IX 

 TRAILING 



TRAILING the grizzly bear is, in the language of the 

 regions which he inhabits, "no cinch." Of all the 

 forms of still hunting or stalking open to the sportsman 

 of America, it is the most difficult and the most demanding. 

 Not only is the grizzly phenomenally quick to catch every 

 sound, not only is his sense of smell amazingly developed, 

 but he is particularly cunning in guarding himself against 

 danger from the rear, and his senses are at least matched 

 by his shrewdness. 



In following the trail of any wild animal, an observant 

 person soon begins to learn the peculiarities of his quarry. 

 Especially if there be a slight coating of snow on the ground 

 the record of recent hours is plainly written, for him who 

 trails to read. And as "Moccasin Joe" is at once more 

 human in his proceedings and more capricious in his 

 occupations than any of his fellow denizens of the forest, 

 as he exceeds these also in cunning and endurance, the 

 tracking of an old grizzly, made wise and wary by years 

 of experience, is the most searching test of a hunter's skill, 

 and offers him, both in entertainment and satisfaction, the 

 greatest reward. 



Upon finding the trail of a bear, if the knowing hunter 



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