MY MOOSE HUNT IN igoi. 



W. G. REED. 



I arrived in Perth, September 12. Alec 

 was waiting for me with his team, and 

 we were soon on the road to his house for 

 the first night. After supper I unpacked 

 my duffle and we made preparations for an 

 early start in the morning. Alec picked 

 up my rifle, looked it over and said : 



"I see vou still stick to the 30-30." 



"Yes, it is good enough for me," I re- 

 plied. 



"I was in hopes you would bring a more 

 powerful gun this year." 



"What's the matter with that?" said I. 

 "You know what it did for me 2 years ago 

 — one caribou that never took a step after 

 being hit, and one moose that went but 

 10 yards; each struck but once. What 

 more do you ask?" 



"Yes, I know," said Alec; "you got the 

 bullets each in the right place." 



"That is just the point," I returned. "I 

 can out more bullets in the right place with 

 the 30-30 than I can with a gun that kicks. 

 All large bore, heavy bullet r;uns have an 

 unpleasant recoil. To put the bullet in 

 the right place is necessary with any rifle." 



"I don't agree with you. I want a gun 

 that will paralyze if it hits at all." 



"That gun is not made, of sufficient light 

 weight for a man to carry." 



"Oh, yes it is," cried Alec. "There (pick- 

 ing up a Martini-Henry) is the rifle. If I 

 touch a moose anywhere it's mine." 



"Oh, rats !" I exclaimed, "You can 

 not paralyze an animal unless you hit some 

 nerve center; the brain, vertebrae, kidneys, 

 or ham string; and a 30-30 will do that. 

 For a paunch shot the 45 or 50 caliber 

 would, doubtless, be better ; but give me the 

 weapon with which I can put the most 

 bullets in places that will cause death 

 quickly." 



When a man receives a gunshot wound, 

 he realizes the situation, he gives up, and 

 in many cases would welcome another bul- 

 let that would put an end to pain. An 

 animal, however, merely feels, instinctively, 

 that danger threatens and he puts forth 

 all his energy to get away. If mortally 

 wounded, he will go until his natural forces 

 are spent. If not mortally, he will get 

 away and the wound will heal. 



Friday morning, September 20, 2 bulls 

 came out in answer to a call. I decided 

 that neither had antlers large enough for 

 me. Alec insisted on my shooting at the 

 biggest, as I might not get a chance at 

 anything better. I reluctantly complied, 

 cutting off a lock of hair, but not doing 

 other injury, and they both disappeared. 



"Oh, hang that 30-30," said Alec. "It 

 is no good." 



"Now, don't blame the rifle," I replied. 

 "The fault was mine. I am glad now I 

 fired, and glad I missed, because I am 

 sure he was not what I came for. Glad 

 I fired, because I was too confident that 

 I would hit and so was careless in aiming. 

 Now show me a moose with antlers that 

 I want, and I'll take them home." 



Three other bulls were seen in the next 

 few days, but under such circumstances 

 that shooting was impossible. My contract 

 with Alec required that on Wednesday, 

 October 2, I should return to the depot 

 camp at Trousers lake ; my successor was 

 due to arrive there that day and he would 

 claim Alec. Tuesday, October r, still no 

 game, and it looked as if I should have 

 to go home with nothing. We had had 

 unpropitious weather, high winds with a 

 great deal of rain. So far, only 2 calling 

 days. 



On the last afternoon the wind died 

 away, and we started out. Calling 

 brought no answers, and reluctantly we 

 turned the canoe toward camp. We were 

 near the landing, about 5 o'clock, when 

 Alec suggested that as we still had half an 

 hour of daylight, we try the lower end of 

 the lake. About 5.15 we stopped and he 

 called. A few moments of suspense, and 

 a distant "Whoof" came to our ears. 



"By Jove ! there's an answer. We must 

 get around on the other side of this isl- 

 and." 



Paddling rapidly we were soon in a good 

 position, and another coaxing invitation 

 was sounded. At 5.25 an enormous bull 

 appeared on the shore, exhibiting only head 

 and fore-quarters. I fired 5 shots before 

 he disappeared and we were confident he 

 was wounded. 



In addition to his ability as a caller Alec 

 has a hunting instinct. Instead of landing 

 where the bull was last seen, he paddled 

 farther down the lake, then pushed in at an 

 angle so as to cross any trail. Within 5 

 minutes he found the animal dead. He 

 could not see the canoe, but calling to me 

 to keep on shouting, with his knife he 

 blazed his way out. In the last 15 min- 

 utes of my last hunting day the bull was 

 called out. shot and found. It was then 

 nearly dark and we returned to camp for 

 supper. Then, with lanterns, we went back 

 to dress the game. Alec wished to save 

 the hide for moccasins ; so after removing 

 the head and feet, all I wanted, he began 

 to skin. Soon his knife struck a hard 

 substance. 



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