168 THE STILL-HUNTER. 



take too long shots at anything running from the val- 

 ley up the opposite ridge, then it is better to remain 

 on the ridges even during such time as the deer are 

 lying down. But when the ridges are high and the 

 valleys broad between them, then it may be folly to 

 hunt upon the ridges at all, even during the time 

 when the deer are on foot. 



Two things must determine your choice of eleva- 

 tion for walking: 



ist. Where are the most deer keeping, in the val- 

 leys or on the ridges ? 



2d. From which ground can I the more easily ap- 

 proach and get a shot at them, the high or low ? 



If the valleys are of any breadth at the bottom 

 say from forty or fifty yards upward and contain 

 good feed or browse, which, as well as water, they wilt 

 be quite apt to contain, then the greater number of 

 deer, if not much disturbed, will often be found in 

 the valley at all times of the day. Especially will 

 this be the case where the valley is several hundred 

 yards and more in width. So also they may often be 

 found all day in valleys so narrow at the bottom as 

 to be mere ravines, as is often the case in stormy 

 weather. 



On the other hand, if the hills are well broken into 

 brushy gulches, basins, and pockets, the deer will be 

 quite likely to prefer them to the valleys, and if much 

 hunted will be quite certain to do so. The warm belt 

 mentioned in the last chapter, and other questions 

 heretofore discussed, will go far to determine this 

 matter, although it cannot be definitely decided in 

 any way; and there will nearly always be some deer 

 in both places, the only question being as to the 

 preponderance. 



