1 62 AN AMERICAN HUNTER 



cost ten cartridges and the other eight. In 1894 I had ex- 

 actly the reverse experience. I killed five antelope for 

 thirty-six shots, but each one that I killed was killed with 

 the first bullet, and in not one case where I missed the 

 first time did I hit with any subsequent shot. These five 

 antelope were killed at an average distance of about 150 

 yards. Those that I missed were, of course, much farther 

 off on an average, and I usually emptied my magazine at 

 each. The number of cartridges spent would seem ex- 

 traordinary to a tyro; and an unusually skilful shot, or 

 else a very timid shot who fears to take risks, will of course 

 make a better showing per head killed; but I doubt if 

 men with experience in antelope hunting, who keep an 

 accurate account of the cartridges they expend, will see 

 anything much out of the way in the performance. 



During the years I have hunted in the West I have 

 always, where possible, kept a record of the number of 

 cartridges expended for every head of game killed, and 

 of the distances at which it was shot. I have found that 

 with bison, bear, moose, elk, caribou, bighorn and white 

 goat, where the animals shot at were mostly of large size 

 and usually stationary, and where the mountainous or 

 wooded country gave chance for a close approach, the 

 average distance at which I have killed the game has been 

 eighty yards, and the average number of cartridges ex- 

 pended per head slain, three; one of these representing the 

 death-shot, and the others standing either for misses out- 

 right, of which there were not many, or else for wounding 

 game which escaped, or which I afterward overtook, or 

 for stopping cripples or charging beasts. I have killed 



