o'clock to dark, 

 as they then stop to feed. As the road runs in the direction north- 

 east and southwest, the deer cross the track going south earlier on 

 the north end than on the south end. From Little Lake south to 

 Day's River are good hunting points. They commence crossing 

 at Little Lake about August 5th ; Helena Switch, about August 

 8th to loth ; McFarland's Hill (half way between Helena and Cen- 

 treville.) about 15th to 18th, and so on. 



