HOIV THE ELK IS HUNTED 323 



forest helpers, who advanced without making a 

 noise. About 150 paces in their rear fourteen 

 beaters followed, whistling and clapping their 

 hands. The purpose of the second line of beaters 

 was to drive forward any game which broke 

 through the first line, for the elk have learned 

 the hazards of the drive, and often refuse to ap- 

 proach the line of guns, but seek to escape through 

 the advancing line of beaters, or around its ends. 

 For this reason a position on the flank usually 

 affords the best opportunities for a shot. It is 

 said that sometimes the animals even hide in 

 thickets, hoping to be overlooked till the danger 

 has passed."^ 



When the beaters had covered half the distance 

 to the line of sportsmen, the nineteen men formed 

 themselves into a single line, and went forward 

 quietly the remaining distance. In spite of these 

 precautions a number of elk broke through the 

 line of beaters and escaped. Such a drive is 

 always conducted down the wind. The human 

 scent is often enough to send the elk in the desired 

 direction, unless the game has become familiar 



7 Martenson (p. 65) tells of an old elk which had survived a number 

 of drives, and had learned the trick of breaking through the line of 

 beaters early in the drive, and seeking safety in the rear. At last the 

 guns were stationed behind the beaters, and by this device the crafty 

 veteran was brought to bag. 



