152 THE STILL-HUNTER. 



has. A hog, too, spreads his toes out, and a sheep 

 generally does more or less. A deer always keeps his 

 toes tight together except when running, and some- 

 times when walking on wet and slippery ground. 

 There is once in a great while a deer with spreading 

 toes, and once in a great while a sheep with a foot 

 almost like a deer's foot. But these are too rare to 

 give you any trouble. The feet of an antelope are 

 still sharper, if possible, than those of a deer, though 

 there is often resemblance enough to deceive nearly 

 any one judging by the mere footprints without re- 

 gard to the nature of the ground, the number of an- 

 imals, etc. A calf has also a spreading foot and 

 much more rounding toes than those of a deer, as 

 well as a larger hoof. The goat makes a solid track, 

 very uneven in front. The difference in the distance 

 of the step will generally settle most cases of doubt, 

 as a deer has a much longer step than a sheep, hog, 

 or goat. The feet of these animals also drag more in 

 snow than do those of a deer. 



When the track runs over ground where it becomes 

 hard to recognize it is best to skip that part and look 

 for it farther on. And this must also be done where 

 you can easily follow it but cannot do so without 

 some danger of alarming the game ; as where the 

 trail runs down a hill-side in plain view of the valley 

 or basin in which the game is likely to be, or turns 

 down wind, etc. etc. And where it is necessary to 

 circle the trail when deer watch the back trail, etc. 

 etc., it must be found again in the same way. 



In order to do this a knowledge of the deer's hab- 

 its and movements is indispensable. So is a quick 

 and comprehensive grasp of the features (or " lay of 

 the land ") of the country where you do not already 



