FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 173 



No deer should be killed before the 20th of September. By that time the 

 fawns, even though not fully weaned, can take care of themselves ; and the old 

 ones, although not in as good condition as they would be later, would furnish 

 venison which in that cooler month would keep until it could be eaten. The deer 

 are fattest and in best condition in October and November. In Maine the law does 

 not permit the killing of deer until October, and in Michigan until November. 



The most of the deer hunting in the Adirondacks is done by hounding, the time 

 for which under our present law is limited to thirty-one* days, from September 10th 

 to October 10th, both inclusive. During this period the deer have left the water 

 courses and the lowlands, and are roaming along the hillsides or on higher ground. 

 Some, however, remain on the flat lands along the river valleys, but not in large 

 numbers. 



The sportsman who would hunt with hounds generally joins some party bent 

 on the same pursuit, and the necessary arrangements are made the night before 

 while in camp or at some sportsman's resort, club house, or backwoods hotel. These 

 arrangements include the selection of a definite number of guides who shall act as 

 " starters " of the hounds, and an assignment of each rifleman to some designated 

 watch-point or run-way. Those who are to watch at some point on a lake, or "flow," 

 often engage an extra guide each to accompany them, who assists in keeping a 

 sharp lookout for any deer that may be driven into the lake and who will pull the 

 boat in pursuit of the fast swimming deer, so that the sportsman can shoot without 

 having his aim rendered uncertain by any fatigue in rowing. 



Early in the morning the guides who act as starters take their hounds, and with 

 two or three dogs each, sometimes four, chained to their belts, climb the hillsides or 

 travel through the woods in search of " deer signs," by which phrase the hunters 

 designate the fresh tracks on which they start their hounds. The starter does not 

 travel far before the restless action or barking of the hounds, which are tugging at 

 his belt, indicates that they scent the game ; or the keen eye of the guide may first 

 discover the footprint. But an honest, experienced guide will not start a hound 

 until he finds a fresh track, and one that promises success. Often he will pass by 

 fresh ones, hoping to find some large hoof print that will ensure a big buck for the 

 hunter watching on the lake below. When a satisfactory track is found a hound is 

 let loose on its scent. The hound, which runs by scent and not by sight, " gives 

 tongue " immediately, and disappears in the forest which now echoes with his deep- 

 toned cry. One by one the dogs are loosened, and the woods resound with their 

 musical baying. 



* This law was changed in 1896 to fifteen days, from October 1st to 15th. 



