HUNTING THE PRONG-BUCK. m 



grew more plentiful as we journeyed onward, 

 approaching a big, scantily wooded creek, 

 where I had found the prong-horn abundant 

 in previous seasons. They were very wary 

 and watchful whether going singly or in small 

 parties, and the lay of the land made it ex- 

 ceedingly difficult to get within range. The 

 last time I had hunted in this neighborhood 

 was in the fall, at the height of the rutting 

 season. Prong-bucks, even more than other 

 game, seem fairly maddened by erotic excite- 

 ment. At the time of my former hunt they 

 were in ceaseless motion ; each master buck 

 being incessantly occupied in herding his 

 harem, and righting would-be rivals, while 

 single bucks chased single does asgrayhounds 

 chase hares, or else, if no does were in sight, 

 from sheer excitement ran to and fro as if 

 crazy, racing at full speed in one direction, 

 then halting, wheeling, and tearing back again 

 just as hard as they could go. 



At this time, however, the rut was still 

 some weeks off, and all the bucks had to do 

 was to feed and keep a look-out for enemies. 

 Try my best, I could not get within less than 

 four or five hundred yards, and though I took 

 a number of shots at these, or at even longer 

 distances, I missed. If a man is out merely 

 for a day's hunt, and has all the time he 

 wishes, he will not scare the game and waste 

 cartridges by shooting at such long ranges, 

 preferring to spend half a day or more in pa- 

 tient waiting and careful stalking ; but if he 

 is travelling, and is therefore cramped for 

 time, he must take his chances, even at the 

 cost of burning a good deal of powder. 



