CHAPTER VI. 



WAPITTI DEER. 



WHAT I have said in reference to the habitat of the bi- 

 son may be repeated as regards the Wapitti, with this ex- 

 ception, that it does not roam so far north by some degrees 

 of latitude. Thus the visitor to the district I have recom- 

 mended for buffalo-hunting will have the advantage of en- 

 joying both descriptions of sport. 



I do not consider this noble game swift when you com- 

 pare it with the other species ol the deer family. From 

 this I am led to believe the statement of a well-known 

 sportsman, who holds a commission in the United States 

 regular service, that he and his brother officers have fre- 

 quently ridden them down. Such sport must be eminently 

 exciting, if the ground be good that you gallop over to at- 

 tain such results in such a chase. A heavy pistol or short 

 carbine would be the weapon I should prefer. 



For stalking the Wapitti, the rifle, and that of heavy cal- 

 ibre, ought to be employed ; for so large and powerful an 

 animal requires no ordinary shock to effectually paralyze 

 the system, so as to prevent the victim wandering off to 

 die a lingering death, and ultimately become food for the 

 carnivore. The habit that sportsmen of the United States 

 have of using small-bore arms when in pursuit of large 

 game is much to be deprecated ; for the result is, that a 

 great number of the stricken do not fall till they are entire- 

 ly lost to the hunter. 



In Scotland the red deer is vaunted, and his praises 

 sung, for he is truly a noble beast, alike trying the hunt- 



