MOOSE-CALLING IN NEW BRUNSWICK 



On a point about one hundred yards distant, backed by a 

 wall of snow-covered bushes and trees, a magnificent wide- 

 antlered bull gazed down the length of the pond and let out 

 some of the pent-up steam from its lungs in a succession of 

 hoarse challenges. Before I could fire, this great, black beast 

 waded out to the two cows, and after giving one of them a 

 friendly bunt with its antlers, started to feed. Occasionally 

 it would raise its great, dripping head and blades, watch and 

 listen for a few minutes, let forth a resounding grunt, and re- 

 sume its feeding. 



We cautiously crawled forward through short bushes and 

 around grassy hummocks until we crouched within fifteen yards 

 of this family party of moose. To have shot the bull in the 

 midst of this unfathomable mud-hole would have been simply 

 wasting a good set of antlers. After shivering in the wet 

 snow for three-quarters of an hour the novelty of studying the 

 habits of such large beasts at close quarters was replaced by a 

 decided chilliness induced by wet clothes, inactivity, and a 

 cutting wind. We rose to our full height; and instantly all 

 three moose raised their heads, gazed at us for a few moments, 

 and then struggled violently through the mud toward the far 

 shore. Owing to its superior strength, the bull forged ahead 

 of the cows, while I shivered and waited my chance to fire when 

 it should draw itself out of the mud on the far side of the pond, 

 one hundred and fifty yards distant. When it commenced to 

 emerge from the water near the shore a violent, driving cloud 

 of snow almost completely hid it, and I hastily emptied my 

 magazine at its blurred, indistinct body before it was com- 

 pletely blotted out by the storm. 



A quarter of an hour later found us approaching the spot 

 where we had seen the bull, the place being marked by the last 

 of the two cows, which stood at the edge of the pond and gazed 

 in astonishment at the unusual sight of men. John attempted 

 to strike it in the face with his battered felt hat, whereupon it 



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