ii6 THE AMERICAN MOOSE 



than a moose, but runs a much shorter distance. 

 He may often be overtaken and shot after a run of 

 two or three hundred yards. Occasionally a bull 

 moose, if in the company of a cow, and with the 

 duty of guarding the rear in a retreat, will stop 

 after a few rods' run to find what the danger is 

 that threatens. A bull alone will rarely do 

 this. 



When, at the end of a long and exciting stalk, a 

 patch of black seen through the trees seems to tell 

 the hunter that his moose is in sight, nerves should 

 be kept in subjection and vigilance redoubled. 

 One rarely sees the whole figure of the animal at 

 such a time. The first question then is, is it a 

 moose? There may be other black objects in the 

 woods. Is it a bull.^ Don't shoot a cow, even if 

 the law permits it. Are the antlers worth the 

 shot? Remember there is a bag limit, and a mis- 

 take cannot be corrected after the bullet has left 

 the muzzle of the rifle. 



A hunter once followed a promising moose track 

 in soft fresh snow, when conditions were favorable 

 for a somewhat rapid advance. For nearly two 

 miles the moose traveled at a steady walk, stop- 

 ping rarely to nibble a few mouthfuls of browse. 

 Then the track of another bull, accompanied by a 

 cow, crossed at right angles. The hunter kept the 



