THE MULE-DEER 105 



down. When two shooters are working together in 

 the mountains it is well for them to move forward 

 in line, stopping often to listen and look ahead. 



I have hunted the mule-deer more often on horse- 

 back, riding about the park-like country and taking the 

 shot at the standing game, or more often when it was 

 in full flight. This method did not produce many 

 deer, even when they were abundant and comparative- 

 ly tame. I know of no place to-day where it would 

 yield any. The mule-deer of to-day must be stalked 

 afoot and the stalker must be extremely skilful to get 

 within range of him. The pursuit is now more like 

 that of his diflficult cousin — the white-tail. 



The easiest and best way to get a shot is, as I have 

 observed, by looking for the deer from ridges and try- 

 ing to locate him and then going to him. When the 

 ground is wet, he may leave a trail which an experienced 

 guide or hunter can follow, but the approach on the 

 trail is extremely difficult, and when the ground is dry 

 and the trail bad, not even an Indian can hope for suc- 

 cess. It is not a bad plan to sit down now and then 

 where there is an extended view over many little open- 

 ings in the forest valleys and study them one by one 

 with a glass. I have no doubt it would do well to rap 

 two stones, or better, two pieces of an antler, together 

 in the rutting season, with the idea of attracting any 

 buck within hearing that might be jealously looking for 

 a rival and eager for a fight. The reader will find men- 

 tion of this trick of the hunter in the chapter on the 

 white-tail. Moccasons are of course the best foot- 

 wear in deer-stalking. 



The mule-deer is a difficult mark when running on 



