The Columbia Blacktail 235 



Like other deer this child of suspicion so quickly 

 learns the difference between the step of a horse 

 bearing a man and the step of one without that 

 little can be gained by hunting on horseback. 

 The knowledge seems almost intuitive ; though, if 

 belled cattle are ranging the woods, deer can be 

 deceived by a bell on the horse, and also by a bell 

 on the man without a horse. But this does not 

 last long, and only the first inventors of the trick 

 are likely to profit by it. 



The blacktail is also a difficult deer to drive, 

 surround, or cut off. Though if left alone he will 

 generally take an easy path, like the mule-deer 

 he will go anywhere when alarmed, and is quite 

 likely to go where you least suspect. For this 

 reason there is no use in two or more trying to 

 hunt together except in rare cases around some 

 point or some brushy basin where one may go 

 around to where the deer may come out. The 

 surest way is alone and on foot. 



On most of the territory covered by this deer 

 there are few places where one can stop at a 

 house and go out in the morning or evening 

 with much chance of a successful hunt. Farm- 

 houses are not scattered through these great 

 woods as they once were in so many parts of the 

 East. A pack train is generally necessary, for 

 there are not many places where good hunting 

 can be had even with a wagon. Although you 



