,transcriber's note3 ,minor spelling inconsistencies1 mainly hyphenated words1 have been harmonized4 ,italic text has been marked with underscores4 ,obvious typos have been corrected4 ,a ,list of ,illustrations section has been added so as to aid the reader4 ,,tracks ,,and ,,tracking ,illustration ,,tracks ,,and ,,tracking ,,by ,,josef ,,brunner ,,fully ,,illustrated ,,new ,,york ,,outing ,,publishing ,,company ,,mcmix ,copyright1 #aiji1 by ,,outing ,,publishing ,,company ,all ,rights ,reserved ,,contents ,page ,,foreword ix ,,general ,,remarks #c ,,part ,i ,,group ,,one--,,hoofed ,,game3 ,the ,white-,tailed or ,virginia ,deer #aa ,the ,fan-,tailed ,deer #cb ,the ,mule ,deer #ci ,the ,wapiti or ,elk #dc ,the ,moose #di ,the ,mountain ,sheep #ee ,the ,antelope #fa ,,predaceous ,,animals3 ,the ,bear #gc ,the ,cougar #ib ,the ,lynx #aja ,the ,domestic ,cat #ajg ,the ,wolf #aji ,the ,coyote #aah ,the ,fox #aba ,,what ,,tracking ,,means ,,and ,,some ,,hunting ,,methods #abe ,,group ,,two3 ,the ,jack-,rabbit #ace ,the ,varying ,hare #adj ,the ,cottontail ,rabbit #add ,the ,squirrel #adh ,,group ,,three3 ,the ,marten and the ,black-,footed ,ferret #aec ,the ,otter #aeg ,the ,mink #afa ,the ,ermine #afd ,,group ,,four3 ,the ,beaver #aga ,the ,badger #ahj ,the ,porcupine #ahf ,the ,skunk #aib ,,part ,,ii ,,feathered ,,game3 ,feathered ,game #aig ,upland ,birds #aii ,waterfowls #baa ,predatory ,birds #bad ,,list ,,of ,,illustrations ,page ,frontispiece iv ,,virginia ,,deer #ab ,,tracks ,,of ,,virginia ,,deer #ad ,,virginia ,,deer4 #ag ,,hind ,,foot ,,of ,,virginia ,,deer4 #bj ,trail of a deer shot through brisket #bb ,trail of a deer with broken hind leg #bb ,same as ,no4 #c on opposite page1 but bullet did not penetrate to the lungs4 #bb ,,hoof ,,of ,,black-,,tailed ,,deer4 #bh ,,fan-,,tailed ,,buck ,,deer4 #cc ,,deer ,,tracks #ce ,,mule-,,deer #dj ,,elk4 #dc ,,elk #df ,,moose ,,bull ,,track #ej ,,moose ,,tracks #eb ,,mountain ,,sheep4 #eg ,,hog ,,track2 ,,walking4 #ei ,,hind ,,foot ,,of ,,antelope4 #fb ,,antelope4 #fd ,,the ,,sign ,,of ,,the ,,antelope 7,,buck7 #fd ,,bear ,,feet--,,right ,,side #gf ,,bear ,,trail4 #gg ,,tracks ,,of ,,bear1 ,,running #hj ,,bear ,,track4 #hb ,,bear ,,stump4 #hb ,,bear ,,track4 #hd ,,bear ,,log #hf ,,bear ,,log #hi ,,cougar4 #ic ,,lynx4 #aja ,,right ,,front ,,paw ,,of ,,lynx #ajc ,,lynx ,,trail #ajf ,,wolf #aji ,,wolf #aaa ,,coyote4 #aai ,,fox4 #abb ,,hunting ,,with ,,the ,,wind #acj ,,jack-,,rabbit #ace ,,jack ,,rabbit #acg ,,jack ,,rabbit4 #aci ,,varying ,,hare #ada ,,varying ,,hare #adb ,,varying ,,hare #adc ,cottontail ,rabbit ,tracks #ade ,,cotton ,,tail ,,rabbit #adf ,,cotton ,,tail ,,rabbit #adg ,,squirrel4 #adh ,marten track #aed ,marten track #aef ,,otter4 #aeh ,,mink4 #afb ,,mink4 #afc ,,ermine ,,tracks4 #aff ,,beaver #aga ,,beaver #agd ,,beaver ,,stump #agf ,,the ,,beaver',s ,,home #agf ,,beaver ,,trails ,,or ,,slides #agf ,,beaver ,,trail #agf ,,badger #aha ,,badger ,,tracks #ahb ,,badger #ahc ,,porcupine #ahf ,,sign ,,of ,,the ,,porcupine #aij ,,porcupine ,,tracks #aia ,,feet ,,of ,,the ,,porcupine #aia ,,sign ,,of ,,the ,,porcupine #aia ,,skunk #aib ,,turkey4 #bja ,,pheasant4 #bjb ,ruffed ,grouse4 #bjc ,,ruffed ,,grouse #bjd ,,blue ,,grouse #bje ,,sharp-,,tailed ,,grouse #bje ,sharp-tailed ,grouse4 #bjg ,,quail4 #bji ,,woodcock4 #baj ,waterfowl #bab ,waterfowl #bac ,,sharp-,,shinned ,,hawk #baf ,,heron ,,tracks4 #baf ,,wilson',s ,,snipe #bag ,various ,birds #bag ,,foreword ,to derive the greatest pleasure from the pursuit of game1 either large or small1 it is necessary that the disciple of ,nimrod be versed in the science of interpreting the meaning of tracks and trails4 ,nature is as an open book to the man who can read the signs of the woods and plains correctly2 and where the uninitiated see only meaningless tracks1 experienced hunters find them in many instances the guide to exhilarating sport and a desired trophy4 ,to the tyro the finest tracking snow is useless and the marks he sees everywhere around him simply bewilder him4 ,were he able to read them as every hunter should1 his day's sport would mean enjoyment and success1 instead of disappointment and failure4 ,game is not so plentiful as it used to be1 and for this reason it is generally a waste of time--from the standpoint of the game bag--merely to tramp through the woods and trust to luck4 ,moreover1 the high-power1 small-caliber rifles1 which are so extensively used1 very often lead to shots at distances at which it is not possible to place an immediately fatal bullet4 ,this makes it the more necessary for the hunter to be able to read the signs correctly and to interpret aright the language of the trails4 ,every sportsman should consider it a sacred duty to bring to bay any animal he has wounded1 and he should also regard it a matter of honor to acquire a working knowledge of tracks1 trails1 and signs4 ,then he will not1 through ignorance1 make carrion or wolf-bait of a noble creature which1 in all reason1 he should have secured4 ,a sportsman who is unable to interpret the meaning of tracks he encounters1 however much game he may have killed by chance1 luck1 or with the assistance of others1 will be considered a tyro in woodcraft by companions who have learned their lessons in this art4 ,lack of opportunity on the part of the majority of sportsmen to become versed in tracking lore by actual experience1 as well as the incompetence of a great number of guides1 is the reason for this book4 ,the contents represent the experience gained from twenty years of uninterrupted life in the great outdoors2 and while only half of that time was spent in the pursuit and study of ,american game1 the foreign experience was a considerable aid in arriving at definite conclusions1 for the same species1 with but few exceptions1 show the same features in their trails the world over4 ,no space has been given to microscopic intricacies1 since in the woods plain tracking lore is intricate enough4 ,in practice whoever looks for exaggerated1 fine1 distinctive features in tracks and trails soon sees things which a sober-minded expert recognizes as imaginative4 99 99 99 99 99 ,it is generally understood that a track means the imprint left on the ground or snow by a passing creature4 ,from its form and appearance the initiated are usually able to tell the species1 and in some cases the variety1 of animal that made it4 ,where the latter is not possible1 a succession of tracks--the trail1 in short--is almost invariably the means of reaching a proper decision4 ,the expert considers not only tracks and trails1 but also the signs1 among which are the behavior of animals under certain circumstances1 blazed trees1 bear logs1 beaver stumps and cuttings1 excrements1 etc41 etc4 ,a mere treatise of tracks1 trails and signs would in many instances leave the inexperienced man without a comprehensive knowledge2 therefore certain actions of the hunted1 and notes on hunting methods which have proved practical1 although they are not generally known1 have been introduced into the text4 ,it is believed that a thorough study of this book1 including the illustrations1 will enable the reader to become as well versed in tracking lore as he could by years of actual experience in the woods4 ,,tracks ,,and ,,tracking ,,tracks ,,and ,,tracking ,,general ,,remarks ,about the ,motive ,features of ,different ,animals ,,taking it for granted that the arrangement of the individual tracks in the trail is due to the general anatomic make-up of the animal which made them1 we have to consider four groups in the treatise on mammals4 ,the first1 the members of which possess a length of body correctly proportional to their height1 includes the deer1 ox1 bear1 dog1 and cat families4 ,the second includes rabbits1 squirrels1 and animals whose hind legs are very long in proportion to their front legs4 ,the third is made up of those animals whose legs1 considering the length of their bodies1 are very short--marten1 mink1 etc4 ,the fourth group embraces the animals whose legs are very short in proportion to the length of the body1 and whose bodies1 in addition to this1 are disproportionately thick--beaver1 badger1 etc4 ,of the various movements1 we have to consider the walk1 the trot1 and the gallop4 ,animals of the first group plant the feet diagonally in the walk and trot4 ,the hind foot track covers the one made by the forefoot of the same side4 ,if the right forefoot touches the ground first1 the left hind foot is placed next1 then the left forefoot1 and last the right hind foot4 ,thus four footfalls may be heard when hoofed animals are walking4 ,in the trot1 which is but a hastened walk1 the trail assumes more the form of a straight line1 because the animal endeavors to plant the feet more under the middle of the body to obviate the swaying motion2 and because of the quicker action1 in which two feet touch the ground at the same moment1 but two distinct footfalls can be heard4 ,the gallop1 the quickest movement onward1 is a series of leaps or jumps4 ,in it the hind feet serve mainly as propellers while the forefeet support and brace the body2 and for this reason the former are placed side by side1 or nearly so1 while the latter stand one behind the other in the trail4 ,the faster the gallop1 the more closely do the tracks conform to these conditions4 ,in the greatest speed of some members of the deer family the hind feet also come nearer the center line1 as shown in the illustrations4 ,as1 by the velocity of the movement1 the hind feet are thrown past the point where the forefeet strike the ground1 their imprints appear in front of those of the latter1 a fact which should be kept constantly in mind by the trailer1 since1 in the case of an animal with a broken leg1 the appearance of the leap imprints are usually the only means to decide which leg is broken4 ,in animals of the first group a broken foreleg is always more serious than an injured hind leg1 and therefore the game is easier brought to bag4 ,in members of the second group there is but one motion1 no matter whether they are moving slow or fast--the hind feet are always thrown ahead of the forefeet1 and the track picture is that of the leap4 ,as the hind feet of animals of this group are considerably larger than the forefeet1 it is easily determined which individual foot has made a given track4 ,the animals of the third group move usually in leaps1 but on account of the length of body and the shortness of the limbs1 the hind feet are not placed as far ahead of the front pair as in the preceding group4 ,at the usual gait the hind feet cover the forefeet tracks1 and the trail picture therefore shows a pair of tracks side by side at regular distances4 ,at a faster pace the trail picture changes1 as shown in the illustrations2 however1 this is so seldom done as to be of almost no consequence to the tracker4 ,members of the fourth group1 like those of the first1 walk and leap2 however1 the size of the body and the shortness of the legs combine to make a track picture entirely different from and not easily confounded with the trail of the latter4 ,the individual tracks are close together1 considering their size1 and the toes of the hind feet almost invariably point inward to a marked degree1 reaching an extreme limit in the beaver and the badger4 ,with the exception of the members of the second group and the beaver1 the hind feet of all animals are smaller than the forefeet1 a fact which1 in some instances1 has its uses when following the trail4 ,,part ,,one ,,group ,i ,,hoofed ,,game ,,the ,,white-,,tailed ,,or ,,virginia ,,deer ,,though the ,american sportsman still can enjoy in some districts1 as an inheritance from prehistoric times1 the pursuit of the majestic moose1 and though the lordly elk still awakens the echoes in many of our mountain ranges with his challenging call1 the game in which the great majority of hunters are pre-eminently interested is the elusive white-tailed deer1 which is found in all the states except ,california1 ,nevada1 ,oregon1 and ,delaware1 and because to bring it down demands1 to say the least1 no less skill than is required in the pursuit of its larger relatives4 ,though1 under ordinary conditions1 a single track of any other animal is nearly sufficient to ascertain the species or variety1 the case is different where white-tailed and mule deer are concerned--that is1 if they inhabit the same locality2 and even a small elk track may be taken for that of the white-tailed deer4 ,the track of a mule deer1 roaming in rocky hills or out in the arid breaks of the ,bad ,lands1 is of course a very different thing from that of a white-tail1 but let the animals make their permanent stand in white-tail country proper1 and almost all difference in their track soon disappears4 ,it is evident that the sole of their hoof undergoes the same change as that of a horse1 which can be ridden daily without shoes in dry regions1 but which will get footsore within a day or two if it is transferred into a district where rain and dew moisten the grass and keep the ground damp4 ,illustration3 ,,virginia ,,deer ,considering the individual track1 the hoof of the ,virginia deer evidently spreads easier than that of any other member of the family1 except moose and caribou4 ,it is because of this that1 during the season when they are in good condition and in hunting time1 the ridge of dirt or snow that is made between the two halves of the hoof1 and left in the track1 is much more conspicuous than that left by any other deer4 ,however1 if the conditions are not ideal--and they most certainly are not if snow is on the ground1 under which circumstances most tracking is done--the variance appears so slight that it can be noticed only by examining minutely a perfect track1 which may be found along the trail under some tree where not more than an inch of snow has fallen or at a barren spot4 ,the writer does not depend on the size of the track in deciding whether it was made by a buck or a doe1 as he has seen many does which have made as large tracks as the largest bucks2 and the common claim that rounded toes always indicate a buck he has also found to be a fallacy4 ,sometimes it is noticeable in the trail that the hind feet lag1 i4 e41 they do not quite reach the forefeet tracks4 ,this almost invariably means an old buck which has become rather stiff with age4 ,the chance that the same mark is made by an old sterile doe is remote1 though1 according to observations1 possible4 ,illustration3 ,,tracks ,,of ,,virginia ,,deer 7#a7 ,trail of buck before and after rutting season4 7#b7 ,during rutting season the drag extends from one step to the next4 7#c7 ,trail of doe and fawn2 the latter1 however1 takes still shorter steps4 7#d7 ,buck or doe trotting4 ,not infrequently1 at least much oftener than with black-tail and elk1 a marked difference between the two halves of the hoof may be observed in the track of the ,virginia deer1 and the tracks of the latter appear more slender than those of the former--that is1 in the same locality4 ,some claim that they can always distinguish the track of ,virginia from that of other deer1 but the writer counts himself among those who can not1 and he has noticed that the hunters who claim the skill are in the same predicament when out in the woods4 ,accurate measurements with the divider and tapeline would possibly show some slight differences in the tracks of the various kinds of similar sized deer1 but they would be so diminutive and variable as to be worthless in practice4 ,the trail1 together with other signs1 is much more significant of the doings1 ailments and sex of the animal than an individual track would be4 ,during the summer months the buck1 and1 it must be admitted1 the sterile doe also1 accumulates a considerable amount of fat2 and the result is markedly shown in the placing of the feet1 their tracks being an appreciable degree off the center line supposed to be under the middle of the body4 ,for this reason the toes of the hoof point more outward than is usual in the doe and fawn4 ,from this it might appear that a single track1 or a few of them1 would be sufficient to decide the sex1 but it is not2 because any deer in crossing a trackable spot is likely to look to the right and then to the left1 and the tracks will point in the direction the animal has looked4 ,illustration3 ,,virginia ,,deer4 7,,one-,,half ,,natural ,,size7 7#a7 ,front track4 7#b7 ,hind track4 7#c7 ,lagging back of hind feet2 sign of the old buck4 7#d7 ,overhastening2 the sign of the young buck4 #c and #d also apply to the elk bull4 ,does heavy with fawns show similar features in their trail1 but as there are no such does during autumn1 we can pass them over4 ,a buck always has the tendency to drag his legs1 a feature which reaches the climax during rutting season1 while any doe1 even the sterile1 steps clean if the snow is less than one foot deep4 ,this fact makes it possible to tell a buck's track with certainty1 even if tracking conditions are not favorable1 because there is always some displacement behind and in front of the tracks which is readily observed in sand or dry snow4 ,there is one other feature by which the trail of a white-tail buck can be distinguished from that of a doe1 and even that of the buck of black-tails1 and that is the animal's habit of scanning the surroundings while standing near trees1 windfalls1 and the like4 ,an old buck at leisure will take careful observations two or three times inside of a hundred yards1 except during the rutting season1 when he is too busy to spend so much time for safety's sake1 and he always does this from what he evidently considers cover4 ,in open forests are often seen places where the ground has been pawed up1 and the ground covering1 moss1 leaves or sod1 thrown in every direction4 ,this always indicates the presence of at least two old bucks in the same locality1 and is never done by does4 ,illustration3 ,,hind ,,foot ,,of ,,virginia ,,deer4 7,,slightly ,,reduced7 7,a7 ,dew claws4 7,b7 ,heels4 7,c7 ,soles4 7,d7 ,toes4 ,about the first of ,september bucks begin to cleanse their horns of the velvet and small trees and bushes exhibit the signs of having been used for that purpose4 ,where such signs are found in roomy forests near dense thickets1 the sportsman can1 with moderate certainty1 count on getting a trophy by stalking quietly or waiting from sunrise to about #h o'clock ,a4,m41 or from an hour or so before sundown until dark4 ,of course it is easier to get meat for the pot near streams and feeding places1 where there are plenty of tracks1 but as doe and fawn shooting aims at the base of life1 and as old bucks usually do not make their appearance there as long as it is light enough for a rifle shot1 ,i would not advise one to stalk or wait there at all4 ,stalking during rainy days in open forests where bucks have left evidences1 such as blazed trees1 will1 as a rule1 be rewarded4 ,at that time1 game being comparatively undisturbed1 most deer are shot at while standing1 and even a poor shot can hardly miss4 ,however1 as tracking is more difficult than when snow covers the ground1 it is advisable to watch the deer closely for the signs at the moment of firing4 ,the most important sign to observe is the action of the game when it receives the missile1 since it is an evidence of where it was hit4 ,if struck somewhere in the front half1 it usually jumps into the air--that is1 if it does not drop instantly1 which incident we have no need to consider in this connection--and if struck in the hind half1 it will kick out with the hind legs4 ,a deer shot through the heart seldom drops immediately4 ,after the first jump1 which is often hardly perceptible and no doubt overlooked by the average hunter1 it generally makes off at top speed1 running close down to the ground4 ,it may run only fifty yards1 and it may run five hundred1 but one thing is certain--the hunter can follow at once1 and the animal will be dead by the time he reaches it4 ,the most striking exception to the rule of heart shots the writer saw in the ,snowy ,mountains1 ,montana1 during #aijd4 ,a buck was galloping1 broadside exposed1 at a distance of about one hundred and twenty yards1 and was fired at4 ,four or five jumps after the shot was fired he stopped behind some trees1 which prevented another shot4 ,he remained hidden a few seconds1 then trotted about thirty yards and stopped again2 finally he trotted off1 directly away from me1 and if ever ,i would have sworn that a deer was missed1 ,i would have done so then4 ,however1 force of habit compelled me to follow the trail1 and about two hundred yards from where he stopped last1 the buck lay stone dead4 ,the bullet1 a steel-jacketed 4#cj ,u4 ,s41 had penetrated the heart squarely1 and made a hole the size of a quarter4 ,there was not a drop of blood along the trail4 ,moral3 ,follow the deer1 even if you think you have missed4 ,a deer shot through the lungs usually goes off1 after the first jump1 as if nothing had happened to it4 ,there is no variance in its trail from that of an uninjured deer1 but alongside the trail there is in every case the story of where the bullet hit1 in the shape of foamy1 light-colored blood4 ,this trail1 too1 may be followed immediately4 ,illustration3 7#a7 ,trail of a deer shot through brisket1 and leg broken low in shoulder4 7#b7 ,trail of a deer shot through the shoulders high4 7#c7 ,trail of a deer with broken foreleg--the lower the leg is broken the more drag there is4 ,the shoulder shot 7,no4 #b7 should be followed immediately4 ,it is best to shoot again when a deer gets up after the first shot strikes it here4 ,they always drop like dead when shot thus4 ,illustration3 7#a7 ,trail of a deer with broken hind leg--the lower the leg is broken the more drag there is4 7#b7 ,trail of a deer shot through the ham4 7#c7 ,this trail usually means shot through intestines1 liver and often lungs at the same time2 the animal will not go much over a mile1 even if not given time to get sick1 and death results in less than two hours4 ,illustration3 7#a7 ,same as ,no4 #c on opposite page1 but bullet did not penetrate to the lungs4 ,the animal dies slowly1 and after a couple of hours is usually shot in its bed4 7#b7 ,the cross jump2 result of a bullet through intestines or liver when the animal was broadside to the hunter--usually the slowest killing shot4 7#c7 ,the tracks of a wounded deer never register where the animal was walking4 ,all these curious jumps may be seen on one trail1 alternating with jumps as made by a sound deer4 ,they indicate soft shots1 and should not be followed within two hours after the animal was shot4 ,blood1 etc41 on the trail decides for the tracker where the bullet struck4 ,usually the less blood the surer the animal will be found dead after a few hours4 ,a liver shot is1 perhaps1 the least satisfactory of any4 ,sometimes the deer on being shot through the liver1 kicks1 and at other times it humps itself up1 but always it leaves the place at a quite lively rate1 making a trail like a lung-shot deer1 with here and there a cross jump between4 7,see illustration47 ,it is hard to advise what one should do in this case4 ,i generally smoke a pipeful of tobacco before taking up the trail1 to give the animal time to lie down4 ,after that ,i follow and try to get another shot4 ,while ,i have killed deer instantly with shots through the liver1 there have been some that ,i never brought to bag4 ,once ,i killed an elk three days after we had fried parts of its liver which had dropped out through the hole made by a projectile from a heavy-caliber ,english rifle1 used previously for hunting elephants4 ,at another time ,i killed a deer one year after having shot it through the liver4 ,when killed1 this deer was apparently as well and fat as could be1 though in place of the soft liver we found a hard mass4 ,a shot through the intestines causes the animal to kick violently1 hump up its back1 and go off at a slow rate4 ,it usually lies down within a quarter of a mile1 and stays down if not molested too soon4 ,along the trail may be found a little dark-colored blood1 and sometimes matter the animal has eaten4 ,deer shot thus should not be followed before at least two hours have passed1 since if jumped they often go for miles4 ,a deer with a broken leg may be followed at once1 though the chase is usually quicker ended if half an hour is given for the animal to settle down4 ,in my opinion a sportsman who does any considerable hunting for big game should have his dog trained to follow a track as far as his master will follow him4 ,a dog that runs deer is useless1 and if he will not stay close to his master he must be kept on a leash4 ,there is no law in any ,state against such use of a dog1 and it would save much hard work to the man whose eye is not trained for tracking when there is no snow4 ,besides the signs visible when a deer is shot1 there are those which are brought to the hunter's knowledge through his ear3 a hard1 sharp sound conveying the intelligence that a bone is struck 7and if it is not a leg the deer will hardly run71 and a dull thud telling that a soft part is hit4 ,in any and every case the hunter should examine minutely the place where the game stood when it was shot at4 ,the hair cut off by the bullet is often of great assistance in determining the location of the wound1 and the torn-up needles or ground often show if the animal jumped or kicked as it was shot4 ,remember that the successful hunter is never in a hurry1 and minutes spent in close observation will often save hours of exhausting chase4 ,illustration3 ,,hoof ,,of ,,black-,,tailed ,,deer4 7,,slightly ,,reduced7 ,later in the season1 when rough winds have robbed deciduous bushes of their leaves1 bucks generally change their day stand1 abandoning quaking-aspen thickets1 and settling down among windfalls and small coniferous trees1 thereby offering better chances for shots at any hour of the day4 ,still later1 during the rutting season1 the biggest specimens and best fighters will occupy those roomy1 open forests1 where in ,september and early ,october they make their appearance only during morning and evening hours4 ,these old over-lords at this time select the places of a wider view1 apparently to see others of their kind that may pass1 to fight them off their range if they are bucks1 and to claim ownership of them if they are does4 ,the white-tail buck does not keep a harem1 as is done by the elk and to some extent by the black-tailed deer1 but stays with a doe a few days only1 generally two or three1 and then looks out for adventures elsewhere1 or1 more probably1 the doe does not care for his company after being satisfied1 and avoids him4 ,before the close of the hunting season1 where it is extended until ,january #a1 bucks again stay in thickets as prior to the rutting season1 and soon after migrate to their winter range1 where they1 in company with does and fawns1 spend the rigorous season of the year4 ,summing up1 we have seven signs by which to distinguish a buck's trail from that of a doe1 of which the first in the following list is a feature of the white-tailed deer solely1 and of which the three last named cannot be regarded as always absolutely certain3 #a4 ,watching from cover2 #b4 ,drag2 #c4 ,blazing of trees2 #d4 ,pawing of ground2 #e4 ,distance of tracks from center line2 #f4 ,the pointing outward of toes2 #g4 ,the lagging back with the hind legs4 ,,the ,,fan-,,tailed ,,deer ,,the existence of the fan-tailed deer1 or gazelle-deer1 as it is sometimes called1 is denied by some who know no better1 but it is generally recognized by old timers and men who hunt it in its present restricted habitat4 ,that its range was formerly more extensive than now1 and that even now it still exists in widely separated districts1 the writer infers from a letter of ,justice ,douglas1 late of the ,supreme ,court of ,new ,york1 whose guide apparently shot one in ,michigan1 and from an article in a sportsman's periodical by ,mr4 ,ernest ,mc,gaffey1 who found it in the ,black ,hills4 ,the writer found relics of them in the ,bad ,lands of ,montana and live specimens in the ,snowy ,mountains of the same ,state4 ,it is evidently a smaller variety of the common ,virginia deer1 with a markedly longer tail2 however1 as its track shows some decided differences1 by which it can readily be distinguished1 it is considered advisable to treat it separately4 ,illustration3 ,,fan-,,tailed ,,buck ,,deer4 7,,one-,,half ,,natural ,,size7 7#a7 ,front track4 7#b7 ,hind track4 7#c7 ,walk4 7#d7 ,trot4 7#e7 ,gallop4 7,a7 ,dust heap4 7,b7 ,hillock4 ,to begin with1 the heels of the hoof are as broad as those of the ,virginia deer1 yet the hoof is considerably shorter1 and consequently the track also1 a feature which is1 however1 of value only on good tracking ground4 ,the buck of this deer1 whose tracks always register1 walks with hoofs pressed close together1 puts the heels firmly on the ground1 which action moves the ground or snow toward the front1 and steps off by making a deep imprint with the toes4 ,the result is a small hillock in the middle of the track and1 as this deer never drags its feet1 a small dust heap in front of it4 ,in snow or mud1 of course1 the latter sign cannot be found4 ,as this deer is much smaller than the ordinary white-tail1 its steps are consequently shorter1 and in loose snow1 where no individual track is visible1 its trail may be mistaken for that of a fawn1 and only by following it a distance can an error be avoided4 ,once a friend and ,i on our way home struck a trail1 and while walking alongside it we both expressed our opinion that the deer which made it was the smallest fawn in that territory4 ,we never would have given that trail any consideration had it not run along our path4 ,as it was1 we followed it1 and after we had gone a hundred yards or so1 my indifference changed to intense interest2 for it could be seen that the deer had taken observations from nearly every shielding object it had passed4 ,this caused me to express the belief that this deer was a very old fan-tailed buck1 and events proved ,i was not mistaken4 ,he had lost all his front teeth but two1 which were badly used up1 had four points on each antler1 and weighed less than fifty pounds after his entrails were removed4 ,as his conduct the day he was hunted down disclosed some features often experienced in the pursuit of deer1 it is not out of place to relate it4 ,illustration3 ,,deer ,,tracks 7#a7 ,canter4 7#b7 ,going at a lively rate1 in bounds up to twenty-four feet2 lung-shot deer often run this way4 7#c7 ,top speed1 bounds up to twenty-eight feet--indicates heart-shot if the animal is wounded4 ,he was located in a thicket1 and jumped with the assistance of the wind1 a method which will be referred to later4 ,we saw him but did not fire1 as our chance opportunity was lost while we were looking for the horns so as to be sure not to kill a doe4 ,his trail led to a creek two miles distant1 and there disappeared4 ,i knew that he had gone along in the creek1 for wounded deer had often tricked me in that manner1 but that a well deer should resort to that method to throw me off the track1 after being so slightly molested1 was rather astonishing4 ,a quarter of a mile upstream ,i found where he had left the water1 and ,i followed the trail1 having resolved that ,i would kill that buck in one way or another4 ,the trail led me two miles farther1 and then it stopped4 ,the snow was like sand1 and prevented the individual tracks from being seen plainly4 ,the buck had back-tracked1 and ,i had overrun the spot from which he made the side-jump4 ,back ,i went1 and after going three hundred yards ,i found his artful side-jump1 and the trail led into a thick clump of pines4 ,again ,i sent the wind in as a driver1 and that time got a shot2 but ,i did not down my quarry4 ,the trail showed the buck was shot through the brisket and shoulder 7low74 ,then ,i sat down1 ate my lunch1 and smoked my pipe4 ,after that the trail led me again to the creek4 ,i crossed to the other side and1 about fifty yards from the creek1 followed its course over half a mile1 knowing that the buck would not leave the water on the side he entered it to lie down4 ,finally the creek led past a fir tree with low-hanging branches1 and as the trail had not been seen thus far1 ,i was moderately sure that the buck had not passed that cover--and it proved that he had not4 ,during snowless times if a deer has been wounded and gets away1 hunting a day or two after along streams in the district will often bring to bay the wounded animal4 ,if it has the strength1 it will hunt up water to cool the wound1 and then crawl into the densest cover that is near4 ,i have found many deer in this way1 dead and alive--and still more skeletons to which the tracks of varmints led me in the later season4 ,the signs of the fan-tailed buck are3 #a4 ,watching from cover2 #b4 ,hillock in track2 #c4 ,dust heap in front of track2 #d4 ,blazing of trees2 #e4 ,pawing of ground4 ,,the ,,mule-,,deer ,,the track of the black-tailed or mule-deer1 while it shows no appreciable differences from that of the ,virginia 7in white-tail country71 undergoes--even in the mountains and breaks1 its proper habitat--changes interesting not only to the student but to the hunter4 ,the three pictures of the hind foot of the same four-year-old mule-deer buck show what intermediate variations occur in the track of this animal4 ,the photograph was taken when the buck was killed1 and the drawings made in the rainy month of ,june1 and at the time of the deer's death in ,october1 respectively4 ,that particular buck had its preferred stand on a lofty ridge1 too high an altitude for white-tailed deer to make their permanent abode1 though they frequent it as transient visitors4 ,the mule-deer always puts its foot down firmly from above1 while the motion of the ,virginia deer might be called rather one of sliding2 and because of this the hoofs spread sideways without lengthening the tracks4 ,this gives the track of the latter a somewhat round appearance as long as there is moisture in the ground1 or if it is covered by snow that is not too dry4 ,this form of the track is usually found during the winter and early summer4 ,of course1 when the rim becomes prominent enough to prevent spreading1 as is the case during prolonged dry weather or in the arid regions1 a big mule-deer will make a rather small track1 and in many instances the sole of the hoof does not show at all in the mark4 ,the track has very much the appearance of that made by a domestic sheep1 yet it is different from it because in the sheep's track the heels and soles always show1 and the hoofs are spread to an extent not found in deer4 ,besides1 the halves of the hoof of a mule-deer are as a rule almost exactly alike1 whereas with the sheep that is but seldom the case4 ,illustration3 ,,mule-,,deer 7#a7 ,track of buck1 sketched during ,june 7flat2 about half natural size74 7#b7 ,track of same buck in ,october 7see photograph of foot74 7#c7 ,domestic sheep 7flat74 7#d7 ,trail of buck2 drag during rutting season from one step to the next4 7#e7 ,trail of doe4 7#f7 ,gallop4 ,the buck of the mule-deer evidently has not sense enough to spend1 for safety's sake1 some of his time in watching from cover1 and because of this his trail leads along without stopping1 except where he did so to feed4 ,moreover1 he does not vent his anger at a rival by pawing the ground as the white-tail buck does4 ,as the rutting season of mule-deer is later in the year1 the drag in the buck's trail is a most prominent feature1 when in the case of the ,virginia deer it has ceased to connect the individual tracks4 ,in determining whether one stands before the trail of a mule-deer or some other kind1 the locality where the track is found has to be considered1 which often solves the question4 ,their natural habitat is usually higher mountains1 and even the treeless breaks where no white-tailed deer are to be found4 ,the possibility of confounding a big mule-deer track with a small elk track is not remote2 however1 if one observes closely1 mistakes will not occur often1 as the young elk places his feet nearer the center line under the body than an old mule-deer buck1 and never makes any drag4 ,then again a full-grown elk always makes a track at least twice the size of that of the mule-deer4 ,the signs of the mule-deer buck are3 #a4 ,drag2 #b4 ,blazing of trees2 #c4 ,distance of tracks from center line2 #d4 ,pointing outward of toes4 ,,the ,,wapiti ,,or ,,elk ,,in the pursuit of ,cervus canadensis the aim of the tracker is to distinguish the signs of the bull from those of the cow4 ,as the number to be killed per season by each hunter is limited by law to one or two bulls1 the pursuer is naturally interested in knowing how to tell the signs of the old ones4 ,they are3 #a4 ,size of track2 #b4 ,distance of track from center line2 #c4 ,pointing outward of hoofs2 #d4 ,hillock in track2 #e4 ,lagging back with hind legs2 #f4 ,closeness of track2 #g4 ,roundness of toes2 #h4 ,blazing of trees2 #i4 ,pawing of ground2 #aj4 ,size and roundness of dew-claws4 ,illustration3 ,,elk4 7,,one-,,half ,,natural ,,size7 7#a7 ,bull track4 7,a7 ,closeness of track4 7,b7 ,hillock4 7#b7 ,cow track1 flat 7note spread74 7#c7 ,trail of bull4 7#d7 ,trail of cow4 7#e7 ,trail of calf4 ,a male yearling has a bigger hoof1 and consequently makes a larger track1 than a female of the same age1 and as the track of a three-year-old bull is the size of that of a large cow1 it is obvious that even the track of the largest sterile specimen of the hornless sex cannot approach in size that made by an old bull4 ,as the general size of the elk differs in their various districts1 this fact has to be considered2 an elk in the ,coast country1 for example1 is much inferior in weight to an elk of the same age in the ,rockies4 ,for this reason it is necessary to know the general size of the elks in the territory in which the tracking is done to estimate with approximate correctness the number of points on their horns from the size of the track4 ,illustration3 ,,elk 7#f7 ,gallop4 7#g7 ,trot4 ,the bigger the bull1 the farther1 of course1 stand the tracks away from the center line4 ,what has been said about this1 and about the pointing outward of toes in the chapter on ,virginia deer1 applies also to the elk1 with the difference1 however1 that in the latter it is always a sure sign of the bull1 as is also the lagging back with the hind feet4 ,like the fan-tail buck1 the elk bull1 in his manner of walking1 makes a hill in his track1 but there is no dust heap in front of the latter's1 as the elk apparently does not step off so clean4 ,the bull elk always manages to walk with tightly closed hoofs1 at variance with the cow1 which lets the hoofs spread more4 ,by reason of his weight and his habit of pawing the ground1 the points of the hoofs or toes of an old bull become rather blunt1 causing a much rounder track than a cow makes2 and in a big track1 like that of an elk1 such features show up conspicuously1 while it would be a hard matter to detect them in a much smaller deer track1 even on the best tracking ground4 ,the dew-claws1 being much thicker and blunter in the bull than in the cow1 are a certain distinctive feature1 but their imprint can be seen only in mud or snow1 and there the other more prominent signs of the bull track are1 as a rule1 visible also and will be found more reliable4 ,the young bull often oversteps the forefoot track with the hind foot2 therefore in case the tracks do not register it is necessary to examine the two individual tracks of one side4 ,if the bigger track is in front1 an old bull made it1 and if the reverse is the case1 the animal is not worth following1 because it is a young one4 ,like all members of the deer tribes1 the elk bull cleanses his horns of the velvet on trees1 and1 in addition to pawing the ground with the hoofs1 he often belabors it with his horns in his anger with a rival4 ,some consider the distance between the individual tracks in the attempt to determine the size and other points of the elk1 and if the animal has been seen1 this is well1 but if there is only the trail to decide by1 it appears to be a far-fetched sign1 because the foundation1 a knowledge of the speed1 is lacking4 ,,the ,,moose ,,the favorite rendezvous1 in summer or winter range1 of any other member of the deer tribes may be ascertained by the observant trailer1 and the animal found within a given area with moderate certainty1 but not so our most gigantic game1 the moose2 he is far too much of a traveler4 ,true1 he too has his range1 but its limits are so extended that he may return to the same place but once within a month or two4 ,here to-day and elsewhere to-morrow seems to be his rule4 ,yet1 in spite of the moose's habits1 the tracker may bag him in any given locality by ascertaining in what umbrageous thicket or on what wooded hillside the moose prefers to stay during his visits1 that is1 if the hunter does not wish to run him down by sheer endurance1 which would take him over deep1 crusted snow1 cost about a week's hard work1 and furnish poor sport4 ,on account of its extraordinary size1 it is out of the question that the track of a bull moose should be mistaken for that of another deer2 rather it might be taken for that of a big ox1 except the track of the latter is always rounder and the entire hoof-form different4 ,where any doubt exists1 a close examination will invariably dispel it4 ,in forming a conclusion about a moose track the chief aim is always to decide if it was made by a bull or cow4 ,the hoof of the bull is bulkier than that of the cow1 and should therefore produce a rounder track4 ,the immense weight of the animal tends to obliterate such minor distinctive features in most cases where the ground is not very hard4 ,the dew-claws on the bull are always farther apart than on the cow1 and as they are much blunter they make a good mark to consider4 ,the individual tracks of the bull are farther off from the center line than in the case of the cow2 but as the stride is long1 this feature is not apparent to any appreciable extent4 ,illustration3 ,,moose ,,bull ,,track 7,about one-half natural size7 ,the length of the steps1 if it is possible to estimate the gait he was traveling from his other actions 7feeding1 etc471 is one of the best signs of the bull1 since he makes markedly longer strides than the cow of equal size4 ,illustration3 ,,moose ,,tracks 7#a7 ,trail of bull4 7#b7 ,trail of cow4 7#c7 ,trot4 7#d7 ,gallop4 ,from all the foregoing it is obvious that it is a rather doubtful possibility for the beginner to tell the track of a bull from that of a cow1 but actual observations in the woods will impart to him the ability to distinguish between them with a considerable degree of accuracy4 ,until he so learns he should follow every likely looking track until it enters a thicket1 and if he is following a bull with a halfway good set of horns he will notice overhead broken twigs and bent branches1 or perhaps he will find along the trail blazed trees1 broken bushes1 or the ground torn with hoofs or horns1 and may know by these also that a bull made the signs4 ,unlike any other deer previously discussed1 the moose1 when trotting1 oversteps the forefeet tracks with the hind feet to a considerable extent4 7,see sketch of trail47 ,as signs of the bull moose we may consider3 #a4 ,roundness of hoof2 #b4 ,distance between and bluntness of dew-claws2 #c4 ,distance of tracks from center line2 #d4 ,length of steps2 #e4 ,breaking of twigs with horns 7overhead along trail72 #f4 ,blazing of trees2 #g4 ,pawing of ground4 ,,the ,,mountain ,,sheep ,where first the early sunbeams glow ,on rugged cliffs1 through morning shrouds1 ,where icy winds in summer blow ,on crests among the thunder clouds1 ,way up on mountains high and steep1 ,there lives and roams the bighorn sheep4 ,,the king of sports1 undoubtedly1 is the pursuit of the bighorn1 but on account of the habitat of this game1 under normal conditions1 it is restricted to comparatively few hunters1 since perfect physical condition and unswerving perseverance are required to endure the hardships which present themselves in mountain climbing and camping out of camp1 and to bear cheerfully the many discouraging experiences which are commonly the lot of the sportsman who desires to secure the finest trophy to be taken in our country4 ,no other reminder of the chase will bring back to memory so many pleasant recollections as the head and horns of an old mountain ram after time has obliterated the memory of the hardships endured1 and has woven around the trophy a halo through which the mind's eye sees again sublime views from lofty mountain peaks1 roseate dawns and glowing sunsets1 which bathed cliffs and crests and crags in a flood of molten gold4 ,again the hunter feels the thrill of care-free independence of the trifling world below1 and experiences boundless elation as the crack of the rifle1 sounding and resounding from a thousand crags1 proclaims to the ,alpine world the triumphant end of the chase4 ,the tracking of this game consists chiefly in locating it by the signs left on high meadows1 or near springs or salt-licks4 ,except for the larger spoor of the ram1 there is no difference in the track or trail of either sex4 ,generally on meadows or near springs1 where the big tracks of a single animal1 or at most a couple of them1 are frequently found1 and where the tracks of lambs are conspicuous by their absence1 one may expect1 with moderate certainty1 to see game worthy of a shot1 as rams prefer to range alone1 except at rutting time and during the winter4 ,illustration3 ,,mountain ,,sheep4 7,,one-,,half ,,natural ,,size7 7#a7 ,front track4 7#b7 ,hind track4 7#c7 ,trail4 7#d7 ,leaps4 ,if there is no snow1 one may learn to know the track of every individual sheep which frequents the range1 and if he spends much time there he will see an animal at too great a distance to be shot at1 but if he has any memory at all1 he will recognize its track if he finds it anywhere in that region4 ,this1 of course1 does not refer to mountain sheep below the average1 which1 ,i assume1 are of little interest to the sportsman who takes the trouble to hunt for a trophy2 nor does the meat hunter go up into these regions for the pot1 as he will get something easier lower down4 ,if the feeding ground or watering place of an old ram is once known1 about the best thing to do is to wait for the quarry4 ,if the game is seen1 and it has not already observed the hunter1 it usually can be flagged as antelopes were in former days4 ,the oldest bucks1 however1 seldom respond to the summons1 and are seldom lured within rifle range by this method4 ,hunting bighorn has much in common with hunting antelopes1 but in the pursuit of the former there is grander scenery and more physical exercise4 ,the tracks of mountain sheep often show the cross-step1 seldom register1 and1 as the animals when running have to place their feet where they can1 the trail gives no indication of where an animal has been hit4 ,infinitely greater vigilance is required than in deer hunting to observe the signs at the moment of firing1 and in the study of hair and blood4 ,illustration3 ,,hog ,,track2 ,,walking4 7,,about ,,half ,,natural ,,size7 ,to save the novice from ridiculous experiences this illustration is given4 ,the hog track is always spread1 very seldom registers1 and1 if the ground is not very hard1 the dew-claws are always shown4 ,the hoof of the bighorn spreads easily and evenly2 therefore1 in the track the distance between the heels is as great as between the toes1 and frequently greater--a fact which makes it impossible to confound it with that of any other animal4 ,as stated1 there is but one sign by which to tell the ram3 ,size of the track4 ,,the ,,antelope ,,the track of the antelope looks like a combination of a bighorn track1 which it resembles somewhat in length and prominence of the outer rim of the hoof1 and that of the domestic sheep1 to which it bears a likeness in the shape of the heels4 ,to confound it1 however1 with either one of them is a rather remote possibility1 since the heels are broader and closer together than those of a mountain sheep1 with which in the ,bad ,lands the antelope is sometimes found in the same range1 and the spread is different from that of the domestic sheep4 ,in the case of the domestic sheep the greatest spread is at the point of the toes1 while in the case of the antelope1 the hoof being hooked1 it is more between the soles4 ,an antelope buck of moderate size makes at all times a bigger track than any range sheep1 the track of the latter always being rather flat4 ,as antelopes live on the open plains where they are generally hunted by sighting them1 and as a sportsman is allowed to kill but one in a season1 we will therefore consider only the signs of the old bucks4 ,there are but two signs1 and these can be condensed into one1 because they are usually found at the same spot3 ,pawing of ground1 and droppings4 ,the droppings are of similar size1 and though more or less connected1 always comparatively dry1 while from does and fawns they are either dry and scattered1 or1 if moist1 in a lump and always irregular in size2 the cause of which seeming phenomenon is a certain amount of glutinous substance in the droppings of the buck4 ,illustration3 ,,hind ,,foot ,,of ,,antelope4 7,,life ,,size7 ,the pawing is usually done in old buffalo trails1 cattle runways1 and roads1 or where coal deposits come to the surface making the ground barren of vegetation2 where this sign is found1 an old buck is always near1 even if the locality cannot properly be considered antelope country4 ,old bucks1 before and after rutting season1 frequently make their habitat in roomy forests or in the breaks of the ,bad ,lands1 sometimes several miles distant from the grounds where the herds roam4 ,illustration3 ,,antelope4 7,,one-,,half ,,natural ,,size7 7#a7 ,track of antelope4 7#b7 ,domestic sheep 7flat71 note spread4 7#c7 ,trail of antelope4 7#d7 ,gallop 7no dew-claws2 the antelope has none74 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,sign ,,of ,,the ,,antelope 7,,buck7 ,the rutting season begins about the middle of ,august4 ,the old bucks are first in selecting their does1 but they have to leave their respective adherents on account of the stronger young bucks1 which fight off their old and emaciated rivals4 ,during the rutting season all bucks have such an emphatically disagreeable odor that it is absolutely impossible to eat the meat2 afterward they are but skin and bones1 and before they can pick up again and are fit for food1 they shed their horns4 ,the sportsman1 in consequence of the law1 which opens the shooting season for antelope ,september #ast1 is put to two disagreeable alternatives3 either to shoot a buck and let the meat rot1 saving horns and skin as a trophy of the sport 7871 or to kill a doe or fawn1 to feast on excellent venison1 and incidentally hasten the extermination of the most beautiful creature of the plains4 ,sport with antelope bucks in the full sense of the word1 can be had only during the summer months2 then they tax the hunter's skill1 and their meat is fit for the table of an epicure4 ,when their natural range is absorbed by private preserves1 or when human progress is advanced so far that it demands even of politicians the exercise of some common sense1 then1 no doubt1 laws will be passed befitting the game4 ,until then1 the sportsman1 to keep his shield of honor bright1 must abstain from the killing of antelope2 else1 ridiculous and inconsistent as it may seem1 if he decides he must have a trophy of this kind1 in any event1 he must disregard the statutory laws4 ,flagging old bucks seems to me an inexcusable waste of time2 those which ,i have tried to flag have invariably heeded the signal1 and left immediately for distant ranges1 apparently having profited from previous experiences4 ,the distress cry of a jack-rabbit1 however1 invariably causes antelope to investigate4 ,often when ,i have been calling for wolves and coyotes1 antelopes have appeared seemingly from nowhere and approached so close that they could easily have been killed with a shotgun4 ,if there is a herd of cattle in the known range of an old buck it is almost a sure thing that he will associate with them during the late afternoon4 ,in timbered country bucks will be found frequenting comparatively small parks where it is easy to stalk them4 ,the antelope has the widest range of vision of all our game1 but like the others it is unable to distinguish objects when looking toward he sun1 a fact which at times has its advantages when hunting the antelope or bighorn sheep4 ,the wound-signs are the same as in deer2 but as antelope are usually shot at in open country1 they can generally be seen until they drop dead or lie down4 ,in the latter case it is more merciful to let them die without disturbing them1 unless it is possible from the lay of the country to stalk them so that their misery may be ended by a second well-aimed shot4 ,by reason of the hoof-form1 the very prominent hillock in the antelope track is of no value in ascertaining the sex1 and neither is the irregular stepping in the trail4 ,,comparisons ,,of ,,the ,,male ,,signs ,,as ,,found ,,in ,,the ,,various ,,hoofed ,,game ,,animals ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ,distance ,pointing ,hillock ,lagging ,animal ,size of from ,outward in ,drag ,back of ,track ,center of ,hoofs ,track ,hind ,legs ,line ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ,virginia - - ,deer ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ,fan- ,tailed ,dust heap in front of track - - ,deer ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ,mule - - - ,deer ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ,elk - ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ,moose - ,length of steps - ,breaking of twigs with horns ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ,bighorn - - - - - ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ,antelope - - - ,droppings ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ,roundness ,size and ,animal ,clearness of ,form of ,blazing of,pawing of of ,track ,toes ,dew ,trees ,ground ,claws ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ,virginia ,watching from cover ,deer ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ,fan- ,tailed ,watching from cover ,deer ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ,mule - - - - ,deer ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ,elk ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ,moose - ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ,bighorn - - - - - ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ,antelope - - - - ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ,,predaceous ,,animals ,,the ,,bear ,,hunting bears with the assistance of guides supplied with a well-trained pack of hounds may be satisfactory1 if merely the killing of them is desired1 but it certainly is not sport1 and does not even deserve to be ranked with trapping bears1 as in the latter case the hunter must possess at least some knowledge of the quarry's habitat and habits4 ,unlike a fox1 a bear when once found by the hounds stands no chance of escaping1 and there would be just as much sport in shooting the animal in a park or pen as in killing a run-to-bay bear4 ,this applies also with truth to mountain lions1 although perhaps there is in the case of the cougar the excuse of the animal's destructiveness4 ,the employment of dogs in the chase would never exterminate or even appreciably lessen the number of deer in any hunting country where lakes are not abundant1 but everywhere it surely means the downfall and extinction of that relic of gray ages1 the bear4 ,where not plentiful--and the places where they are found in number are to-day quite few and remote from civilization--bears are1 on the whole1 harmless1 and decidedly more useful than injurious4 ,the damage they do is almost nil1 while they serve man in many ways4 ,the meat of young bears is equal to the best venison2 their fat is decidedly superior to the fancy lard we buy1 of the source and handling of which we are ignorant2 and the hides give excellent service as robes1 rugs and clothing4 ,in my opinion bears should be protected to a certain extent rather than shot down merely to make a record4 ,sport should be conducted in a spirit of fairness to the game1 and while a couple of dogs is perhaps permissible in bear hunting1 still-hunting is the better sport1 because it requires the utmost skill and knowledge of woodcraft on account of the quarry's sagacity and cunning1 which is superior to that of any other of our wild animals4 ,even if one is able to read the habits of the bear clearly from its trail1 it is necessary to possess an abundant supply of patience1 for1 barring lucky accidents1 no one can reasonably hope to outwit ,bruin at the first attempt4 ,illustration3 ,,bear ,,feet--,,right ,,side 7,,one-,,quarter ,,natural ,,size7 ,the end of their hibernation depends largely on the weather1 but about ,march or ,april bears frequent snowless slopes and gulches in search of roots1 bulbs1 and similar food1 and it is there one must look for signs at that time4 ,if a cold spell interrupts the spring weather1 as is often the case1 a trail1 sometimes a week old1 will often lead the hunter to a nearby thicket where ,bruin has made himself a bed on the ground1 with the intention of sleeping until another thaw4 ,he usually changes his bed every two or three days1 but ordinarily will not leave the thicket unless he is disturbed4 ,if a bear is found to be in such a thicket1 the hunter should curb his impatience and suspend following up the trail until the snow gets soft1 when he can work carefully against the wind toward his quarry4 ,however1 as it is usually impossible to see farther than ten or twenty feet ahead1 ,bruin has1 in this kind of hunting1 much the best of the hunter1 and the latter finds in most cases an empty bed4 ,illustration3 ,,bear ,,trail4 7,,steps ,,about ,,two ,,feet ,,apart7 ,if the thicket is not too large the wind-hunting method before described will1 no doubt1 often give satisfaction2 but as a rule the thickets which the bears make their spring habitat are of too great an extent4 ,the surest and easiest way to get him is to persuade some other fellow to follow the trail while you intercept and shoot the bear when he leaves the thicket4 ,knowledge of ,bruin's cunning then furnishes the means to decide where he will pass1 since1 as a rule1 he will sneak off under the densest cover and try to reach another thicket under shelter of bushes1 rocks and the like4 ,anyone1 not altogether a tyro in the woods1 can easily decide from the lay of the country where to wait for ,his ,bearship4 ,when the place is selected1 one should be sure that there is an absolutely clear opening at least a couple of feet wide4 ,a bear is bulky and clumsy-looking enough1 but he is able to pass without offering a chance for a shot at places where another animal could hardly escape an average hunter's lead4 ,i am by no means slow with my trigger finger1 but before ,i learned to appreciate this fact ,i was chagrined on several occasions by having bears pass me unharmed at a less distance than fifty yards1 and that too at places where ,i thought ,i could kill a running rabbit if ,i wished to do so4 ,illustration3 ,,tracks ,,of ,,bear1 ,,running ,if a bear succeeds in leaving a thicket without giving opportunity for a shot1 there is no need for disappointment--he will pass the same spot when he happens to be in the same thicket again1 and this is a certainty if he does not abandon that part of the country4 ,this statement has met with some disbelief among a few of my personal acquaintances1 and to prove my claims ,i had to shoot a bear within a month from a given point4 ,i killed ,bruin1 or rather ,old ,eph1 as it was a grizzly1 less than ten feet from where ,i said ,i would1 and that settled the matter4 ,a mile and a half from my home there is such a thicket not over one acre in extent1 and if fresh bear signs are seen anywhere in the surrounding woods1 which cover several thousand acres and contain many larger and just as dense thickets1 ,i wait there1 reasonably sure that ,i will see ,bruin soon after sunrise or at sunset4 ,experience has proved to me that it is a waste of time to watch for bears where signs are most numerous4 ,they invariably leave their home thicket very quietly before dark1 and start their noisy feeding1 chewing up logs1 and breaking down berry bushes1 not less than half a mile from their abiding place1 near which no signs except a few tracks are visible4 ,illustration3 ,,bear ,,track4 7,,hind ,,foot2 ,,two-,,thirds ,,natural ,,size7 ,for the entertainment of a visiting friend the thicket was driven a few times by the wind method1 which worked splendidly4 ,an old mule1 which was shot through the lungs with a 4#cj-dj rifle on the previous evening1 was the only one that left the shelter slowly4 ,all the others1 presumably the same on every occasion1 appeared to be very much frightened1 and ran for about three-quarters of a mile after they had passed the danger point4 ,illustration3 ,,bear ,,stump4 7,,ants ,,were ,,chewed ,,out ,,seven ,,feet ,,above ,,ground7 ,to locate the abode of bears in such thickets during the summer and early autumn1 it is best and simplest to trail them by the signs they make during their nocturnal rambles1 such as overturned logs1 etc42 and if only a few of such signs are found near dense cover1 facing north or northwest1 the ground should be carefully examined for tracks4 ,these are usually difficult to see1 and if no moist places are near such cover1 the apparently used paths that lead into it1 but on which there are no signs except an occasional claw mark1 must serve as base for a conclusion1 which must be verified by watching at a good point near the thicket during the morning or evening4 ,the snapping of a twig or the breaking of a log on which ,bruin carelessly steps often confirms the conclusions1 though the bear may sometimes remain invisible to the hunter for several consecutive visits4 ,illustration3 ,,bear ,,track4 7,,front ,,foot2 ,,about ,,two-,,fifths ,,natural ,,size7 ,when the thicket they prefer is once located1 the rest is easy4 ,if quick results are desired1 driving or1 perhaps1 calling will yield results4 ,i once shot a bear which made its appearance immediately when1 by way of experiment1 ,i imitated the distress cry of a jack-rabbit4 ,if the hunter has plenty of time to spend in the woods it is a good plan to watch for the quarry4 ,during autumn proper1 bears retreat to the more remote districts and the fastnesses of the mountains2 here they are usually found during the daytime where they are accustomed to feed4 ,in places where berries are plentiful1 on ridges and in gulches where blue jays and squirrels are storing their winter supply of mast1 here will be found the bears' favorite autumn haunts4 ,in the mountains of the ,west there is a berry bush called kinni-kinic barberry or bearberry--,i am not sure which is the correct term--that is thickly covered with fruit about the size of buffalo berries1 and which is a favorite food for bears before they can obtain mast2 or1 if the latter fails1 ,bruin seems to regard the seeds of the pion as a delicacy2 but as it would apparently take up too much of his time to fill himself from those that fall to the ground1 he resorts to easier methods to obtain them--he becomes a thief and incurs the enmity of squirrels and jays4 ,on ridges he robs the caches of the jays1 and in caons he depletes the stores of the squirrels1 and1 by no means approving of such actions1 they heartily hate him and cuss at him whenever he approaches1 and in this way often betray his presence to the hunter who has learned to interpret the language of the wood-folk4 ,it is always well to approach with the utmost care places where there is a continual chatter of squirrels and cries of blue jays are heard2 and if the cussed one proves to be some other marauder--well1 it may be a bear next time4 ,when still-hunting during the autumn the attention paid to these small denizens of the woods is by no means wasted1 and yields better results than covering a great territory1 or watching for hours on trails or near baits1 which latter are seldom visited by bears during rifle light4 ,illustration3 ,,bear ,,log ,until ,i undertook the systematic study of the bear's habits ,i was under the impression1 from what ,i had read1 that a bear track was easily recognized1 and actually passed many1 regarding them as cougar tracks4 ,i have since noticed that many hunters1 born and reared in a bear country1 make the same mistake4 ,of course in mud or snow a bear track is easily identified1 but in the vastness of mountains and forests snow and mud are not always present2 in fact1 they are of little service4 ,there1 the heel of the foot is practically never seen in the track during snowless times1 and as the shape of the fore part of the foot conforms with that of the mountain lion1 a mistake is easily possible if the imprints of the five toes of the bear are not all visible4 ,the trailer in these districts and under these circumstances is generally lucky if he can discern here and there the part of a track of a bear's foot4 ,a couple of years ago a party of old deer hunters told me of the great number of lion tracks they had seen as they came into camp1 and at my query if they saw any bear tracks1 they answered1 ,no2 yet ,i had camped there over two months1 knew absolutely that no lion was in those parts1 that bears were abundant1 and that the hunters could have seen only their tracks4 ,so much for the information of those who have an idea that an animal1 weighing from three hundred to over a thousand pounds1 must necessarily make a big trail which can be readily followed4 ,illustration3 ,,bear ,,log ,the tracker1 if he will but stop and investigate closely1 need not make a mistake1 even if only the imprint of a single toe is plainly visible1 as the long nails of the bear almost always leave some mark in front of the track4 ,the distance which the nails stand away from the toe imprints is the only means of distinguishing the grizzly's track from that of the black bear1 except that size dispels any doubt4 ,the nails of the grizzly stand out almost straight1 while those of the black bear are more curvate1 and their imprints must consequently be found closer to the track of the foot4 ,the likeness of the bear track to that of the human foot has been referred to by many writers4 ,in reality no likeness exists1 and the inexperienced trailer in the woods has the already disadvantageous conditions under which he is working multiplied so long as he is not disillusioned4 ,if a bear who knows nothing of the hunter is shot at and suddenly whirls around1 i4 e41 jumps when the trigger is pulled1 he is hit1 no matter whether there is another sign or not1 and the color of the blood will indicate to the hunter where he is struck4 ,a shot through the lungs with the modern high-power rifle will sometimes not prove fatal within ten or twelve hours4 ,a missed bear is never in a hurry to get away1 unless he has seen or scented the hunter previous to the firing1 and in most cases he offers a chance for a second or third shot4 ,not a few city hunters pull out if they encounter bear signs where they intend to spend their outing1 saying they are not looking for bears2 yet the chances are many against their seeing one even if they were anxious for an encounter4 ,the trouble is not to avoid a bear1 but to find him1 as his greatest desire seems to be to keep out of man's reach1 and he employs all his cunning to that end4 ,,the ,,cougar ,,of all the predatory animals there is none which in destructiveness equals or even approaches the mountain lion2 he1 and he only1 is often the cause of unsatisfactory hunting trips into districts where other big game by every reason ought to be abundant4 ,a family of these great beasts will1 while the young ones are growing up1 deplete a region of almost every other game animal4 ,if a cougar kills a deer during the morning hours1 he seems to spend the day near it1 as ,i have again and again found freshly vacated beds under nearby bushes or rocks4 ,on these occasions ,i was following the drag the varmint had made with the carcass1 and although ,i kept a close watch on the surroundings1 the lion remained invisible2 yet ,i know that he was watching me1 for in every instance ,i found that he visited and examined the covered carcass during the following night4 ,the methods usually followed to rid the hunting-ground of its worst poacher are to shoot or trap him4 ,if the former is decided upon1 the fact that the lion has an excellent nose and keen vision should not be forgotten when the place to watch for him is selected4 ,illustration3 ,,cougar4 7,,one-,,half ,,natural ,,size7 7#a7 ,ordinary gait4 7#b7 ,sneaking4 7#c7 ,trot4 ,still-hunting the cougar is about the most thankless undertaking one could enter upon1 yet there are occasions when a close observer may be able to kill one without extra trouble when out primarily for other game4 ,the main requisite is time and a thorough acquaintance with the country4 ,the cougar1 after the young are grown up1 does not remain in a comparatively small district for any length of time1 but usually covers a much wider territory than the gray wolf1 although the latter is universally known as a great wanderer4 ,at irregular intervals1 say from once in a fortnight to once in two months1 depending on the region1 it returns to the same district4 ,unlike the wolf1 the cougar1 in returning to and hunting over a district1 does not usually go over the same trail and buttes he has used on the previous trip1 but prefers to explore new ground on each occasion unless there is something unusual to attract him4 ,if his tracks1 therefore1 are seen quite often on a certain lookout point1 the hunter should be alert for the cause of attraction1 generally a fallen tree1 or an overhanging rock protecting a snug dry bed beneath from rain or snow1 which are always situated on a wind-sheltered hillside facing south4 ,when such a place is known1 the hunter should scrupulously refrain from going near it1 to avoid leaving any scent there2 but he should observe the nest as often as he comes into its vicinity1 and from a convenient distant point4 ,if the nest has an occupant1 it is better to let a bullet investigate before the hunter does so himself1 for a cat is a cat1 and if its suspicions are aroused1 the devil cannot beat it in trickiness--it will vanish unobserved without the hunter knowing how it could have done so4 ,i once shot one out of a bunch of three1 and felt sure the remaining two were my meat1 yet not a spot of yellow of them did ,i see afterward1 although every nook within three hundred yards of the surrounding country was seemingly open to my scouting4 ,this is tedious hunting1 of course1 and the number of cougars would not be appreciably lessened by the method2 but one lion outwitted thus is worth perhaps1 as a trophy of skill1 a score killed by other means2 and besides1 it at least gives the still-hunter a chance4 ,cougars do not respond readily to being called 7by imitating the cries of a jack-rabbit72 at least ,i have lured but one in eight or ten years1 and missed it at that4 ,trapping them is as sure as gambling1 i4 e41 there is never any certainty that one will get the lion1 and as their existence is unquestionably obnoxious to sportsmen and stockgrowers alike1 hunting them with dogs is a commendable method1 since it insures their decrease1 and to the tyro means a trophy4 ,barnyard study is1 undoubtedly1 responsible for the conclusions advanced by some writers that the members of the cat family are the most perfect track makers1 i4 e41 walkers4 ,as a matter of fact1 the trail of a wild cat cannot be compared1 so far as perfection goes1 with the trail of the wild dog4 ,the cougar's tracks seldom register4 ,he either oversteps with the hind foot the track made by the forefoot when in a hurry1 or he does not step quite far enough to cover the forefoot track when leisurely walking1 and the individual tracks do not stand so close to the center line of the trail as do those of the wolf4 ,the roundness of the track1 together with the inconspicuousness of the nail marks1 even under the most favorable tracking conditions1 makes the cougar track unmistakably different from that of a wolf4 ,however1 on hard ground the track of a bear and a lion may be easily taken for one another1 though the latter contains but four toe-marks4 ,but then every toe-mark is not often visible on hard ground4 ,with all predatory animals the rule holds good that the female track appears smaller than that of the male1 even though the size of the animals be the reverse4 ,for example1 a male cougar measuring seven feet from tip to tip1 will make a bigger track than a nine-foot-long female4 ,although with dividers and tapeline one might have difficulty to ascertain the difference1 which at best would be very small to the eye1 it is unmistakable1 and one well acquainted with tracks can hardly make the error of mistaking a female track for that of a male4 ,the latter always looks more substantial4 ,it is the same with the tracks of males and females of predatory animals as it is with a bunch of deer1 or of a single one for that matter1 after bucks have shed their horns4 ,the initiated can tell accurately from the appearance of the animals which are bucks and which are does2 yet if questioned how he knows it1 he can scarcely answer4 ,at best he will say1 ,because it looks like one4 ,the reason for my dwelling on this subject is by no means an idle one4 ,during the early summer the ravages of varmints often become almost unbearable to stockmen1 and since females1 which have to provide for their offspring1 are the worst offenders1 it is well for anyone to be able to distinguish their tracks from those of males1 in order to follow them only1 as they are the only ones that will always with certainty lead to the den within a day's travel4 ,predatory animals are1 in the writer's opinion1 not monogamous4 ,while a male is often found with a family1 the same male may be seen the next day with others of his kind miles away4 ,i have noted this while following game on horseback4 ,on the other hand1 a male track may lead to several dens if followed far enough4 ,on several occasions ,i have shot two or even three males of a species near a den within a week or so1 the desire to kill the female being on every occasion responsible for the long-continued watch4 ,in following a track with the purpose of hunting up a den it makes but little difference whether the trail be fresh or old4 ,a trail two weeks old1 but made after a rain1 is often more easily followed than a fresher one1 and will as well lead to the den's vicinity1 as the latter very often could not be followed at all on hard ground2 and a back-trail often leads more quickly to the den than one leading ahead4 ,prevailing conditions of weather and lay of country should govern the tracker's choice of which trail to follow4 ,he must know that he has to follow the back track if it comes from rough country1 for the den is more likely situated there than elsewhere4 ,a den that contains young cougars is readily recognized by the superabundance of carcasses of game lying around its vicinity4 ,certainly unless due regard is given to the extermination of predatory animals1 it is impossible to bring a hunting preserve up to the highest standard1 and for the same reason their unrestricted existence in the open hunting grounds can only be harmful4 ,the time when predatory animals kept the number of other game in a healthy balance has passed1 and the sportsman who kills half a dozen deer ought to have to his credit at least one member of the former tribe to offset his killing those of the latter4 ,as few of the hunting fraternity attain this desirable result1 ,i think those who kill as many or more marauders as they do useful game animals1 ought to be hailed as benefactors to the sportsmen's fraternity4 ,sometimes1 ,i am sorry to say1 such an action is referred to as unsportsmanlike by those who would soon find the woods empty of desirable game if others gave no more attention to marauders than they do themselves4 ,,the ,,lynx ,,what the cougar is as an enemy to the useful big game1 the bob-cat is to small game and the young of big game4 ,he1 however1 lacks the cunning of the former1 being easily called or trapped1 and therefore as a class1 and excepting individual cases few and far between1 will never become a menace to either the sportsmen's fraternity or to stockgrowers4 ,where hundreds of them infest the country--as in certain sections of the ,bad ,lands--they only serve to check the increase of the millions of cottontail rabbits1 which would otherwise so rapidly multiply that they would become a destructive pest throughout the cultivated sections of the country4 ,illustration3 ,scale #a foot ,,lynx4 7,,one-,,half ,,natural ,,size7 7#a7 ,forefoot4 7#b7 ,hind foot 7small specimen2 nail marks are generally invisible74 7#c7 ,imprint of fox4 7#d7 ,lynx1 ordinary gait4 7#e and #f7 ,fox1 ordinary gait4 7#f and #g7 ,comparison of fox and lynx trails in snow4 7#h7 ,lynx1 running4 7#i7 ,domestic cat4 ,the tracker1 trailing bob-cats like deer1 can often surprise them at prowling1 or jump them at close range from their beds1 which are usually found under deadfalls or overhanging rocks1 etc4 ,until their suspicions are aroused they are very foolish and the writer has shot not a few with a 4#bb rifle when still-hunting for rabbits4 ,when called1 they have not sense enough to run away if missed by the first and even second shot4 ,in hunting them with dogs they give good sport1 and not infrequently get away by entering holes or putting the dogs to shame in some other manner4 ,illustration3 ,,right ,,front ,,paw ,,of ,,lynx ,illustration3 ,,red ,,lynx ,at a careless glance the lynx track is but a miniature of that of the cougar1 but a close examination reveals the fact that the marks of the individual toes are proportionately much more elongated than in the latter4 ,the trail1 though much better than the mountain lion's trail1 is not as perfect as that of the coyote or fox1 for either of which it might be mistaken in loose snow2 it is always more out of line4 ,in ,country ,life in ,america for ,june1 #aije1 a well-known nature writer shows a lynx trail1 as perfectly as it can be illustrated1 as that of a fox4 ,with such good standing tracks it is inexcusable if the trailer makes a mistake1 and even if one has had but little actual experience in the woods1 a less perfect outline of the trail will be found sufficient to tell the wild cat from the wild dog4 ,illustration3 ,,lynx ,,trail ,in snow five inches or more deep the lynx makes1 as a rule1 quite a drag with his feet1 much more so than either fox or coyote1 which latter disturbs the snow only near the individual tracks4 ,on good tracking ground1 or in soft snow1 the nail marks are sometimes visible1 but never prominent like those of the fox or coyote4 ,,the ,,domestic ,,cat ,,the track and trail of the house cat--7if it were only a house cat nothing would be said about it here7--is too well known to need description4 ,if it is found anywhere in hunting grounds1 parks1 etc41 the finder will confer a benefit on lovers of nature and its feathered denizens if he1 where possible1 will set a trap baited with fish 7herring71 or cheese2 or if there is a chance to fill the varmint's anatomy with pellets from a shotgun or a 4#bb rifle1 or to cut it in two with a big rifle bullet1 he should never fail to do so4 ,it may seem a waste of powder and lead1 but it is not1 for in my opinion there is no more harmful creature a-foot or a-wing than the domestic cat outdoors4 ,it would be impossible to estimate the amount of damage they do by killing songsters which nature intended to check insect pests4 ,as far as the sportsman is concerned1 a single cat will often deprive him of his shooting in given localities1 for1 if it has once found the location of a bevy of quail1 grouse or other game birds1 it will not stop until the last one of the family is killed4 ,wild predatory animals generally restrict their raids to the hours of the night2 a domestic cat will prowl and kill at any hour during the twenty-four4 ,some specimens attack even deer fawns and other game of like size4 ,a cat shrinks from nothing in its lust for killing--not even from water--and ,i remember seeing a big tom-cat rob a pond in a city park of its goldfish4 ,unluckily for the marauder ,i had a gun with me4 ,anyone interested in shooting should keep a lookout for cat tracks in the woods during the summer and autumn1 and do his best to let them show no more4 ,,the ,,wolf ,,there is perhaps no other animal about which more disagreeable things are said and written than the wolf1 yet the writer1 though recognizing its bad points1 would dislike to have it become extinct4 ,its howl is inseparably associated with many of my pleasantest recollections1 and the butte-fringed prairies and rugged ,bad ,lands would have decidedly less charm without it for one who has learned to love that so-called ,god-forsaken country4 ,illustration3 ,,wolf ,front track ,dog1 forefoot 7,two-thirds natural size7 ,hind track ,except under unusually severe weather conditions1 wolves generally kill only the weakest of range stock and big game animals1 and ,i doubt if their so-called depredations in this respect are anything but a benefit to the survivors1 as weaklings among any species of animals are always inimical to the general health and condition of the respective variety4 ,the wolf in this regard does only what the sensible warden of a well-conducted game preserve does2 i4 e41 weeds out undesirable specimens4 ,in ,yellowstone ,park1 for example1 since the cougars there are systematically hunted with hounds1 wolves and coyotes ought to be protected to a certain extent or else the result will undoubtedly be a general degeneration among the game animals in that region4 ,before the warfare against lions was started1 there were already many scabby elks in that great preserve1 and if the slaughter of scavengers is kept up indiscriminately--well1 a reasonable person can only await results with misgivings4 ,nature always works out her course best if left alone1 and ,i believe that in the case of the ,yellowstone ,park the ,nation in the course of time will be willing to pay ten times the amount it now pays for their extermination to have the varmints alive in that great preserve4 ,where weaklings are not abundant1 game animals naturally suffer from an abundance of wolves1 and where the stock-raiser has enough sense to dispose of sick or weak stock himself1 ,old ,gray has no business4 ,illustration3 7#a7 ,wolf 7slow trot74 7#b7 ,dog 7trot74 7#c7 ,wolf 7quick trot74 7#d7 ,wolf 7gallop74 7#e7 ,dog walking slowly2 a motion never seen in the wolf trail4 ,in hunting wolves the quickest results are obtained in calling by imitating the cries of a jack-rabbit4 ,wolves evidently think one of their tribe has caught a bunny1 and1 as ,wildenbruch fittingly says3 ,each and everyone would eat him4 ,this trait is shared by most other marauders4 ,the wolf is a poor runner1 and is easily run down with the aid of an ordinary horse in open country4 ,the surest and most effective way apart from calling1 is by trapping1 which is the most extensively practiced1 and he who says that trapping is not great sport has surely never tried to outwit an old wolf4 ,i always measure sport by the amount of skill required4 ,the keeper of a game preserve1 who is not acquainted with the use of traps and other devices designed to decrease predatory animals1 will never succeed in showing first-class results to the owner or owners so far as abundance of game is concerned2 and what holds good in the case of the shooting-preserves holds good also for the open hunting grounds4 ,the track of an old full-grown wolf1 although similar to that of a dog1 differs from the latter1 inasmuch as it shows that the foot is less fleshy1 the soles of the various toes appearing more sharply divided than in the dog's track4 ,the latter has a comparatively big foot but also a soft foot which1 being plainly visible in the ordinary gait1 becomes much more apparent where the animal adopts a quicker motion4 ,the toes are then spread out to an extent never found in the wolf1 except when the latter is running very fast1 and consequently the nail marks of the two middle toes of the dog are about twice as far apart as those of his wild relative4 ,a wolf trail shows the individual tracks ordinarily about eighteen inches apart1 while the dog1 making the same size or a slightly bigger track1 steps at the same gait less than fourteen inches2 and if1 in trotting1 he should equal the length of wolf-steps1 the spread of the middle toes makes his tracks easily recognizable4 ,a good-stepping dog steps about as near the center line as the wolf1 but as his steps are shorter1 they appear more out of line to the eye4 ,this is an optical illusion1 but it serves the tracker's purpose4 ,a young wolf1 say less than one year old1 has as soft a foot as a dog's4 ,however1 as young wolves go mostly in packs1 following the trail will generally reveal the identity of the animal4 ,usually wolves do not track continuously1 one animal investigating here and another there1 while the main trail leads on4 ,dogs1 two or more1 show no clear-cut single trail even for so short a space as ten feet1 while a number of wolves often travel several hundred yards with the trail showing as though only one animal had made it4 ,if one sees a wolf trail1 and without following it concludes that it was made by a single specimen1 he is liable to make the same mistake ,liver-eating ,johnson made with a bunch of horse-stealing ,indians4 ,he was stopping with a friend1 ,eugene ,irvin1 also an old ,indian fighter1 and one morning noticed about fifty horse-tracks1 of which he concluded only about half-a-dozen were made by horses mounted by redskins4 ,instead of following out on the prairies and deciding there from the comparative absence of dust in the tracks--a rider is not mixed up with the herd he is driving1 and consequently in his mount's tracks less dust is to be found--he hurried back to induce ,irvin to join him in the pursuit of the ,indians4 ,now that old scout was not as eager for the horses as ,liver-eating1 and not at all for a fight1 but for old friendship's sake said he would come along if a couple more fellows could be found1 which1 by the way1 he did not believe possible1 for the country was not settled then as it is now4 ,but it happened that two men did come along just at that moment1 and ,johnson soon convinced them that profitable business was ahead if they joined in the pursuit4 ,so the four went1 taking a straight cut toward ,horsethief1 a section of the country southeast of the ,big ,snowy ,mountains1 where they thought the ,indians would make a halt4 ,about three o'clock that afternoon they overtook the ,reds1 but found to their chagrin that a dozen bucks were ready to give battle1 while still four or five were left to attend to the stolen horses1 and as neither ,johnson nor any of his companions were burning for a fight1 in which there was no promise of getting anything but bullet holes1 ,johnson decided that he would rather go home without the horses4 ,in the ,bull ,mountains a hunter followed a wolf trail into a ravine from which there was no escape for the varmint except past him1 and he was promptly attacked by a half-dozen wolves4 ,he killed four after a hard fight1 but he was pretty well chewed up at the finish4 ,of course he had expected to find only one in the gulch4 ,as a rule the wolf is not anxious to fight1 although not so cowardly as most other animals--the cougar for example--yet ,i have seen a single specimen follow a hunter1 a boy of twelve years1 but the best rifle shot ,i ever met1 about two miles4 ,i was with him1 and waited for that wolf until he was within twenty yards1 when ,i allowed the boy to fire4 ,his nerves were evidently too much shaken1 for he missed his first wolf--nevertheless he got his pelt4 ,the locating of dens1 as explained in the discussion of the cougar1 is also applicable to wolves4 ,,the ,,coyote ,,what has been said in regard to the wolf and dog track1 is applicable also to the track and trail of the prairie wolf1 but as the latter is small there always exists the possibility that its track will be mistaken for that of the fox4 ,where the locality gives no clue to the identity of the maker of the trail1 the tracker has no distinguishing feature whatever from which to form his judgment1 since a big red fox makes as big a track as a small coyote4 ,the writer1 after hunting foxes for many years1 followed what he took for fox trails quite frequently in a certain section of the country1 until he discovered that there was no fox within a couple of hundred miles of the place4 ,a big coyote1 of course1 makes a larger track than a fox1 but here all difference stops4 ,for comparison's sake the track and trail of the average coyote and of the average fox are shown4 ,illustration3 ,,coyote4 7,,two-,,thirds ,,natural ,,size7 7#a7 ,ordinary trot4 7#b7 ,fast trot4 ,the hunting methods are the same as for the gray wolf4 ,where the latter1 however1 is looking for the living1 the coyote is watching for the dead1 and he rather deserves to be called the hyena of the ,western ,hemisphere than prairie wolf1 for his main diet is carrion4 ,his addiction to carrion can be made of use to the hunter1 in locating big game which has been unfortunately shot to the woods1 and of which he desires to secure at least the antlered or horned head4 ,in locating missing persons1 who are supposed to have met with a fatal accident or worse1 the trail of the coyote could be employed to advantage--and undoubtedly will be1 if it is once a matter of general knowledge that the prairie wolf will always visit the immediate vicinity of the remains of a hidden or buried human body1 and sound its dismal howl over them every time it happens to pass through that part of the country4 ,,the ,,fox ,,there is very little to add to what has been said about the fox track in the chapter on the coyote4 ,when galloping1 the fox's trail shows many variations not found in that of any other animal1 but as the sinful fellow generally leaps only when he undertakes a chase1 or is chased himself1 the features in the running trail are practically of little or no consequence to the tracker4 ,it is hardly possible to confound a fox trail with that of a very small dog--only in that the latter has a foot as small as the average fox--on account of the glaring dissimilarity in the length of the individual steps1 which is much more apparent than between the wolf and big dog4 ,the writer1 at the tender age of seven1 mistook once a very small dog's trail for that of a fox1 but after his father pointed out the above feature1 he never afterwards made such a mistake4 ,illustration3 ,,fox4 7,,two-,,thirds ,,natural ,,size7 ,front and hind track4 7#a7 ,ordinary gait2 the shaded part shows drag of brush4 7#b7 ,running4 ,when no individual track is visible1 as is the case in dry snow1 the blurry mark of the fox brush which is frequently seen at intervals in the trail settles any existing doubt4 ,some foxes1 as well as wolves and coyotes1 drag their feet to the same extent as does a dog that walks badly1 and because of this the tracker may disregard as immaterial the prominence or absence of the drag made by the toenails4 ,hunting foxes with hounds is undoubtedly the most popular method4 ,calling him like the wolf and coyote yields good results for the still-hunter1 but of all methods ,i prefer to shoot them during the rutting season1 which occurs in ,january4 ,the rutting season of coyotes is during ,february1 and that of wolves from ,january #ast until ,april1 approximately speaking4 ,i have seen wolves run as early as ,december #bhth1 and have killed pups about two weeks old after the middle of ,june4 ,it is on snowy1 blustering days that1 in the depth of the woods1 the fox is holding high carnival1 and his and her tracks run in all directions4 ,watching where the trails are most numerous soon furnishes work for the gun and trophies for the hunter1 for on such occasions the fox seems to have lost the senses of sight and smell which at other times are so well developed4 ,it is a singular fact that they always run the most during the worst weather4 ,in driving it is impossible to tell where a wolf or coyote will leave a certain thicket1 beyond that it will not leave it where it entered2 but a fox is always the sure victim of the hunter if he knows the fox path1 for like the bear or old boar1 he and every one of his tribe will always leave a thicket at the same point4 ,in calling1 an old fox1 like a wolf1 comes stealthily1 while a young one1 like a coyote1 will generally be in a hurry to get there4 ,,what ,,tracking ,,means1 ,,and ,,some ,,hunting ,,methods ,,by the term tracking we usually understand the following of a trail1 but if a hunter attempts to get a shot at his quarry solely by this means he has to depend on good luck or physical endurance4 ,the cougar is1 in my opinion1 the most perfect tracker and most successful still-hunter2 he tracks1 but he does not follow the trail like a pack of wolves or dogs2 he uses it only as a guide1 following it for an occasional fifty or one hundred yards1 which is to my mind the proper method for the human hunter4 ,tracking also means the ascertaining of the preferred stand of certain animals4 ,if1 for example1 the rutting place of the biggest elk in a district is located by comparison of various tracks1 and the bull is shot later by waiting for1 or stalking him at his favorite place1 he undoubtedly falls a victim to tracking4 ,again1 a track of a big bull moose is seen1 and though it is too old to warrant expectations of finding the animal still in the locality1 it is followed and determines where the bull made his resting-place4 ,when1 weeks later1 perhaps1 the fresh trail of the same bull is seen and again the previously preferred hillside1 or another specific part of the woods is hunted over carefully without attention to the trail1 but with all consideration for wind-direction and lay of country1 and a fair shot is obtained1 can it be doubted that tracking was responsible for the downfall of this monarch of the woods8 ,if so1 let the doubter once follow a moose track straight and try to get an easy shot3 he will probably change his mind4 ,the locating of game1 sometimes weeks in advance of the time when the shooting is to be done1 is not by any means the least feature in the art of tracking4 ,to reduce1 if possible1 the annual slaughter of men by careless hunters1 it may not be amiss to discuss certain hunting methods which have given me the most satisfaction1 and which obviate the possibility of being fired at by mistake4 ,stalking along in grown-up timber and other open places1 the sportsman will run across the trails of all the animals which have moved in the district he covers1 and1 having decided which trail he wishes to follow1 he keeps on in the direction it leads4 ,if it enters a thicket1 a circuitous route--under wind--will lead him to where the animal has passed out1 or show him that it is fast1 i4 e41 in the thicket4 ,if the former1 he1 of course1 has to pursue the same tactics until the game is located4 ,the rest is generally easy enough1 and that without entering any thicket1 where1 as we all know1 it usually happens that hunters are mistaken for deer4 ,many hunters in relating their experiences tell us how careful they were to hunt against the wind1 to approach their game4 ,while it is well enough to have the wind against one if the game is in sight or driven toward one1 ,i consider it more judicious to make the wind serve me4 ,having located an animal in a thicket1 ,i select a stump or some other elevation to windward which allows the widest possible view1 and simply wait long enough to allow the wind to inform my quarry of my presence4 ,it will not require long for the game to take the hint and get up--often affording a shot by this means alone--to leave the premises4 ,very few are the instances that an old buck goes straight away and gives me no chance to see him1 because in that case he would have to cross my trail1 and to do that the wind1 or rather my scent1 does not frighten him enough2 and if he goes out at the side which is untainted by any scent of man1 he is usually my meat--if he is up to my standard4 ,if the thicket is too big1 the smoke of a pipe will often do wonders4 ,the biggest buck ,i ever shot1 became my victim through the assistance of a smudge--the thicket in that instance being about ten acres in extent4 ,the diagram 7p4 #acj7 will illustrate the method better than words could4 ,i have used it with success on many animals1 and even on a wounded bear4 ,during snowless times no one can know with certainty if a deer is in a certain thicket1 and the method has to be employed at random where there are enough signs to make it likely that a buck is near4 ,in hunting against the wind in open forests more game is passed than many hunters would suppose4 ,the animals see the man1 note that he will pass them1 and hide by getting as near to the ground as possible4 ,if they scent him after he has passed1 they evidently realize that the danger is over1 though some1 mostly the younger1 inexperienced animals1 then sneak off4 ,where game is very wild it is often in such localities as ,i have mentioned only possible to approach them with the wind by outdistancing the latter1 because a big game animal at rest depends on its nose to save it from danger in the direction from which the wind comes1 and on its eyes to watch the side from which it can get no other warning4 ,desirable game is often located on slopes1 and can be shot from an opposite slope if only it can be made to move around slowly1 the latter being important1 as shots in such cases have usually to be fired at long distance1 and the ability to hit running game at three hundred or four hundred yards is not possessed by everybody4 ,an imitation of the lamenting cry of a jack-rabbit serves me best in such cases1 though it has often saved the game ,i was after1 because it has attracted a wolf1 or a cat2 and ,i would rather kill one varmint than half a dozen bucks1 which last can at best elude a man who knows how to track for but a limited length of time4 ,illustration3 ,,hunting ,,with ,,the ,,wind ,the stand is at #b if the hunter is alone1 and uses only his scent or pipe smoke to drive the deer out of the thicket4 ,if a smudge is used for this purpose1 as is necessary in big thickets1 the stand is at #a1 and if the hunter has a companion1 one stands at #a1 and the other at #b4 ,a smudge should be made distant enough from the thicket--about at #c--to give the hunter time to go around1 and take his stand at #a4 ,the sketch of leaps of wounded animals apply to all of our hoofed game except bighorn sheep4 ,in any case1 where one of them has been fired at1 the trail should be followed for at least two hundred yards1 as often an animal that goes away with the bounds of an apparently sound creature1 will announce its distress through the placing of its feet1 a sure indication to the tracker that he will be able to get his victim at the trail's end4 ,,part ,,one ,,group ,,ii ,,the ,,jack-,,rabbit ,the jack-rabbit is generally a resident of open country1 though he may be found also in woodlands2 and1 in some parts of the country1 when deep snow covers the lowlands1 he retires to the fastnesses of the mountains1 where1 up to altitudes of eight thousand feet1 he frequents the range of ,bighorn4 ,he is unquestionably the delight of the hunter who desires to acquire efficiency in hitting moving objects with a rifle bullet4 ,illustration3 ,,jack-,,rabbit ,his tracks1 being the biggest of the rabbit tribe1 cannot very well be mistaken for those of any other animal4 ,on sandy or muddy places often only the imprint of the front part of the hind foot is seen2 and on hard roads1 plow furrows1 etc41 usually the mark of the toenails alone is visible4 ,when the animal is feeding or moving along slowly1 the whole imprints of the hind feet are left1 while with increasing speed only the front parts of them touch the ground4 ,the forefeet rarely pair1 and never if a jack-rabbit is running4 ,if the long-eared fellow decides in the morning that it is time to retire for the day1 he usually runs along a road1 cattle-runway1 or the like1 returns in his own trail1 and by a long side leap makes the trail seem to end4 ,where he lands1 the four footmarks are usually so close together that they can be almost covered with the hand4 ,he may leap directly into his form1 or he may repeat the same maneuver several times2 but one thing is certain1 a jack which acts in this manner is never far from home4 ,if pursued during the daytime1 he employs the same tactics again and again to throw the pursuer off the trail4 ,at feeding places slight forms are often observed1 and to follow the trail leading from them means1 as a rule1 a tiring walk1 as those forms indicate that the jack has spent the after-supper hours there4 ,illustration3 ,,jack ,,rabbit 7#a7 ,morning trail 7easy lope74 7#b7 ,moving slowly4 7#c7 ,speeding4 7,a7 ,side-jump4 7,b7 ,day form4 7,e7 ,night forms4 7,b to ,d7,morning trail and night trail 7feeding74 ,i have hunted with men who blamed their dogs if they failed to catch a rabbit with a broken foreleg4 ,they evidently did not consider that a broken foreleg is of very little consequence to the running efficiency of that kind of animal4 ,one with an injured hind leg1 however1 can be run down easily4 ,illustration3 ,,jack ,,rabbit4 7,,two-,,thirds ,,natural ,,size7 7,a7 ,front foot4 7,b7 ,hind foot4 ,,the ,,varying ,,hare ,,the ,varying ,hare1 though scarcely half the size of the jack-rabbit1 makes almost as large a track1 and when he spreads his feet in passing over frozen snow his tracks are fully as large4 ,the entire track picture1 however1 differs materially from that of the jack--the individual tracks stand much closer together1 and the feet are usually paired4 ,the hare makes many different track pictures1 but he cannot long refrain from making the jump--shown slightly reduced in the illustration--and a following of the trail for a short distance will always dispel any existing doubt1 even if the individual tracks are larger than those of a young jack-rabbit4 ,there is a much greater likelihood of mistaking the varying hare's trail for that of the cottontail rabbit1 with which it has many points of resemblance4 ,only the slenderness of the rabbit's foot serves as a distinguishing feature in the trail so long as they are both unalarmed4 ,if1 however1 they are put on the quick jump1 the similarity of the two trails disappears4 ,illustration3 ,,varying ,,hare ,illustration3 ,,varying ,,hare4 7,,slightly ,,reduced7 ,illustration3 7#a7 ,at leisure 7one to three feet74 7#b7 ,steady lope 7three to five feet72 the front tracks blend into one mark4 7#c7 ,on the quick jump 7five to twelve feet74 ,varying ,hare track when the snow is deeper than a couple of inches4 ,,varying ,,hare ,,tracks ,,the ,,cottontail ,,rabbit ,,as can be easily seen from a comparison of the life-size track picture of the varying hare and cottontail--drawn from tracks made under the same tracking conditions1 i4 e41 on ground covered by about two inches of snow1 and while the animals were running at approximately the same speed--the tracks of the cottontail1 besides being much more slender than those of the hare1 are also more pencil-shaped at the point of the toes4 ,the toes are but faintly indicated1 and the toenails practically indiscernible1 while in the case of the hare both are plainly visible2 in fact1 the imprint of the toenails is a prominent feature in the track of the hare4 ,in every case where any doubt exists in regard to the tracks of the two small varieties1 this alone is sufficient to settle it2 as the toe marks are more prominent in the front track1 its appearance alone is sufficient for the trailer to form a correct conclusion4 ,except when jumping with the hind feet into the front tracks two individual tracks of the cottontail never blend into one mark on account of the slenderness of the feet4 ,the jump picture of both the small rabbits in dry snow sometimes appears very much like that of the marten2 but by following the trail for a short distance one will always dispel any doubt4 ,illustration3 ,cottontail ,rabbit ,tracks--7#a7 ,at leisure4 7#b7 ,in a hurry4 ,in illustrated articles the writer has seen drawings and photographs of tracks and trails claimed to have been made by the ,new ,england cottontail which looked exactly like those made by the varying hare4 ,if there was no mistake in identification1 the ,western cottontail1 which the illustrations represent1 evidently makes tracks entirely different from those of the ,eastern variety4 ,there is every reason to believe1 however1 that the track of the same type of rabbit is the same in every part of the country4 ,illustration3 ,,cotton ,,tail ,,rabbit ,while the pursuit of big game is exciting sport at times1 hunting rabbits is always attended with soul-satisfying fun4 ,a famous occupant of the ,white ,house found recreation and pleasure in it1 and ,i believe that few hunters who ever entered into the true spirit of the sport have failed to obtain a great deal of pleasure and healthful exercise4 ,illustration3 ,,cottontail ,,rabbit ,the dotted line shows the real length of foot4 ,,the ,,squirrel ,,the squirrel practically always pairs its feet when on the ground4 ,like the other members of ,group ,,ii its hind feet are much larger than the forefeet1 and1 as in the track-picture1 are always planted ahead of the latter4 ,the hind feet point outward1 so that even by imperfect imprints1 it may readily be seen in which direction the trail leads4 ,as there is no other track known to the writer which could be confused with the squirrel's1 it is not necessary to describe it2 the illustration serves every purpose4 ,where the remains of the feast of a varmint are left in the woods--meat1 entrails1 or bones--squirrel tracks are found in great numbers1 and the tyro is liable to take them for those of other animals4 ,ordinarily a careful look is sufficient to disillusion him1 both as to the identity of the tracks and the diet of the squirrel4 ,illustration3 ,,squirrel4 7,,about ,,two-,,thirds ,,natural ,,size7 ,besides tracks1 the squirrel leaves other signs which betray its presence in the woods--heaps of cone chips near stumps and other elevations1 or strewn under trees one may find twigs from which buds have been eaten4 ,sometimes the cries of birds whose nests the squirrel may be robbing of eggs or young1 will betray his presence4 ,it is an entertaining pastime to hunt squirrels with a small-caliber rifle4 ,the writer considers the squirrel one of the most injurious creatures of our woods1 and believes that in hunting him it is better to use some other weapon than the noisy shotgun4 ,,part ,,one ,,group ,,iii ,,the ,,marten ,,and ,,the ,,black-,,footed ,,ferret ,,though their habitat is entirely different1 these two animals make very similar tracks and trails1 so they are properly treated of in the same division4 ,while the marten is a resident of the woods1 the black-footed ferret never leaves the open prairie1 where it lives in abandoned prairie-dog holes1 usually leaving its hole every second night1 unless it happens to kill a rabbit4 ,it is the most relentless enemy of the rabbit1 and lives almost exclusively on its flesh4 ,the track of the black-footed ferret is about the size of a small marten's1 but in soft snow the soles of the toes show more prominently than those of the latter1 whose strongly haired feet usually cause the sole marks to appear rather indistinct4 ,sometimes the trail of the marten looks like that of the cottontail1 but if followed for a short distance it always assumes again the form of a parallel trapeze1 the evidence of the usual marten motion to which the ferret adheres at all times except in the pursuit of prey4 ,illustration3 ,marten track 7one-third natural size71 showing the four foot marks 7not the usual jump1 see trails74 ,the black-footed ferret makes a slightly smaller track and shows not quite so much hair4 ,there is no reason for mistaking one for the other1 because1 as aforesaid1 they do not inhabit the same locality2 but if one does not know of the existence of the wild ferret1 then1 of course1 one might track a supposed marten on the prairie--as did the writer when he first came ,west--where that animal never has been found4 ,illustration37#a7 ,marten tracks4 ,the lower part of the left-hand drawing shows the usual marten motion1 namely1 the jump4 ,the upper part of the same drawing shows the walk1 which is always only for a short distance4 7#b7 ,the black-footed ferret always pairs its feet and never walks4 7#c7 ,running4 ,tracking marten and shooting them is as successful a method as trapping them4 ,if ferrets are tracked and their skin is wanted whole1 a trap not smaller than a ,no4 #d should be set at the entrance of the hole1 as the pretty varmint mutilates himself if trapped and not soon killed4 ,if a ferret runs a rabbit into a hole he may not leave it for two or three weeks1 otherwise1 as stated1 the ferret usually travels forth every second night4 ,,the ,,otter ,,it can be seen from the accompanying illustration of front and hind tracks that the footmarks of the otter are rather unusually round2 and on hard ground1 which allows but a slight impression1 the almost circular standing imprints of toes and heel show plainly4 ,if the individual tracks are invisible in dry snow1 the form of the trail1 together with the drag made at intervals by the long tail of the otter1 obviates any doubt as to what animal has made the trail4 ,the otter has a habit of leaving the streams along which he lives1 or which he visits1 at regular places1 and makes what are called slides near which parts of fish are frequently scattered4 ,excrements containing fish bones found on boulders and promontories in the rivers are unmistakable otter signs that betray his presence1 even if no tracks or slides are seen along the banks of the stream4 ,illustration3 ,,otter4 7,,slightly ,,less ,,than ,,half ,,natural ,,size7 7,a7 ,right forefoot track4 7,b7 ,right hind-foot track4 7#a7 ,jumping4 7#b7 ,walking4 7#c7 ,running4 ,the shaded line shows the drag of the tail4 ,the otter is perhaps the greatest wanderer among the mammals1 and may1 therefore1 frequently be found where he was supposed to be extinct2 though if he visits a trout-stream or pond he usually makes his stay long enough to deplete it to a greater extent than a host of fishermen would4 ,where otter signs are seen along small streams or at favorable places along rivers1 waiting for them with a shotgun during evenings and moonlight nights usually yields satisfactory results4 ,if one is shot1 and there is no danger of the current taking it away1 it is well to keep quiet for a time1 as they often fish in pairs1 and the second frequently gives as good a chance for a shot as the first4 ,the whistling call of the otter can easily be imitated1 and at big rivers on a clear night calling them is good sport4 ,however1 the sportsman must be patient1 as the otter will answer immediately1 but will take his own time in coming4 ,on small streams it is well to post oneself as near as possible to the water1 as otherwise the otter will pass unseen in the shadow of the bank4 ,sometimes the otter travels for miles on land1 and if daylight surprises him there he will hunt shelter for the day in any convenient hole4 ,a trap set in it1 and the entrance closed with a boulder is usually the easiest way to get his skin4 ,as the animal is especially destructive in trout streams the sportsman gunner will always do a great favor to the disciple of the rod when he closes the career of one of these four-footed poachers4 ,,the ,,mink ,,the mink track presents some similarity to those of the marten and the black-footed ferret1 but it is much smaller than that of the marten1 and the toe-marks are even more prominent than those of the ferret1 for which it might be mistaken at times if it were not that the form of the trails is different4 ,the mink never travels for long distances without showing at least three tracks plainly in the jump-picture1 while the ferret practically never does this4 ,the track of the ferret is found near ice-bound streams only when it crosses them to reach other hunting-grounds1 while the mink1 being almost as skilful at catching fish as the otter1 generally travels along a stream's course4 ,in destructiveness to small game the mink is perhaps only equaled by the domestic cat1 which1 in remote districts1 he resembles in the habit of hunting at all hours of the day4 ,illustration3 ,,mink4 7,,less ,,than ,,one-,,half ,,natural ,,size7 7,a7 ,left front-track4 7,b7 ,hind-tracks 7a characteristic track picture74 7#a7 ,ordinary jump4 7#b7 ,easy running4 7#c7 ,running4 ,trapping is practically the only paying method of hunting him4 ,when he goes upstream he leaves the water below rapids and travels along its edge usually until he again reaches quiet water4 ,if a trap is placed in the intervening space--the trail of the animal will show the trapper the best point--every mink in that vicinity may be caught without the trouble of baiting traps1 which is a rather uncertain method where game and fish are plentiful4 ,illustration3 ,,mink ,,the ,,ermine ,,all lovers of our feathered song-birds kill the weasel at every opportunity1 believing it to be one of the deadliest enemies to bird-life2 and if sportsmen bear in mind that every time it gets a chance the little marauder fastens its teeth in the neck of a grouse or a rabbit1 they will undoubtedly show it no mercy4 ,considering1 however1 the number of injurious rodents it kills1 it is doubtful if this little marten is1 on the whole1 more destructive than useful4 ,certainly it does no more harm than the absolutely useless squirrel4 ,i leave it to others to argue whether it should be killed or spared4 ,i do not spare it in ruffed grouse cover and near home1 where ,i wish to give the birds absolute protection4 ,its tracks and trail1 with the exception of the walk1 which the weasel does not use where it could be tracked1 are exact miniatures of those of its large relative1 the marten1 and are1 judging from personal observations1 frequently mistaken for those of other animals even by sportsmen of long standing4 ,one will mistake its trail for that of the deer1 another for that of a coyote1 fox or lynx1 and still another1 under favorable tracking conditions1 will confound its track with that of the mink or ferret4 ,in loose snow1 when its trail is likely to be mistaken for that of any of those mentioned1 it should be considered that the jumps of the ermine constantly vary in length1 while the individual tracks made by the other named animals usually stand a regular distance apart4 ,if the tracker follows an ermine's tracks which he takes to be those of a mink1 he should soon discover that the animal has entered every hole and crevice along the trail1 and that1 judging by the number of tracks around them1 it found rock piles1 logs1 brush heaps1 etc41 very interesting and attractive4 ,now1 marten or mink investigate these things simply by passing over or through them--if they do not stop inside--but they never make regular paths around them as the ermine does4 ,besides this1 the ermine makes a track hardly one-third as large as that of a small marten4 ,illustration3 ,,ermine ,,tracks4 7,,hind ,,feet1 ,,life ,,size7 7#a7 ,ordinary jump4 7#b7 ,running4 ,i have again and again pointed out the above features to men with whom ,i have hunted1 yet1 presumably on account of not being thrown on their own resources at the time1 they seemingly paid little attention to them1 for ,i observed that they repeated their mistakes just as soon as opportunity offered4 ,the secret of successful trailing can be acquired only by the careful and observant4 ,the features of a track or trail1 once they are thoroughly impressed on the mind1 will always be remembered2 and he who is too careless to take note of them1 even when they are pointed out1 has only himself to blame if he spends time--hours perhaps--in the pursuit of the trail of an animal he does not want4 ,,part ,,one ,,group ,,iv ,,the ,,beaver ,illustration3 ,,beaver ,,the beaver was once distributed to a vast extent all over the globe1 but is now found in comparatively few sections of the ,old and ,new ,worlds1 and nowhere in great abundance4 ,the state of ,montana1 which until recently had the largest number of them within its boundaries1 joined1 during #aijg1 those ,states where this interesting animal is practically extinct1 and the blackening beaver stumps along its streams bear witness to the shame of the legislative assembly of #aijg1 which left the beaver without protection4 ,for the extermination of the beaver in this ,state the wealthy classes1 and not the trappers1 must bear the blame1 for without the consent of the former the trapper could not even have decreased the number of them without endangering his own liberty4 ,illustration3 ,,beaver4 7,,about ,,one-,,half ,,natural ,,size7 7,a7 ,track of right hind foot4 7,b7 ,track of right forefoot4 ,where the beaver is protected1 he increases rapidly1 and if hunted with a rifle1 he affords as much excitement as any game that roams the woods4 ,illustration3 ,,beaver ,,stump ,illustration3 ,,the ,,beaver',s ,,home ,business instinct1 as well as sportsmanship1 should urge sportsmen to concerted action in order to preserve and increase the comparatively few beaver colonies now left on our continent4 ,illustration3 ,,beaver ,,trails ,,or ,,slides ,illustration3 ,,beaver ,,trail ,the third toe touches the center line4 ,the beaver's tracks most strikingly represent the fourth group of mammals in this treatise4 ,in the effort to support and steady the body adequately1 the animal endeavors to plant its feet as near as possible under the center of its body1 but its corpulency prevents1 and the result is a track so ridiculous that it is laughable4 ,the front tracks are covered with the hind feet1 the third toenails of which reach the center line1 and the heel of which stand1 according to the size of the specimen which made the trail1 from four to eight inches from it4 ,the nails of the two inside toes of the hind feet are but to a limited extent visible as the web between the toes protrudes them4 ,where the beaver is scarce and much pursued1 the imprint of a forefoot near the water's edge may be discovered occasionally here and there2 in this case the prominence of the toenails is unmistakable4 ,i may state here1 that a front track at the water's edge is often the only sign which may be found along a stream where beavers have become very wary2 they seem to be able to live on almost nothing--leaves1 roots1 etc4--for not a single cutting can be discovered in such cases4 ,where not sought extensively1 the hunter seldom notes the tracks of this aquatic fur-bearer2 cut willows or tree stumps are1 if not a surer1 at least a more easily distinguished indication of their presence1 while on much-used slides the tracks could not be seen anywhere4 ,it has been the writer's experience that in every case in which he observed the building of a new house by one of these animals1 the builder was invariably a female providing for a happy family event4 ,,the ,,badger ,,on our continent there is no other animal which is responsible for so many broken necks and limbs as the badger4 ,while in pursuit of his prey1 he digs holes in the ground1 which when grown over with weeds or grass1 are almost certain death-traps for the unwary rider4 ,the man who enjoys riding after wolves or the fox considers the badger as a menace1 and is never likely to look upon it with any degree of favor1 notwithstanding its decided usefulness as a destroyer of undesirable rodents4 ,i myself bit the dust of the prairie four times within a couple of months on account of this animal1 though there was no further damage than a broken gunstock and sore limbs4 ,i have since killed everyone of the tribe when a chance offered1 though with some feeling of regret on account of their desirable features4 ,the track of the badger is striking from the prominence of the five-nail marks of the forefeet and the twisted inward appearance of the hind track which usually stands squarely in the front track4 ,considering the size of the tracks1 the step-marks stand close together--about seven inches--and1 as in all animals of this group1 to some extent off from the center line4 ,illustration3 ,,badger ,illustration3 ,,badger ,,tracks2 ,,left4 7,,slightly ,,reduced7 ,it is readily tracked down1 and when its hole is approached1 the animal frequently exhibits its head as a target from its curiosity to see what is coming4 ,if run into a hole1 it will almost invariably reappear within a few minutes4 ,if it offers no chance for a shot1 a trap placed at the entrance and covered nicely generally brings about its destruction4 ,if no trap is at hand it can be confined to its hole by tying a piece of paper or a rag to a stick and placing it not less than two feet from the entrance1 which will prevent its leaving the hole for twenty-four hours or so4 ,this is a surer method of keeping the animal a prisoner than blocking the entrance1 and works satisfactorily also with other marauders that take to holes4 ,a fox can usually be held thus for several days1 and by this ruse ,i have actually starved two of them to death4 ,there was in each case three entrances1 and but one trap at hand1 which was in both instances uncovered by the prisoners during the first night4 ,illustration3 ,,badger 7,a7 ,walking4 7,b7 ,running4 ,as the ground was frozen hard1 ,i did not wish to bother with setting the trap at another entrance1 so ,i left things as they were1 after covering the instrument again4 ,but the foxes knew it was there all the same1 and did not again try to leave their prison by that exit1 and the other entrances were guarded by that fearful specter of paper4 ,finally each one died about eight feet from the scarecrow--about five feet inside the hole1 which was examined daily--one during the nineteenth1 and the other during the twenty-second day of their imprisonment4 ,had the ground not been frozen so hard as it was1 the experiment would have been unsuccessful1 as each of the foxes would of course have dug out at some other spot4 ,the latter method of escape will be employed by the badger in every case where the trap is not properly covered4 ,,the ,,porcupine ,,it may appear out of place to discuss this creature which has no sportive quality whatever1 but its trail is so conspicuous in snow that it cannot be passed without being noticed1 and the tyro1 attracted by the size of the tracks1 will in many instances follow it1 thinking he is on the trail of something else4 ,a short time ago ,i trailed a supposedly lost1 inexperienced hunting companion who had run across the trail of a bear1 as he thought1 and followed and killed ,bruin1 who happened to be up a tree4 ,when ,i caught up with the young fellow1 he was contemplating his broken gunstock1 smashed in finishing the varmint1 but proudly exhibited1 to my great hilarity1 the bear which may have weighed about twenty pounds1 and whose fur consisted mainly of quills4 ,illustration3 ,,porcupine ,before ,i got acquainted with the pine-porker1 ,i tried in vain for a period of four months to ascertain the identity of an animal whose tracks ,i frequently saw on a road4 ,only the marks of the soles were visible there1 and none of the many men ,i asked knew that track1 though they knew the animal which made it very well1 as developed later1 when tracking conditions became so that ,i could follow the trail to its end4 ,if conditions are half-favorable1 the imprints of the toenails--four on the forefeet and five on the hind feet--are always visible4 ,illustration3 ,,porcupine ,,tracks 7#a7 ,walk4 7#b7 ,run4 ,illustration3 ,,feet ,,of ,,the ,,porcupine ,four toes on front and five toes on hind feet 7about one-half natural size7 ,illustration3 ,,sign ,,of ,,the ,,porcupine 7,bark eaten from the tree7 ,if the snow is a few inches deep1 the tracks stand in a trough-shaped trail because the animal's body almost touches the ground4 ,the toes point inward1 and almost touch the center line4 ,in the snowless woods numerous small dead trees attract the attention of even those not interested in forestry4 ,if these trees are examined they will reveal the mark of the porcupine1 easily recognized by the partly eaten bark4 ,along the streams of the ,bad ,lands the limbs of cottonwood trees are sometimes depleted of every vestige of bark1 which loss ultimately causes the death of the trees4 ,where forests are cared for on an economical basis1 the porcupine is certainly a proper subject for extermination4 ,their meat is excellent if fried quickly in hot lard2 roasted1 or cooked slowly1 it emits an odor repellent even to a hungry man4 ,,the ,,skunk ,,though an inexcusable intruder in the chicken coop and where game birds are raised1 the skunk is decidedly useful from the standpoint of the forester or of the farmer4 ,in the writer's opinion1 sportsmen if they encounter him in the woods should cease to kill the animal just because it is only a skunk2 others of the fraternity advance the just because argument if they are questioned why they shoot the nests of useful hornets4 ,the skunk may rob a few birds' nests during the summer1 but his main diet consists of larv and berries1 and by destroying the former he is of inestimable value to the forests and fields near his residence4 ,i am thoroughly convinced that his introduction and absolute protection in localities where moths1 butterflies and the like1 in their undeveloped stage1 have become a menace1 would greatly help to solve the problem of rendering these pests harmless4 ,illustration3 ,,skunk 7,a7 ,front track4 7,b7 ,hind track 7life size74 7#a7 ,easy lope4 7#b7 ,walk4 ,with every skunk we kill we interfere with the balance of nature1 and the resulting deficit has finally to be met with the pocketbook by paying for artificial substitutes for nature1 which if left alone would do the work much better4 ,in the summer woods it is not so much the skunk's tracks which tell of his presence and merits1 as the numerous small holes in the ground1 about a couple of inches deep1 from which the animal procures the larv there awaiting the final stage of development4 ,the soles of the skunk's feet are similar to those of the badger1 while their size about corresponds with that of the domestic cat2 the toenails always show conspicuously under fair tracking conditions4 ,the individual tracks stand about half as far apart as do those of the domestic cat1 and are always considerably out of line4 ,like the other members of this group1 the skunk betrays himself by his trail2 he is a slow animal1 and presumably would not put on speed if he were capable of it1 since1 when foraging he is never in a hurry1 and if molested it is usually the disturber who prefers to employ speed4 ,,part ,,two ,,feathered ,,game ,,feathered ,,game ,,it is out of the question to treat the signs and tracks of birds with the same thoroughness as those of mammals1 because the tracks of several birds reproduce exactly those of domestic fowls1 and those made by young birds of one kind may look like those of old birds of another variety4 ,a description of bird tracks will1 however1 be found interesting1 and perhaps useful at certain times1 especially by the inexperienced hunter4 ,the locality where a given track is seen is the main point to be considered4 ,tame turkeys and domestic chickens do not1 as a rule1 venture great distances from the barnyard1 so if tracks similar to theirs are seen far from human habitation1 it is usually safe to conclude that wild birds made them4 ,in the case of waterfowls1 however1 even the consideration of the locality1 under certain circumstances1 does not exclude errors2 so the hunter1 if he sees tracks from which he might deduce the presence of these birds in his immediate locality1 should employ his resources to find out for certain whether his deductions are correct or not4 ,the descriptions are of necessity limited1 and the reader should study the illustrations as the more important part of the matter4 ,,upland ,,birds ,the ,turkey ,the tracks of this1 the largest of game birds1 differ in nowise from those of the domestic kind4 ,in the woods--in wild turkey country--they usually indicate their presence by scratching up the ground cover in search of food1 just as domestic fowls do under similar circumstances1 and by their droppings4 ,the latter are the more important as a means of identification4 ,wild turkeys1 when habitually or temporarily frequenting a given locality1 have their favorite trees upon which they roost1 and under these trees the droppings will be very plentiful4 ,some hunters wait at such roosting places during the evening or morning and get their game2 sometimes the bird may have treed five hundred yards or more away1 but the expert1 who is not given to guesswork1 makes it his purpose to ascertain all the turkey trees in a district1 notes the easiest way to approach them1 and then1 during the early evening hours he will1 from a convenient point1 mark down the birds which he hears treeing4 ,then during the hour before daybreak he will go noiselessly as near as possible to a roosting tree which he knows harbors one or more turkeys1 and after it is light enough to shoot he will experience little trouble in stalking as close as is necessary to get his bird4 ,the ,sage ,grouse ,the track of the sage hen is about the size of that of a small domestic chicken1 but the toes at their base are somewhat broader1 giving the entire track a different aspect4 ,in the spring and autumn months the birds frequent sagebrush flats and hillsides1 and during the early autumn they seek the vicinity of water1 and there1 if it were not that their toes are rather short in comparison with their broadness1 the tracks might be mistaken for those of the pheasant in any place where that game bird has been introduced4 ,illustration3 ,,turkey4 7,,large ,,drawing ,,two-,,thirds ,,natural ,,size7 7#a7 ,walking4 7#b7 ,strutting4 ,illustration3 ,,pheasant4 7,,natural ,,size7 ,pheasant ,the middle toe of the pheasant stands almost in a straight line in the trail1 and this feature is the most striking one whereby to distinguish its track from the tracks of any of our native game birds4 ,illustration3 ,ruffed ,grouse4 7,two-thirds natural size7 ,blue ,grouse4 ,grouse ,the members of this class1 in which are included the various varieties of the ruffed grouse and those of the ,spruce or ,blue grouse1 all spread their feet in similar fashion1 and walk with the middle toes pointed inward to a considerable degree4 ,because of this similarity the size of the tracks and the length of steps are the only means by which to identify the particular species which made them4 ,the ruffed grouse make the shortest steps and the smallest tracks4 ,illustration3 ,,ruffed ,,grouse ,illustration3 ,,blue ,,grouse ,the illustrations show the tracks and trail of a dusky grouse of ordinary size1 and of an unusually big ruffed grouse cock4 ,illustration3 ,,sharp-,,tailed ,,grouse ,the drawings were made under ideal tracking conditions2 and only then is it possible to note the difference in the number of the knots of the middle toe4 ,though1 as a general rule1 the ruffed grouse usually frequents rather low country and the blue-grouse tribe is generally found on high grounds1 the locality where a track is seen gives no sure indication of the species4 ,the writer has frequently encountered the ruffed grouse at altitudes of over seven thousand feet1 and the blue grouse lower down than he ever found the ruffed variety4 ,illustration3 ,sharp-tailed ,grouse4 7,two-thirds natural size7 ,sage ,grouse4 ,prairie ,chickens ,from the prairie hen to the sharp-tailed grouse1 they all belong to one order as far as their tracks are concerned4 ,a prairie chicken does not spread the toes to the same extent as does the grouse of the woods1 and the middle toes stand also somewhat straighter in the line of the trail4 ,the tracks made by the sharp-tailed grouse are always of a rather blurred appearance because of the heavily feathered feet4 ,quail ,the size of the quail's track is about that of a domestic pigeon4 ,a peculiarity of the track is that the mark of the hind toe stands comparatively far off from the track on account of its singular disproportion to the size of the foot4 ,in the pursuit of grouse1 chickens1 etc41 the hunter usually notes tracks less than other signs4 ,foremost among the latter are the places where the birds take sand baths1 where stray feathers will usually be found4 ,countless interwoven small paths1 leading everywhere and nowhere in grass and grain fields1 are infallible signs that birds have fed there4 ,illustration3 ,,quail4 7,,natural ,,size7 ,woodcock ,the neatest bird track seen in upland hunting is1 in the writer's opinion1 that of the woodcock4 ,true1 this fascinating ,long-face has generally gone to warmer climes before winter sets in1 but occasionally an early snowstorm catches him1 and then his tracks are a striking feature near springy places in forests1 or under dense trees that hold most of the snow aloft on their branches4 ,the splendid imprints are as unmistakable among bird tracks as the tracks of the mountain sheep among big game1 and as unforgettable if once seen4 ,illustration3 ,,woodcock4 7,,natural ,,size7 ,,waterfowls ,swans1 ,geese1 ,ducks ,the tracks of these aquatic game birds are so much alike that only the difference in size makes it possible to distinguish the species and varieties of ducks and geese2 if they are of similar size they cannot possibly be told apart4 ,where the tracks are seen during cold weather at small open streams or springs1 it is certain that the birds visit there at night1 doubtlessly coming from a big stream or lake1 perhaps many miles distant2 by waiting for them at sundown royal sport can be obtained4 ,during summer1 on grassy places near water1 young geese and ducks usually make numerous small paths1 similar to those made by upland birds1 but broader4 ,illustration3 ,tracks of 7#a7 ,rail1 7#b7 ,coot1 7#c7 ,crane1 7#d7 ,swan4 7,one-half natural size7 ,illustration3 7,a7 ,duck1 mallard size4 7,one-half natural size7 7,b7 ,goose4 7,one-half natural size7 7,c7 ,trail of ,swan1 ,geese and ,ducks4 ,,predatory ,,birds ,the ,great ,horned ,owl ,the great horned owl is of interest to the sportsman merely by reason of the depredations which some members of this tribe commit on small game4 ,where not forced by a scarcity of small game to subsist on mice1 etc41 this owl lives almost exclusively on rabbits and birds4 ,the writer remembers an instance where one specimen killed every beaver kid and muskrat on a creek several miles along its course4 ,the owl's tracks are very rarely seen1 but from the undigested refuse which he ejects through his mouth 7for he swallows all his prey1 hair1 bones1 etc41 when feeding7 frequently found thickly strewn under his favorite roosting trees 7usually densely branched71 it can readily be ascertained what the light-shy fellow lives on1 and if he proves to be an outlaw1 his death will benefit the hunting ground4 ,hawks ,notwithstanding claims to the contrary1 all hawks1 with the exception of the sparrow hawk1 are injurious4 ,even the much-lauded marsh hawk in open districts lives exclusively on small birds1 that is1 at least1 in the ,west4 ,in timbered country1 where he is too ungainly to catch winged prey1 by force of necessity he has to subsist on small injurious rodents which he can catch in the open4 ,whoever has observed with open eyes and an open mind the actions of hawks1 knows that it will pay the sportsmen well to fill them with lead at every opportunity4 ,imitating their mating call--an easy matter--is the most satisfactory method of getting them within range1 and it is also a very entertaining pastime during the close season4 ,the hunter selects a good cover for himself in a locality which he knows or suspects to be infested by the pests1 and sounds his cac-cac-cac--or1 kee-kee-kee-e-e--dependent upon which variety of eagles or hawks he wishes to call1 and if a hawk is within hearing1 he is never long in coming4 ,illustration3 ,,sharp-,,shinned ,,hawk ,illustration3 ,,heron ,,tracks4 7,,one-,,half ,,natural ,,size7 ,bittern is the same form1 but smaller4 7,the large drawing is of the right track47 ,illustration3 ,,wilson',s ,,snipe ,various ,birds ,illustration3 ,,heron ,,tracks4 7,,one-,,half ,,natural ,,size7 ,bittern is the same form1 but smaller4 7,the large drawing is of the right track47 ,illustration3 ,tracks of 7#a7 ,flamingo 7one-half natural size74 7#b7 ,plover 7one-half natural size74 7#c7 ,gull 7one-half natural size74 7#d7 ,dove 7full size74 ,for the sake of comparison1 and because also some of them are very interesting1 results of my observations of the tracks of several birds not of the game class are herewith given4