82 THE DEER FAMILY 



Dr. George McAleer, an experienced moose-hunter, 

 says: "During the rutting period in the early part of 

 the open season, the bulls are wild with passion and 

 daily roam many miles, seeking the society of the cows, 

 whose low bellowing, in the unbroken stillness of the 

 woods and beside placid lakes, is heard a long dis- 

 tance at early dawn and in the evening twilight. The 

 skilful guide so clearly imitates these seductive notes 

 upon a horn made of birch-bark as to deceive the most 

 wary bull, who is attracted within close range, only to 

 receive the death-dealing bullet instead of the blandish- 

 ments of the cow. 



" This method of hunting moose is not now so popu- 

 lar as formerly. It is thought to savor too much of 

 barn-yard slaughter, as unworthy of the manly sports- 

 man, and as taking undue advantage of the blind in- 

 stinct of the moose. Others consider it not above 

 jacking deer, now so out of favor, and predict its early 

 condemnation and discontinuance, as not sanctioned by 

 the higher canons of sportsmanship."* 



The following description of calling a moose will 

 give the reader an excellent idea of this method of 

 capture : 



A party of sportsmen were in camp beside Cobocong 

 Lake. " The infinite peace of the October evening, the 

 solemnity and mystery of the looming forest of gloomy 

 hemlock, and the beauty of the dim, spreading lake, 

 hushed the words upon our lips and lifted our hearts 

 to song within us. 



" Suddenly a deep sound boomed through the sombre 

 recesses of the woods — a long, plangent bellow. It died 



* Field and Stream, October, 1903. 



