50 THE STILL-HUNTER. 



CHAPTER V. 



THE DAILY LIFE OF DEER AND ANTELOPE. 



BEFORE one can expect any success in still-hunting 

 he must know something about the daily life and 

 movements of the game. In hunting antelope this is 

 not of so much importance, as they live in country so 

 open, are so conspicuous in color, and keep so much 

 in bands, that with a good glass and careful searching 

 from prominent points they can be seen at immense 

 distances. And this must be done any how, for 

 they are such wide rangers that there is little use to 

 be made of their tracks except to get their general 

 course; and when you are once upon their range you 

 can employ your time to better advantage in covering 

 as much ground as possible with your horse and 

 sweeping it with your glass. 



But the deer keeps so close to some kind of cover, 

 is of a color so neutral, often resembling the general 

 background upon which he is to be seen, that one 

 may often pass within easy shot of a dozen without 

 seeing them at all unless they run. There is little 

 trouble in seeing antelope, on rolling ground at least, 

 provided you get within a half-mile or so of them. 

 The main difficulty is to get a shot after you do see 

 them. With deer it is not only difficult enough to get 

 a good shot, but almost as hard to find them at all. 

 The general whereabouts of antelope being known, it 

 is little trouble or rather it takes little or no skill or 



