46 THE STILL-HUNTER. 



has been too limited to enable me to determine satis- 

 factorily whether they are as sensitive to noise as a 

 deer. So far as I have seen they are not, though this 

 is probably on account of being on open ground; a 

 distinction before explained. For the same reason 

 the question of scent seems to be less important. 

 But then you should not presume in the slightest 

 upon any failure of acuteness in any of their senses; 

 and especially in their eyes, to which you must never 

 yield a single point of vantage. 



In fact, you must not presume upon any exception 

 about the senses of either antelope or deer. If you 

 deal with every one as if he were the most wary of 

 his race, you will lose nothing if he turns out a sim- 

 pleton. Whereas if you deal with any as if they were 

 simpletons, you will lose not only the wise ones but 

 many a simpleton also. 



And now let us consider what you have with which 

 to outgeneral these senses of your game. 



I have seen one man who claimed that he could 

 smell deer. As he could make no practical use of his 

 power in jumping, or starting, or finding the animal, 

 even against a cool morning breeze, it may be con- 

 sidered worthless even if it were not all in his fancy. 

 A good musky old buck in the fall, if close by, may 

 be smelt. And so may a billy-goat. But the buck 

 cannot be smelt far enough to keep him from discov- 

 ering you first. The hunter's nose may be regarded 

 as useless except to find camp at evening when the 

 bacon and coffee are ready. 



Your ears will often detect the sound of hoofs when 

 you have started a deer, and are then useful as a guide 

 to your eyes. They may also help you discover a 

 deer moving in brush or on hard ground if near at 



