234 THE STILL-HUNTER. 



back of the ridge far away from the point, and then 

 let the other ascend the point. The same plan is 

 often advisable in traversing a short gulch or ravine, 

 instead of each one taking one edge. But it is not 

 always worth while to take this trouble unless you 

 have reason to believe you will start something. You 

 will of course divide at all windfalls, brush-patches, 

 etc., where there is any probability of a deer, and 

 either keep abreast in going around or let one take a 

 wide circuit first and get on the opposite side while 

 you go through. Movements of this sort become 

 quite obvious after you once thoroughly know the 

 habits of deer. It is scarcely necessary now to tell 

 you where to post a third or fourth companion if you 

 should have one with you. 



Good deer-driving may often be done by a single 

 person. One man can generally start a deer from a 

 piece of ground, especially if he goes down wind, quite 

 as effectually as a dozen dogs. There is a partial 

 exception to this in the case of the skulking deer; 

 but, if they are at all plenty, enough of them will 

 run to give your companions a shot. This is often the 

 only way that a piece of noisy or very brushy ground 

 can be hunted without dogs. 



This driving may be done by letting one or more 

 persons go through the ground where the deer are 

 likely to be, cracking plenty of brush on the way, 

 while the rest are posted at probable points of escape 

 for the game. But this is not worth while unless you 

 already know about where the game is, or you are 

 driving a basin or gulch or hill almost certain to 

 contain something. A better way when you are un- 

 certain of the game and are skirmishing about at 

 random to find it is to form a line, and move abreast 



