322 Deer and Antelope of North America 



will likely remain very nearly where it stops 

 feeding until well into the afternoon. This is 

 the time of day for the hunter to rest all save 

 his eyes ; the eyes must never rest while moose 

 hunting. 



If in pursuing the moose in this manner the 

 course of its path becomes uncertain, the hunter 

 may select some favorable point and approach 

 at right angles for the purpose of determining 

 whether or not he has passed the animal or if 

 it has changed its course ; but he must remember 

 that when the time comes for the animal to rest 

 it nearly always doubles back to the right or left 

 of its trail a short distance. One very striking 

 peculiarity in the animal's actions at such a time 

 is that just before lying down it will run for a 

 short distance, as if in play, stopping suddenly, 

 as if acting under orders, when reaching the point 

 upon which it desires to rest. Very especially is 

 this little run apt to be indulged in if there are 

 two or more animals together. It cost me two or 

 three moose to learn this. I was once following 

 three animals in deep snow. I was to the left of 

 them, and had travelled such a distance that I 

 became anxious to locate their trail, and I cau- 

 tiously made my way to the right to intersect 

 their course, if possible. I did not go more than 

 three hundred yards until I came into their very 

 fresh trail. I climbed a tree and scanned the 



