158 GAME. 



the buck elk, fat, sleek, and proudly tossing his new- 

 grown weapons, is the most magnificent, noble-looking 

 animal on the continent. And now in splendid condi- 

 tion, and looking each ' the monarch of the glen,' the 

 bucks come down to the valleys ready to try their fasci- 

 nations on the does, who, on their part, having about 

 completed their maternal duties, are ready to be fasci- 

 nated, and come with their calves to swell the numbers 

 of the herds, which at this season congregate together. 



All are now in the very best condition, and this is 

 the true time for the sportsman who shoots for pleasure. 

 He will not kill so easily as when the bucks are ' shaking,' 

 but every one he does get is in its absolute prime, and, 

 fortunately for him, the pot-hunters are not yet out. 

 They must wait for freezing weather or their harvest is 

 spoiled. It is impossible for the eastern gourmand to 

 realise how delicious elk or venison is in September. The 

 game sent east in mid-winter is of the poorest. The bucks 

 through the remaining season are thick-necked, poor, 

 stringy, and tough. The does are all with young, though 

 fatter and far better eating than the bucks. 



About the 15th of September the running season com- 

 mences. I have heard so many stories about duels 

 between buck elk at this season that I suppose the fighting 

 must be conceded, though I have met but one person 

 who claimed to be an eye-witness to such a combat. I 

 must say on my own part that with several years' 

 experience among these animals I have never seen a 

 fight, or any wound, scar, or other evidence of a fight on 

 a buck elk, and I have seen twenty or thirty bucks in a 

 herd, with probably twice as many does, all apparently 

 on the very best terms with each other, though more or 

 less ' running ' was going on. Certainly there was no 

 fighting or offering to fight, or interference in any way of 

 one buck with another. These may have been ex- 

 ceptional ' community ' arrangements, but my opinion is 

 that fights are exceptional. 



