Pi 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



Fifth Florida Episode : Deer Hunting 



HE different modes of destroying deer are proba- 

 bly too well understood and too successful!]) 

 practised in the United States ; for notwith- 

 standing the almost incredible abundance of these beau- 

 tiful 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 bus- 

 tard 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 intimate acquaintance with the habits of the 

 deer, not only at different seasons of the year, but also 

 at ever}^ hour of the day, as the hunter must be av/are 

 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 



