260 HK; (iAME OF NORTH AMERICA. 



essential in very dense cane-brakes. They can get under 

 the cane and pinch a Bear so tight that it is forced to tree 

 or bay. 



With such a pack, and one reliable start-dog, the young 

 Bear-hunter can yet find good sport in Coahoma and Boli- 

 var Counties, Mississippi, Ashley County, Arkansas, and 

 along the White and St. Francis Rivers. A few Bears are 

 yet to be found along the Ouachita, Red, Trinity, and 

 Brazos Rivers. Occasionally a Bear is found crossing the 

 dividing ridges between these rivers. Sometimes the Texas 

 cowboy has the pleasure of roping one, crossing a prairie 

 from one river bottom to another. 



Last summer I discovered the tracks of an old she-Bear 

 and her two cubs, that had been fishing in a lake in the Red 

 River bottom, in Red River Parish. Several years have 

 passed since any were seen in that parish before, and 

 undoubtedly these w^andered from the Sabine River, in 

 Texas, across the hills to Red River. 



In regard to still -hunting the Black Bear, having tested 

 both modes of hunting, I can only give my own experience. 

 Right here I would say, that it would be at this time a rare 

 accident for a still-liunter to find a Bear in our southern 

 country, in this way, except in overflows. 



In early times, when Bears were numerous, the still- 

 hunter could watch certain places where the Bears crossed 

 from one thicket or cane-brake to another— it being their 

 habit, like Deer, to use the same points at which to cross — 

 and get a shot some time during the day. Again, he might 

 find a "stepping-place," which I will later describe, and 

 get a shot. Or he might succeed in stalking one while feed- 

 ing on the pecan-mast, or water-oak acorns. Should he 

 desire only to kill a Bear ravaging the corn-fields in the 

 roasting-ear stage, by watching the gap where they crossed 

 the fence, the chances for a shot would be good. At that 

 season the Bears are too poor to be eaten. Though this is 

 interesting, yet it is only cold-blooded assassination. 



How can it compare with the tierce baying of a noble 

 pack of dogs, the angry growls of the enraged Bear, with 



