76 THE TRAPPER'S ART. 



the bow of the boat, so that it will shine on the forward sight 

 of the gun, and at the same time conceal by its glare the hun- 

 ter crouching behind. With muffled oar the boat approaches 

 the game. The reflected gleams from the eyes of the Deer be- 

 tray his position to the hunter. If no noise is made the victim 

 will stand and gaze at the light until it is within a few yards, 

 and so give a sure opportunity for the fatal shot. Many are 

 taken in this way in the early autumn ; and later in the sea- 

 son, when snow first comes, many more are taken by the " still 

 hunt," either by following on their trail, or by watching at 

 their run-ways. 



The steel-trap, it must be confessed, is not much used for 

 taking Deer ; and I am not sure but that this use of it is re- 

 garded by sportsmen as somewhat barbarous. But all the 

 ways of deceiving and killing these noble animals seem to be 

 open to the same objection ; and the necessities of the trapper 

 often forbid him to be very particular as to the means of fur- 

 nishing himself with food. There are times when the trap is 

 the best, and even the only, available means of taking Deer ; 

 for instance, when the trapper is without his rifle, or has ex- 

 hausted his ammunition, and finds himself in the far wilder- 

 ness without food. In such circumstances, he might starve if 

 he could not betake himself to his traps for supply. And even 

 when rifle and ammunition are at hand, sometimes in dry 

 weather (technically called a " noisy time ") every thing is so 

 crisp and crackling under foot, that it is impossible to ap- 

 proach the Deer within shooting distance. I therefore rec- 

 ommend to practical woodsmen to learn how to take Deer in 

 traps, and not be over-scrupulous in doing so when occasion 

 requires. 



For taking Deer the trap must be a strong one, and the jaws 



should be spiked, and 

 so shaped and adjusted 

 i that when sprung they 

 will remain open about 

 half an inch, to pre- 

 Deer Trap. ven t breaking the bone. 



The trap should be placed in the path of the deer where it 



