
472 DEER AND DEER-HUNTING IN TEXAS. 
least, not with it, has nothing to fear from this sense, and 
‘has only to deceive the other two. He learns to walk in . 
almost perfect silence, and if he can avoid being seen, his 
point is gained. Upon a single deer the approach is com- 
paratively easy. He is generally walking slowly, and now 
and then putting down his head to crop something. In this 
latter case he cannot see an approaching object; but the 
moment he raises his head to look about (which he does as 
often as every half minute or thereabouts), the hunter stops 
and remains quite’ still. The deer, at every movement it 
makes, putting down or raising its head, shakes its tail. 
Knowing this, the hunter knows just when to advance and 
when to stop. Thus observant of every motion of the ani- 
mal, he makes an approach, of which it is quite unaware; 
and, should it at length perceive the final movement, —the 
preparation to fire, —it does not immediately run away, but 
waits a little to see what is the matter. When two deer ae 
together, it is more difficult to come near them, as they may 
not both feed at the same moments, unless by accident; and 
the difficulty is increased just in proportion as the number 0 
the herd is greater; and when there are several together, 
it is nearly useless to attempt to come within gunshot, 
better to go away and look for a smaller herd. This 15 the 
mode of hunting where, as in prairies, there is no means of 
concealment. In woods the hunter advances under cov 
of trees or bushes. 
The best hour for hunting is the first clear daylight of 6 
morning. Just before night again, deer are generally 
: f 
ing. In the summer time they will get up at any hoar m 
if : squitoes 
the day if a shower comes on. When flies or mosdi! | 
are very numerous they keep within the thickets by days 
and feed almost entirely by night. At such times, 
: . ral 
hunting may take the place of still-hunting. It 1s e 
known that when dogs, cattle, horses, and many other 
mals look at a bright light by night, the rays are ie p 
and, to any one in the line passing from their eye ; 
but 
flected; a 

