94 CERVID^. 



to be borne in mind that Deer, when disturbed, in- 

 variably move up-wind; when, therefore, a herd is dis- 

 covered a rifle should be posted at the point they are 

 likely to make for, while another, taking a wide circuit, 

 gradually and cautiously steals round, till the herd 

 gets a slight sniff of him from a distance great 

 enough not to alarm them, and yet sufficient to cause 

 them to move off gradually towards the concealed rifle, 

 upon whom, at the right moment, a more rapid advance 

 or a shot will drive them with the greatest certainty. 



In winter stalking, the time generally chosen is rather 

 early in the season, before the snow has accumulated 

 to any great depth. The Deer are then compelled again 

 to seek the forest, not merely for protection from the 

 biting blast and sweeping drift, but because the sheltered 

 surface, being less deeply covered with snow, affords 

 more chance of obtaining food. 



Their presence at this time in any particular locality 

 is ascertained at once by their tracks in the snow, the 

 discovery of which immediately puts all the hunters of 

 the neighbourhood on the qui vive. This is, in short, 

 the season par excellence for deer-stalking. 



In the Canadian winter ice and snow assume the 

 most attractive and enjoyable aspects they are capable 

 of, and without our tedious prelude of cold and broken 

 weather the season comes all at once. The glowing 



