328 



THE OLD-WORLD ELK 



elk cover a few days before the beginning of the 

 rutting season, and ascertain the number of bulls to 

 be found, and their favorite haunts. In the morn- 

 ing or evening, when the weather is favorable and 

 the hunt is to be undertaken, the hunter takes his 

 station, with the caller forty or fifty paces behind 

 him. The latter then seeks by imitating the voice 

 of a small bull to draw a larger bull within range 

 of the sportsman's rifle. In addition to calling, 

 various noises are made to Imitate the actions of a 

 bull challenging a rival to combat — as if an elk 

 were pawing with his fore hoofs and beating dry 

 brush with his antlers. These tactics are said to 

 be often successful.'^ 



A description of a September hunt in south- 

 western Russia by two sportsmen and a guide is 

 given by Martenson. 



The guide sounded the call. "We soon heard a 

 breaking of brush, and two bulls appeared in the 

 clearing. . . . Then at their left a cow elk ap- 

 peared, followed by two more bulls. When the 

 first two bulls saw the cow they began to roar, 

 and to paw the ground with their hoofs. After a 

 few minutes a large fifth bull came bellowing on the 

 scene, and attacked the second pair of bulls, 

 which were younger, and with such violence that 



*5 Uhi supra f pp. 60-66. 



