194 THE STILL-HUNTER. 



at the slightest snap of a twig, just as the timber-deer 

 does. 



The proper way to hunt here is to avoid noise as 

 much as you can by selecting trails, easing off brush 

 with your hands, going around it, crawling through it, 

 etc., but never to assume that there is nothing just 

 ahead of you because you have just had to make a 

 noise in tearing through some brush that you could 

 not get around. In short, make no noise; but if you 

 must make some, do not be concerned about it, but 

 go on the same as if you had made none at all. 



And now another question perplexes you; viz., how 

 high up the side of this range of hills to walk? 



A common mistake in hunting such ground is going 

 too high up. Although you will find some tracks and 

 droppings nearly up to the top of those peaks, yet the 

 deer are rarely there in the daytime. Most of those 

 tracks are made by deer crossing the top to the other 

 side, but in no particular haste about getting over. 

 It will rarely be worth while to hunt there, and it is 

 also too far away to command a view of the lower 

 slopes and foot-hills. This applies, however, only to 

 such ranges as are narrow at the top. If they are 

 broad-topped and contain plateaus, basins, etc., on 

 the top, then the top may be the best place. 



If deer are not at all disturbed, the lowest foot-hills 

 and ravines of such hills as these will contain about 

 as many deer as any part of them. But if disturbed 

 by hunters, herdsmen, or sheep, etc., they will go 

 higher. As a rule, the middle tier of the hills is the 

 best to hunt; as it is not only apt to contain as many 

 deer as any part, but commands a good view of the 

 upper and lower slopes and ravines. 



But what means that motion in yonder bush, in 



