I04 THE DEER FAMILY 



is a place for a club preserve, or, better yet, a State 

 park or refuge. 



In stalking mule-deer it is important to see the game 

 before he sees you. His nose is keen, he hears well, 

 and sees better than some writers seem to think he 

 does. Proceeding carefully on the higher ground, look 

 carefully into open places below, and having dis- 

 covered the game, look well to the wind and approach 

 it so that you have the wind in your face. Do not 

 hurry. Proceed with the utmost quiet and caution, 

 taking care not to break a branch or twig. Take 

 advantage of whatever cover there may be, and if the 

 deer stops feeding, remain motionless until he starts 

 to feed again. Remember alwa3's that it is motion 

 that attracts the deer's attention and alarms him. If 

 you be dressed properly, in clothes of dull yellowish 

 or gray tones that harmonize well with the trunks 

 of the trees and other surroundings, the deer will 

 not be apt to see you if you remain absolutely still. 

 Try always for a side-shot, aim just behind the 

 shoulder and rather low, and if the shot does not 

 drop him, keep firing so long as he is in sight. Deer 

 will often run after being fatally wounded. In the 

 mountains look well to the little glades and marshy 

 places, and in shooting down at a deer remember 

 that there is great danger of overshooting. Shoot 

 low. I once discovered two mule-deer in a deep 

 hollow or pocket in the mountains and saw my first 

 ball strike the ground far too high. The deer did 

 not seem to know from what direction the noise came, 

 and pranced about but did not run away. I fired 

 several shots all too high, but at length brought one 



