408 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Nov. i8, 1899. 
An Ontario Deer Hunt. 
On October 18th Sol, AT, Meyer and the writer took 
the morning train for Montreal on our way to Labelle 
for our annual deer hunt. At Place Viger Station we 
iri.et the others of our party — Burns, of Montreal; Hib- 
bard and Truax, of Farnham; Lefebvre, Beaulne, TTaylor 
and MacFarlane, of Waterloo, or in all a party of eleven. 
On board the train we also met a hunting party from 
Malone, N. Y., .and Huntingdon, bound for Cameron 
Lake. The two parties practically took possession of 
the car, where stories of previous hiints were recounted, 
more or less truthful, while hope and enthusiasm beamtd 
cm the countenances of all. 
We passed the night with mine host Nantel, at La- 
belle. It took three teams to take our party with duf- 
tle to the club house at Lake Chapleau, where we ar- 
rived at noon, wet and tired, but still full of enthusiasm. 
The rain poured down in torrents the whole journey; 
. the roads were execrably bad, while our wagon broke 
down three times, necessitating a considerable amount 
of walking. 
After a good dinner we got into our dry hunting togs, 
and the rain having held up a bit decided on going out 
for a bit of exploration on the still-hunt. 
MacFarlane and Lefebvre went one way; they suc- 
ceeded in jumping two deer, but did not get a shot. 
Beaulne went with one of the guides, putting up a deer at 
which the guide fired twice, wounding it; but although 
they found blood they did not secure the deer. 
Early the next morning, the 20th, we started out to 
hunt the point opposite the club house with the dogs. 
One of the boats had drifted away to the other side. I 
was told off with Sol and two guides with the dogs. On 
arrival at the other side one guide with the dogs, as 
wxll as myself, debarked. The guide was to hold his 
•dogs until after all had been properly placed on their 
rynways, aboiit three-quarters of an hour wait. While 
he was helping me to tip the water out of the boat, one 
of the d<ogs got away. As he could not call him back, I 
told him to follow his dogs and keep them quiet, while 
in lieu of a proper dish I proceseded to bail put the boat 
with my hat. 
I had barely started at this when I heard the dogs 
in full cry, they having picked up a fresh trail close to 
shore. Of course no one had time to get placed on the 
runways; those going to the furthest and best runways 
were very wroth. 
Sol, with the other guide, had gone around the point 
to the upper bay, near Lac Noir, Burns and Taylor being 
pn the runway near that lake. I rowed my boat round to 
the point, drew it up to shore and awaited developments. 
The dogs had long since gone out of hearing. Suddenly 
I heard a. shot, followed by several more. 
Soon afer I saw Sol's boat putting out toward where 
the deer landed. They were talking loudly, probably 
making excuses for their bad shootiqg. Just as they 
arrived at the shore I noticed the boat suddenly turn and 
the oars threw up the water, showing great speed and 
excitement on the part of the occupants of the boat. 
Several shots followed; then they disappeared from 
my view. 
Shortly after I heard a Comanche yell, which I learned 
later had been delivered by Sol upon finding his deer dead 
in the woods abount 100 feet from the water. To say that 
he was delighted expresses it mildly. His song was 
louder than ever. "Les sables de mon pere." "I got 
him," he cried. 
We all met at the club house for dinner, but had only 
one dog, the other two having disappeared. 
We decided to run Marie Louise that afternoon. 
At the dinner table Sol was bragging about his deer, 
declaring that no one could shoot like he coiild, and 
offering to bet that during the afternoon no one could 
get another deer. 
I put up a dollar against his that we would get a deer. 
He said he would help even if he lost his dollar. I told 
him that he would be put on the Barrier runway, where 
the brook connects the two lakes. The bushes being 
thick on both sides, it would be necessary for him to 
shoot quick should a deer show up. 
"Do you think a man who shoots eleven times at one 
deer can't shoot quick?" he retorted, referring to the fact 
.that he had wasted that much ammuijition in the morning. 
The guide was instructed to wait one hour after we 
left, then to put in the dog near Gregoires' clearing. I 
put Al and Hibbard on the old wood road between Lac 
Chapleau and 'Marie Louise, returning with the boat to 
the gate, where I was to watch in case a deer took to 
the water. I was there fully a half hour before the guide 
showed up with the dog. He evidently thought he was 
late, so put the dog in near the gate. The dog soon had 
a deer going, which first seemed to come toward the 
gate, but swerved off toward the runways occupied by 
Taylor, Burns, Truax and Meyer. It swerved from 
them, however, and led off toward Marie Louise, but no 
one got a shot; hence we returned to the club house 
about 4 P. M. without a deer, and I lost my dollar. 
The next day we decided to run the big point on Lac 
des Mauves. T placed Hibbard and Truax on two good 
runways near the bay leading to Trout Lake, while I took 
up my position in tlte boat on the opposite shore, where 
I had about one chance in a thousand. 
About an hour after I heard the dogs coming our way. 
I heard two shots fired quickly; a minute after another 
shot. Truax did the shooting. His first shot turned 
the deer, a magnificent buck; at his second shot the deer 
stopped on a side hill in plain sight. Truax supposing 
he was hit and down, was congratulating himself, when 
the dogs appeared. The deer bounded forward. Truax 
firing a parting shot. None of his three shots had 
touched him, much to his chagrin, for which he was kick- 
himself for days after, especially; that he did not shoot 
again when the deer was standing. 
Shortly after I heard some fifteen shots lower down, 
•where the other boys were posted. Silence having 
reigned for nearly an hour, I took Hibbard and Truax 
aboard. We rowed around the big point in search of the 
Others. About i o'clock we saw the other two boats 
coming out of the lower bay. We turned and headed 
for a point, where Ave all debarked to partake of our 
lynch. 
It appears that down in that neck of the woods where 
they had all the shooting a doe had come along by Le- 
febvre, who missed it. This one swerved, going toward 
Meyer, who fired at about 200 yards, also missing. He 
left his runway, where he had been placed, to see what 
had become of his bullet. While there he came to the 
conclusion that it was a better position than the one he 
had left. He was located there but a few minutes when 
he heard the dogs coming Sol's way. The deer stopped 
about 50. feet from Sol, who took careful aim, pulled 
the trigger, but no report followed. He had filled the 
magazine of his rifle, but had forgotten to pump a 
cartridge into the chamber. He said, "I worked that 
thing niighty quick and fired as she ran away." 
Having killed his deer, he proceeded to load his gtm, 
stood it up against a tree and started dressing the deer. 
While engaged in this he heard another shot some dis- 
tance away, but paid no attention to it. Suddenly he 
heard a patter on the leaves. Looking up, he saw a deer 
suddeitly stop in the act of jumping over him. On the 
impulse of the moment he made a jump for the deer; 
tlien thinking of his gun he jumped for it; but before 
he could secure it the dog had taken after the deer, and 
both were out of sight. 
He finished dressing the doe. finding that his first 
shot had hit her in the neck, cutting a great gash. He 
had resumed his stand but a few minutes, when he again 
heard the dogs. A noble buck was coming down the 
hill, nose well forward, horns laid back, steering straight 
for him. When within about 30 feet he stopped behind 
a big ash tree. He was completely hidden except every 
little while he would poke his nose out. Meyer, with gun 
at shoulder, waited his reappearance. Suddenly the dog 
came over the hill, spied the buck, and gave cry. In- 
stantly the buck made a bound. Meyer being in waiting 
and properly prepared, gave him a well-aimed shot, the 
buck dropping all in a hc^.p. Practically he shot him on 
the fly. When the boys congregated there they found 
Meyer covered with blood, perspiring freely, and with 
a very exalted opinion of the Northern Woods as a 
place to hunt deer. From the shooting he had heard 
he naturally supposed everybody was getting deer as 
he was. 
MacFarlane had shot a partridge with his rifle, but 
when he went to pick it up the bullet had made it about 
a yard long, so Ire left it. Lefebvre had fired three shots; 
Sol one. Total rcstdt: An eight-point buck and a three- 
year-old doe for Meyer. 
Opposite the point where we had lunch was another 
long stretch of land jutting out into the bay from 50 feet 
to five acres across. The year previous we had hunted 
tliis, and although we had several shots, no deer were 
secured, principally, I claimed, because the dogs were 
put in, giving only running shots. I proposed, there- 
fore, that five of the party go down to the lower point, 
near the mainland, spread out and still-hunt it up, three 
go about half-way down and place themselves on run- 
ways, two remain in a narrow place near the point, the 
others remain in the boat, but under no consideration use 
the dogs. Thi^ was thoroughly understood and agreed to. 
The five who were to walk up the point had started in 
when Lefebvre went further down with the dogs, 
put them in and started a couple of deer, which 
nrst ran up the point a bit^ then doubled back on to 
the mainland, the dogs running them away out of sight 
and hearing, the result being that after waiting about two 
hours, the others came up, saying two of the dogs were 
lost and no deer for our trouble. By the way, the two 
dogs did not turn up until the day before. we left, much 
to the disgust of the party and Lefebvre's chagrin, who 
on several occasions was properly roasted for having dis- 
arranged a prearranged programme. 
The next day we concluded to hunt the big point 
again. The other guide had brought along his mongrel,-so 
we had two dogs. McFarlane, Truax and myself went to 
the extreme part of the upper bay, getting on the runways 
— MacFarlane near Chapleau, I in tiie middle, and Truax 
near Lac Noir. The runways near the water were con- 
sidered the best. After waiting about half an hour, we 
heard the dogs. At first I thought they were going to 
Truax, but they ran across to swing in to McFaidane. 
He saw it coming right on his runway. He had both 
rifle and shotgun on his stand. Thinking the deer would 
pass within about 20 feet of him on the runway, he picked 
up the shotgun. At that instant she stopped, out of range 
for the shotgun, evidently saw him, swerved, and the first 
I knew she made a magnificent jump over a great log 
and stopped about opposite me. I was fairly well hidden 
among some logs. She stopped behind some trees, offer- 
ing only a good neck shot, upon which I took aim and 
fired, but missed. On the report of the rifle she turned, 
ran back, turned at right angles and followed the run- 
way just the other side of me. It was fairly thick there, 
but as she stopped between two trees, showing a part of 
the shoulder, I again took careful aim and fired. She 
dropped in her tracks, the bullet having entered near the 
left .shoulder, piercing the neck and coming out on the 
other side. I quickly pumped in another cartridge, waiting 
should she rise again, but soon saw that she had her death 
wound, Another reason for waiting was that the dog was 
still some way behind, and might be bringing another. 
When he came up I called to MacFarlane and Truax, 
who helped me dress her and haul her to the boat. Mac- 
Farlane declared he had no more use for a shotgun deer 
hunting; that if he had only taken up his rifle it would 
have been his deer instead of mine. 
As this was quite early in the day, the guide not having 
put in an appearance, I told MacFarlane and Truax to 
resume their runways and I would take the dog back into 
the woods to try and start another. I worked up the point 
to opposite the club house, putting up one deer on the 
pine knoll, but the dog would not pick up the trail. The 
boats from the other bay were returning, so picked me up 
and returned to the club house for dinner. 
After dinner we told the guide we were ready. Pie 
whistled for his dog, which came not, but had gone home 
some two miles distant. As it would take too long to go 
after him, we concluded we woidd do some still-himting 
over the ridge off the tipper bay. Mr. Walt. Taylor, who, 
by the way, is seventy-three years old, but a keen sports- 
man, thought he could not do so much walking. I told' 
him that he might as well come with us, that he could keep 
near the edge and possibly pick up some partridges. After 
landing we divided up pretty. well. In going over a small 
ridge well covered with fine spruce, I heard a woodpecker 
kicking up quite a noise. I thought something must be 
wrong, but look ever so intently, I could not discover 
anything. I carefully resumed my march, when I saw 
an immense owl fly away, lighting on a big birch. 
Returning to the still-hunt in company with Mac- 
Farlane, we had proceeded but a short ways when we 
heard considerable yelling on the lake. I set it down that 
the boys were amusing themselves, and paid, no more 
attention. We spent some two hours in the woods. I 
got on to seven dift'erent fresh tracks, but never saw a 
deer. Finally coming to a swale and windfall, I told Mac- 
Farlane to keep up on the ridge and I would go down in 
the swale and jump the deer up to him. He saw two that 
I sent up, but did not get a shot. In due course we got 
back to the lake, where we found that the others had been 
plenty of fresh sign, but none of our party got a deer. 
On arrival at the club house' we found Mr. Taylor 
greatly excited, much disappointed and calling himself all 
kinds of names. 
It appears that one of the colonists was setting traps 
around the lake, when down in the further bay an 
immense buck took to the water. He was steering 
straight for Taylor's point, the boat after him, with the 
colonist yelling for some one to come out and shoot him. 
Mr. Taylor had only buckshot, but patiently waited for 
the buck to come within range. Then buck and boat dis- 
appeared on account of the sun shining in Mr. Taylor-a 
eyes. When they reappeared out of the streak of sun- 
light, he perceived that the boat had headed off the deer 
and was driving it away from him, the man all the time 
yelling for help. Taylor, standing back in the bushes, 
called, "Drive him in here," but no attention was paid. 
"Drive him in here and I'll shoot him," yelled the old 
man. No attention being paid the old man, or papa, as we 
called him, got excited and yelled, "Drive him in here and 
I will give you ten dollars." No attention being paid, papa 
got wild, and with the full force of his lungs yelled, 
"DriA^e him in here. I'll shoot him; and if ten dollars is 
not enough I'll give you the deer, too." But the man 
kept circling the deer with his boat, all the time calling for 
some one to shoot him. The wind was blowing pretty 
strong against poor papa, whose voice did not reach the 
boatman, the result being that poor papa was disconso- 
late and could not be comforted. 
In place of firing a shot, getting into his boat and 
going out, or showing himself on the shore or in some 
Avay attracting the boatman's attention, he came to the 
conclusion that the boatman was acting as guide for some 
other party, and Avas endeavoring to attract their atten-' 
tion, and Avould not driA-e the deer to him anyway. Meyer 
and Lefebvre had gone to look over some timber lots, 
Avhere Meyer fired two or three shots at two deer, but did 
not get any. The result of the day, therefore, was the 
one deer I got in the forenoon. 
Meyer, hoAvever, brought in two partridges. Lefebvre 
was loaded Avith buckshot in his double-barrel hammer- 
less. Avhen they saAv the birds. He borrowed a bird shot 
shell from Meyer, slipped it into his right barrel, at the 
same time .saying that he must be sure and fire that 
barrel, yet he Avas so e:xcited that he fired the wrong 
barrel and missed his bird. It flew only about 40 
feet, and Meyer shot it, much to Lefebvre's chagrin. 
The next day Ave put the dogs in near the discharge, 
placing ourselves in an extended line over the mountain. 
While going to our places, five of us climbing the hill in a 
bunch, we jumped two deer. 'Burns Avas lower down, and 
I believe got a glimpse of them. He motioned to Truax 
and Hibbard, avIio were both still lower down, but they 
not seeing anything, walked cautiously, Hibbard, who 
Avas Avay doAvn near the bottom, saAv Truax bring rifle 
to shoulder, aim and fire. Almost immediately the deer 
SAAamg around a point in full view, but going very lamely. 
Hibbard covered her in case she shoAved more life, but 
she dropped near him. As soon as Truax fired she 
bounded and disappeared over the brow of the hill. He 
took it for granted that he had missed. Pretty soon he 
came in view of Hibbard, looking at the trees critically. 
Hibbard hailed him, asking Avhat he Avas looking for. He 
said he wanted to see where the bullet went, as he thought 
he had again shot too low. "You had better look in the 
deer for your bullet," said Hibbard. "No; I must haA-e 
mi.ssed her," replied Truax. "No; she is right down 
here," said Hibbard. "VVhat ?" and it took Kim a mighty 
short time to cover the distance where he beheld his game. 
Naturally _ he was delighted, as he was afraid he had 
queered his luck when he missed his buck a few days 
before. 
After Ave Avere all placed on our ruuAvays the dogs were 
put in, and soon had a deer going. MacFarlane fired 
three shots at her and Al one. They were confident she 
was hit, but the dogs came • along and away she went. 
About this time I heard Meyer fire a shot from his shot- 
gun barrel, which it appears Avas at a doe within 40 feet 
of him, but missed. He claimed his shell was not 
good, as it squibbed. Shortly after I saAv Burns, who had 
not been properly placed, move over toward me. I was 
behind a Avindfall. He did not see me, although he came 
within 100 feet, standing out' in plain vieAV. Almost 
immediately I saAv a deer coming over the mountain, mak* 
ing for my rtmway. The direction she was taking she 
Avould come to the right of me. I shifted my gun, as she 
Avas then too far off, but Burns fired at her on the run, 
missed, the deer saw him, SAverA^ed, going down another 
gulley out of sight. I left Burns there and moved off 
for a bit of still-hunting. 
About this time Beaulne, who was some distance away, 
spied a feeding deer slowly approaching him. She was sorrie 
distance off, so he calmly waited, claiming she Avas in vieAV 
about tAventy-five minutes. When she got close enough 
— Ave will not say what distance — he fired, hitting her neat" 
the shoulder, breaking a leg. She went on the run doAvn 
the mountain, LefebArre joining in the chase, and although 
Beaulne told him it was his deer, and that she was hard 
hit, LefebA're Avildly fired buckshot after her. She ran 
doAvn near MacFarlane, crouching doAvn below a log. 
Mac fired twice at her. She shoAved tAvo bullet holes 
through her ears, the result of his shooting. She had 
then practically dropped through exhaustion, and was- 
soon dead. This gave tts tAVO deer for the morning hunt. 
After hmch Ave visited another point, spreading our- 
seU'es near a little lake and way over the mountain; I being 
on the last stand, Avas in vicAV of Lac des Mauves. While 
going to our stands we put up tAvo deer; as a matter of 
fact, the first I had ever seen wild in the woods, except 
when the dogs were after them. We got a second view 
