

THE MULE-DEER 245 



country through which a horse could go at a fair rate 

 of speed, it was common for the hunter to go on horse- 

 back, and not to dismount save at the moment of the 

 shot. In the early eighties, while on my ranch on the 

 Little Missouri, this was the way in which I usually 

 hunted. When I first established my ranch I often went 

 out, in the fall, after the day's work was over, and killed 

 a deer before dark. If it was in September, I would 

 sometimes start after supper. Later in the year I would 

 take supper when I got back. Under such circumstances 

 my mode of procedure was simple. Deer were plentiful. 

 Every big tangle of hills, every set of grassy coulees wind- 

 ing down to a big creek bottom, was sure to contain them. 

 The time being short, with at most only an hour or two 

 of light, I made no effort to find the tracks of a deer 

 or to spy one afar off. I simply rode through the likely 

 places, across the heads of the ravines or down the wind- 

 ing valleys, until I jumped a deer close enough up to give 

 me a shot. The unshod hoofs of the horse made but lit- 

 tle noise as he shuffled along at the regular cow-pony 

 fox trot, and I kept him close into the bank or behind 

 cover, so as to come around each successive point with- 

 out warning. If the ground was broken and rugged, I 

 made no attempt to go fast. If, on the other hand, I 

 struck a smooth ravine with gentle curves, I would often 

 put the pony to a sharp canter or gallop, so as to come 

 quickly on any deer before it could quite make up its 

 mind what course was best to follow. Sooner or later, 

 as I passed a thick clump of young ash or buck brush, 

 or came abruptly around a sharp bend, there would be 



