264 



RECREATION. 



"How did either of your bullets reach 

 this place?" he asked. One had struck high, 

 back of the shoulder, ranging backward ; 

 one had struck on the other side, low 

 down, back of the shoulder, ranging for- 

 ward toward the heart. 



Carefully uncovering, he found a large 

 bullet held in a sack that had grown about 

 it, and there were no traces of a recent 

 wound in its vicinity. 



We reached the depot camp about noon 

 Thursday. David, with his October 

 party, arrived soon after. He was shown 

 our find, and he pronounced it a Martini- 

 Henry bullet that he had fired at a moose 

 2 or 3 years before. He claimed, also, that 

 in its flight it had collided with a small 

 tree, which explained an abrasion on one 

 side. 



"There," said Alec, "I knew there must 

 be some good reason why that bullet did 

 no more damage. You couldn't expect it to 

 go through a tree and do wnat it would 

 if there had been no obstacle. I don't be- 

 lieve the 30-30 would have done nearly so 

 well, under same circumstances ; but the 

 tree was not to blame. The fault was be- 

 hind the rifle." 



On the whole, I had a most enjoyable 

 trip ; plenty of fatigue, wet, cold, and 

 other discomforts, with 14 days 9^ hours 

 of disappointment. Then 15 minutes of 

 rising hope and exultation at success; 

 enough for a year, and to cause me to for- 

 get all that was unpleasant. 



What is the best time for moose hunt- 

 ing, and where? 



If a man would merely like to shoot a 

 moose, if expenses must be kept down, 

 and if comfortable living is necessary, let 

 him go to Maine and take chances. About 

 one hunter in 50 gets a moose. The old, 

 big antlered heads are scarce, though, un- 

 less one penetrates far North, 2 or 3 days' 

 journey from the railroads. The season is 

 short, October 15 to December 1. 



A trip to Maine, including 15 days' so- 

 journ at an accessible camp, would cost 

 anywhere from $100 to $150. If in 10 

 such trips the hunter got one set of antlers 

 worth mounting he would be doing better 

 than the average. If he penetrates the 

 Northern wilderness he will need more 

 time and his expenses will be greater. As 

 he can only engage in still hunting he will 

 not greatly improve his chances. There are 

 plenty of moose in Maine ; cows, calves 

 and young bulls. Old bulls with big 

 antlers are scarce. 



If one must have a moose, New 

 Brunswick offers much better chances. 

 The open time begins September 15 and 

 does not close until January 1. The hunter 

 has a choice of calling, still hunting or 

 tracking on snow. In the rutting season, 

 with a competent guide and fair weather, 

 one is certain of one or more chances for 

 shots. In the still hunting season, condi- 

 tions are about the same as in Maine, ex- 

 cept there is more game. The tracking 

 season, beginning with first snow, offers 

 chances all its own. With a competent 

 guide and skilful huntei you need not 

 come home with anything less than a 50- 

 inch set. If you want caribou, they are 

 there. 



A trip to New Brunswick, 2 to 3 weeks 

 in the woods, will cost $150 to $300. If 

 you are a good shot, you will not need to 

 make a second trip. The heads brought 

 out in September and October average 

 smaller than those killed after the snow 

 flies. The reason is, that in the rutting 

 season, the young bulls rush out on 

 hearing a call and expose themselves much 

 more freely than do the old ones. After 

 snow flies, the good guide will carefully 

 select a large bull's track, and run him 

 down, disregarding the small bulls, cows 

 and calves. 



In the season of 1900 my guide and his 

 brother handled 9 sportsmen. They 

 brought out 8 good moose heads, running 

 35 to 58 inches spread. The ninth sports- 

 man had 4 chances, but declined all, as 

 neither would beat the one he had obtained 

 in a previous year. Five caribou were also 

 shot, and no man came home empty-hand- 

 ed. 



Do not think it is only necessary to 

 go to New Brunswick to get a moose. A 

 competent guide is essential, and they are 

 as scarce there as good heads in Maine. 

 Do not contract with one who is not well 

 recommended. There are 4 requisites to 

 getting moose, even in New Brunswick; 

 endurance, a cool head, skill with the rifle, 

 and a good guide. 



If anyone wishes to go on a moose or 

 caribou hunt where such game is plenti- 

 ful, and wishes a guide who knows the 

 country, how to take care of his patron, 

 and who is reasonably sure of snowing 

 him his heart's desire inside of 2 weeks' 

 stay in the woods, let him correspond with 

 Alec Ogilvy, Jr., South Tilley, Victoria 

 county, New Brunswick. 



"Bah Jove! All the girls around here 

 smile at me." 



"Well, that shows they have some man- 

 ners. Anywhere else they would laugh out- 

 right."— Chicago Daily News. 



