HUNTING ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD MERRITT. 203 



us to get a sh^t at them. We again encamped. The 

 next day, after following five miles further, we overtook 

 them back of a hill, which by the sound, they appeared 

 to be going around. I immediately ran to the opposite 

 side of the hill to meet them. They came around as I 

 expected, and I partly met them. As they turned, a 

 large one ran upon the ice of a creek and broke in. As 

 he rose upon the ice, I was ready, and cut loose upon 

 him, and shot him square through. This stopped his 

 running. After securing our prize, and getting a hearty 

 meal of fresh meat, we returned." 



When Merritt came to the State of Ohio, in 1815, 

 there were numerous elk in the forests of this State. 

 The elk is of the deer species, although much larger, 

 the male, like that of the deer, only having horns. They 

 usually go in droves. "In 1823," says Merritt, "I 

 started three in the northwest corner of this township ; 

 after following them around awhile, one separated from 

 the others. I followed that one, and at night came 

 within two miles of home. I went home and slept, and 

 the next morning I took my brother with me, and a 

 rope, determining to catch and bring it in alive. We 

 took its track, there being a little snow, and often came 

 in sight of it. Many times we might have shot it, but 

 we were determined to halter it. The next night found 

 us about fifteen miles from home. The third day the 

 elk became worried and hungry, as we had not allowed 

 it to eat. During the day it ran into a cleared field, 

 and the dogs there stopped and held it. It was a cow 

 elk. I came up and caught my right arm over its neck, 

 and with my left hand I took it by the nose. She soon 



