362 THE DEER OF AMERICA. 



self behind some prostrate tree or great rock in a dark shadow, 

 where he remains for a time in perfect quiet, listening for the 

 well-known call of the cow or the bull Moose seeking for a mate. 

 If heard, a fitting answer is imitated, and the game is allured 

 within fatal range of the deadly rifle. No matter how perfect 

 the imitation, a doubt seems to rest in the mind, especially of an 

 old bull, and his appi'oach is slow and cautious, frequently pass- 

 ing quite around the place where the hunter is concealed, snuff- 

 ing the air to catch the scent of an enemy, if he has been de- 

 ceived, or of a mate, if his hopes are to be realized, and if the 

 least breath of air is stirring to carry the scent, he is sure to 

 catch it, and beats a retreat so quietly that not a twig snaps be- 

 neath his feet, while before the cracking noise of his great 

 antlers thrashing among the dry limbs, could be heard at a great 

 distance. When suspicion is thus confirmed, the retreat of the 

 Moose is so quiet, the hunter will sti'ain his eyes to get a glimpse 

 of the game where he last heard him, when he is rapidly re- 

 treating a long distance away. If no suspicious scent or noise 

 confirms the fears of the Moose, he gradually approaches the spot 

 where the call was heard, which he readily locates with unerring 

 certainty, till at last his great form looms up against the horizon, 

 and then it is the fault of the hunter if Moose steaks are not 

 over the camp-fire the next morning. 



The bull Moose is the principal object of pursuit in call hunt- 

 ing, the cow being rarely enticed by the call. 



■ Although this is no doubt exciting sport at times, for it is diffi- 

 cult to conceive of a feeling more intense than that inspired by 

 the crashing tread of the advancing bull or the rolling of his 

 great antlers among the dry limbs, as he thrashes them about in 

 defiance of a supposed adversary, whose challenge he thinks he 

 has heard, and with whom he is ambitious to do battle, yet this 

 is not in general a successful mode of hunting the Moose, and 

 failures are many, while successes are few. 



In Scandinavia, Mr. Lloyd tells us that the elk is successfully 

 hunted with dogs held in leash. He cautiously follows in the 

 track till the game is approached, when the dog is tied to a tree 

 and the hunter stalks the quarry alone. This mode only meets 

 with qualified success there. I have no information that this 

 mode of hunting the Moose has ever been practiced here. 



