FOREST SPORTS. . 237 



eyes in front, the root of the ear from the side, or the base of 

 the skull from behind, are the deadliest marks. 



At any animal of the Deer kind crossing you, at full speed, 

 airri well forward ; I should say at the forward point of the 

 shoulder, and fire as the animal is descending in its bound ; other- 

 wise you will be likely to undershoot, and either miss it altoge- 

 ther, or only break a limb. 



When a Deer, or Moose, runs a few hundred yards after 

 being shot, it is a hundred to one against its rising again. On 

 the contrary, when it falls instantly in its tracks, it has often 

 received only a stunning or glancing wound, from which it 

 speedily recovers, and, if approached incautiously, and with un- 

 loaded arms, often effects its escape. 



When a Deer falls, therefore, if you have dogs with you, 

 restrain them ; if not, stand still yourself until you have loaded, 

 which do as quickly as possible, consistent with due delibera- 

 tion, and then step coolly forward, prepared for either fortune. 



I advise no man to go in upon a hurt Stag, much less upon a 

 Moose, or Cariboo, with knife or axe, although I have myself 

 done so with a Hart, in order to save a favorite hound. It is, 

 however, a foolish and useless risk, and I should have been 

 severely hurt, if I had not been well backed, though I had good 

 weapons. 



The best place to strike with the knife, whether to terminate 

 the agonies, or to bleed a fallen Deer, is the jugular vein, about 

 four inches below the ear, a little forward. But to hamper a 

 hurt one at bay, strike with the edge at the ham-string, between 

 the hough and quarter. This will disable him, and take the 

 fight out of him most effectually. 



The mode of hunting Cariboo differs in nothing from that of 

 Moose, with this exception, that — owing to the inferior weight 

 of the animal, and the pliability of his pastern joint, which bends 

 so completely at every stride under him, as to afford a very con- 

 siderable fulcrum and support in the deep snow — he is able to 

 travel so much longer, and so much more fleetly, even in the 

 worst crusts, that it is considered useless to attempt to run him 



