466 



AUDUBON 



DEER HUNTING 



The different modes of Deer hunting are probably too 

 well understood, and too successfully practised in tlie 

 United States ; for, notwithstanding the almost incredible 

 abundance of these beautiful animals in our forests and 

 prairies, such havoc is carried on amongst them that, in a 

 few centuries, they will probably be as scarce in America 

 as the Great Bustard now is in Britain. 



We have three modes of hunting Deer, each varying 

 in some slight degree in the different States and districts. 

 The first is termed still hunting, and is by far the most 

 destructive. The second is called fire-light hunting, and 

 is next in its exterminating effects. The third, which may 

 be looked upon as a mere amusement, is named driving. 

 Although many Deer are destroyed by this latter method, 

 it is not by any means so pernicious as the others. These 

 methods I shall describe separately. 



Still hunting is followed as a kind of trade by most of 

 our frontier-men. To be practised with success it requires 

 great activity, an expert management of the rifle, and a 

 thorough knowledge of the forest, together with an inti- 

 mate acquaintance with the habits of the Deer, not only at 

 different seasons of the year, but also at every hour of the 

 day, as the hunters must be aware of the situations which 

 the game prefers, and in which it is most likely to be found 

 at any particular time. I might here present you with a 

 full account of the habits of our Deer, were it not my 

 intention to lay before you, at some future period, in 

 the form of a distinct work, the observations which I 

 have made on the various quadrupeds of our extensive 

 territories. 



Illustrations of any kind require to be presented in the 

 best possible light. We shall therefore suppose that we 

 are now about to follow the true hunter, as the " still 



