120 THE STILL-HUNTER. 



on the trail of a doe at any point and overtake her 

 anywhere. 



If the ground be very broken, the ridges high, and 

 the ravines deep, you will be apt to find runways 

 along the bottoms, up the sides, and around the heads 

 of ravines, especially crossing the dividing ridge be- 

 tween the head of one ravine and that of another 

 running towards it from an opposite direction. You 

 will also find them along or crossing the "divide" be- 

 tween ravines running in the same direction. If you 

 find runways numerous or well traveled, you might 

 as well spend the day in lounging around such places, 

 taking a seat from time to time upon some ridge that 

 commands a good view of both ridges and hollows 

 and their heads. And even where deer do not form 

 runways, if you find them plenty it will be worth 

 while to do the same thing at this time of year. But 

 do not allow any affinity that may spring up between 

 you and a comfortable log to become too lasting, 

 unless there are well-traveled runways and deer are 

 quite plenty. 



When moving on a- runway look frequently behind 

 you as well as ahead, for a deer is as liable to come 

 from one direction as from another. When you see 

 fresh tracks of the size of a doe's hoof it is well to 

 wait there some time, for a buck may be from five to 

 thirty minutes behind a doe as well as close to her. 

 Should you see the doe and shoot her, or should she 

 escape, remain there fifteen or twenty minutes, keep- 

 ing a keen watch in the direction from which she 

 came. It by no means follows, though, that a doe has 

 a buck behind her, or that there is more than one buck 

 behind her. Where deer are plenty the chances are 

 the other way. Should you see a buck coming to- 



