EXAMINING THE GROUND, SIGNS, ETC. 31 



often change this circuit, sometimes every day for a 

 few days, sometimes every few days, and sometimes 

 will spend a week or more on a thirty- or forty-acre 

 piece of ground. This change of daily circuit is, how- 

 ever, not extensive, being comprised often within a 

 circle of a mile in diameter, and seldom exceeding 

 two or three miles except for such special causes as 

 much hunting and great distances between food, 

 water, and cover, etc. 



In thus examining ground to determine something 

 about the amount of deer, there are certain places 

 which require special attention. Next to the actual 

 feeding-ground there is scarcely any place more cer- 

 tain to have signs and show them plainly than burnt- 

 off ground. Why the deer resort to burnt ground is 

 of little consequence. It is certain that the tender 

 shoots of grass, etc., which spring up there are not the 

 sole attraction. For often they begin to frequent it 

 as soon as it is fairly cooled off, and continue to fre- 

 quent it even in those countries where there is no 

 summer rain to start any vegetation upon it. In 

 brushy countries this is the very best ground on which 

 to hunt, especially when after a cold night the morn- 

 ing sun shines brightly into it. 



Look also in the ravines and swales that lie between 

 ridges ; along the edges and in the open parts of 

 thickets ; along the bottoms and in the flats by little 

 creeks and rivulets ; in and around the heads of 

 ravines, especially if the heads are brushy ; around 

 the edges of windfalls, especially fresh ones, as the 

 deer will come to browse on the tops of trees and on 

 the young saplings that have been knocked down by 

 the larger trees. Look also in the edges and open 

 places of the brush on the outer edge of timber, espe- 



