THE MOOSE. 439 



the animal started at the sound — distinguisliing it from the natural 

 noises of the forest." 



Besides the method of " stalking " or " still hunting," moose 

 are hunted by " calling " or " creeping," and in the winter when the 

 location of a herd is known, they are easily killed by hunting them 

 on snow-shoes, for if the animals attempt to escape over the deep 

 snow they break through the upper crust at every step, whilst the 

 hunter, on his snow-shoes, travels over it with facility. Moose- 

 calling is probably the most exciting of all the methods adopted, 

 and the one requiring the greatest amount of skill. It is only 

 practicable during the rutting season in September and October, 

 and can only be employed successfully between sunset and sun- 

 rise, for the bull-moose will rarely answer the call in the day-time. 

 A calm clear night, when all nature seems in repose, and the 

 slightest sound in the forest can be heard, and the bright moon- 

 light, whilst it silvers everything around, yet renders objects 

 clearly discernible even at a distance, is the one preferred by the 

 skilful "caller." 



The art of bringing the moose within range in this way is one 

 possessed by few white men, for it requires long practice, excep- 

 tional skill, and some qualities, which can only be found in men 

 versed in venatorial lore. A great difficulty about it is the 

 giving vent to the call so as to make it sound as though it came 

 from the lungs of a moose and not from human ones. This is the 

 true secret of the matter, and it is in the possession of this power 

 that the red man excels the white one. The Micmac and Milecete 

 Indians of the lower provinces of Canada are probably the most 

 expert moose-hunters in the world, but even among them there 

 are fewer really good and reliable callers than is generally sup- 

 posed, for, as it is necessary to have many years' practice before 

 thorough proficiency in the art can be attained, it is only the 

 elder men of these communities that have fully mastered the 

 secret. 



" The art and mystery of calKng,' ' remarked a writer in the FieU,^ 

 " consists in cleverly simulating the pecuHar grunting roar which 

 the cow-moose has a habit of uttering during the rutting time as 

 3 See Meld for November, 1878. 



