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 approach 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 strain 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. 
