io8 THE AMERICAN MOOSE 



Moose show fear of the tracks of men only 

 when the tracks are fresh, and still hold the humaa 

 scent. In snow the scent quickly disappears, 

 but on bare ground, in warm weather, it will 

 remain for hours. A number of times I have 

 observed fresh moose tracks leading to the track 

 of a man made an hour or two earlier, and then 

 following alongside the human track without 

 crossing, as if it were a barrier to be dreaded. 

 Sometimes the moose had followed alongside for 

 some rods, and then jumped across and fled, run- 

 ning as if he thought the tracks could chase him. 



The size of the moose is fairly indicated by the 

 size of his footprint, but the spread or quality of 

 his antlers cannot be so easily estimated. Body^ 

 and hoof increase a little in size after a bull passes, 

 his prime, while the antlers deteriorate in old age. 

 The length of the stride in walking, and the height 

 at which the moose can reach browse on the trees,, 

 are other indications of size. If places are found 

 where a moose has gone between trees, the spread 

 of his antlers, if he has any, may often be closely 

 estimated. On one occasion I followed the track, 

 of a moose which led up a hill, and between some 

 small trees. The guide studied the evidences, 

 carefully. 



