THE SCANDINAVIAN ELK 153 



save the trouble of pursuit, and that the vitality of the bulls 

 is often very great, especially just before the rutting season. 

 When hunting in the low forest and with the loose dog, it is 

 seldom necessary to fire at over a hundred yards, and in every 

 rifle used for elk the fixed back-sight and the bead, taken full 

 and quickly, should together give this range. But on the 

 higher and more open ground the shooter must be prepared to 

 accept fair chances at much longer ranges up to, say, four 

 hundred yards. At this distance or thereabouts, anyhow with 

 the corresponding sight up, I have myself been several times 

 successful. Most Englishmen will employ a hunter or attendant, 

 but it is scarcely needful to say that, with thoroughly trained 

 and steady dogs, either style of pursuit may be practised alone. 

 In stalking, the leader may be conveniently fastened round a 

 tree or bush while the shot is taken. The shooter must not be 

 over-sanguine of sport. If he spares cows and very young 

 deer, and gets from four to six bulls during his thirty or forty 

 days' season, he ought to be more than satisfied. 



