34 THE STILL HUNTER. 



These same principles apply to examining almost 

 any kind of ground. Deer are often found in great 

 numbers in dense jungles of canebrake, swamp, and 

 chapparal. But in such ground Tittle can be done 

 by still-hunting proper. One can only get them by 

 driving or by hunting around the open places in the 

 morning and evening, when they may be out. 



Antelope are such rangers that this kind of inspec- 

 tion will not do for them. Besides, they are so sure 

 to be on foot during a great part of the day, to be in 

 bands, and to be on open ground, that the quickest 

 way to find them is to ride over the country, stopping 

 at every eminence and sweeping the country with a 

 good glass. They will go great distances for water, 

 seeming to need it more than deer do ; and as they 

 generally go to it in a band like cattle, the water-holes 

 are the places to look for their tracks. 



And now a puzzling question may meet the begin- 

 ner , namely, What is plenty? and are deer plenty 

 enough to hunt ? 



The word " plenty" has of course different mean- 

 ings for different kinds of game. One bear to the 

 square mile would be plenty for bears, in most bear 

 countries ; yet one deer to the square mile would 

 hardly be worth hunting except upon very favorable 

 ground, and then you would generally need snow. 

 " Plenty" varies also in meaning with localities. In 

 parts of Northern California plenty a few years ago 

 at least would mean forty or fifty deer to the square 

 mile, while in San Diego we call five to the square 

 mile plenty. In such heavy timber as covers the 

 north of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota an aver- 

 age of ten to the square mile would be quite plenty, 



