During long-lying deep snows the big game 

 generally use every local spot or opening of 

 vantage. 



In many regions a fall of snow is followed by 

 days of fair weather. During these days most of 

 the snow melts ; often the earth is almost free 

 of one snow before another fall comes. In places 

 of this kind the game have periods of ease. But 

 in vast territories the snow comes, deepens, and 

 lies deep over the earth for weeks. To endure 

 long-lying deep snows requires special habits 

 or methods. The yarding habit, more or less 

 intensely developed, is common with sheep, elk, 

 deer, and moose of all snowy lands. 



The careful yarding habit of the moose is an 

 excellent method of triumphing over deep snow. 

 In early winter, or with the deepening snow, a 

 moose family proceed to a locality where food 

 is abundant; here they restrict themselves to 

 a small stamping-ground, — one of a stone's 

 throw or a few hundred feet radius. Constant 

 tramping and feeding in this limited area com- 

 pacts the snow in spaces and in all the trails 

 so that the animals walk on top of it. Each 



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