The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 20, No. 577 | Page 4

immediately past the door at which we sat,
followed by his audacious pursuers, who were but a few yards in his
rear.--Immense numbers of deer are killed every year by our hunters,
who take them for their hams and skins alone, throwing away the rest
of the carcass. Venison hams and hides are important articles of export;
the former are purchased from the hunters at 25 cents a pair, the latter
at 20 cents a pound. In our villages we purchase for our tables the
saddle of venison, with the hams attached, for 37-1/2 cents, which
would be something like one cent a pound.--There are several ways of
hunting deer, all of which are equally simple. Most frequently the
hunter proceeds to the woods on horseback, in the day-time, selecting
particularly certain hours, which are thought to be most favourable. It is
said, that, during the season when the pastures are green, this animal
rises from his lair precisely at the rising of the moon, whether in the
day or night; and I suppose the fact to be so, because such is the
testimony of experienced hunters. If it be true, it is certainly a curious
display of animal instinct. This hour is therefore always kept in view by
the hunter, as he rides slowly through the forest, with his rifle on his
shoulder, while his keen eye penetrates the surrounding shades. On
beholding a deer, the hunter slides from his horse, and, while the deer is
observing the latter, creeps upon him, keeping the largest trees between

himself and the object of pursuit, until he gets near enough to fire. An
expert woodsman seldom fails to hit his game. It is extremely
dangerous to approach a wounded deer. Timid and harmless as this
animal is at other times, he no sooner finds himself deprived of the
power of flight, than he becomes furious, and rushes upon his enemy,
making desperate plunges with his sharp horns, and striking and
trampling furiously with his forelegs, which, being extremely muscular
and armed with sharp hoofs, are capable of inflicting very severe
wounds. Aware of this circumstance, the hunter approaches him with
caution, and either secures his prey by a second shot, where the first has
been but partially successful, or, as is more frequently the case, causes
his dog to seize the wounded animal, while he watches his own
opportunity to stab him with his hunting-knife. Sometimes where a
noble buck is the victim, and the hunter is impatient or inexperienced,
terrible conflicts ensue on such occasions. Another mode is to watch at
night, in the neighbourhood of the salt-licks. These are spots where the
earth is impregnated with saline particles, or where the salt-water oozes
through the soil. Deer and other grazing animals frequent such places,
and remain for hours licking the earth. The hunter secretes himself here,
either in the thick top of a tree, or most generally in a screen erected for
the purpose, and artfully concealed, like a mask-battery, with logs or
green boughs. This practice is pursued only in the summer, or early in
the autumn, in cloudless nights, when the moon shines brilliantly, and
objects may be readily discovered. At the rising of the moon, or shortly
after, the deer having risen from their beds approach the lick. Such
places are generally denuded of timber, but surrounded by it; and as the
animal is about to emerge from the shade into the clear moonlight, he
stops, looks cautiously around and snuffs the air. Then he advances a
few steps, and stops again, smells the ground, or raises his expanded
nostrils, as if "he snuffed the approach of danger in every tainted
breeze." The hunter sits motionless, and almost breathless, waiting until
the animal shall get within rifle-shot, and until its position, in relation
to the hunter and the light, shall be favourable, when he fires with an
unerring aim. A few deer only can be thus taken in one night, and after
a few nights, these timorous animals are driven from the haunts which
are thus disturbed. Another method is called driving, and is only
practised in those parts of the country where this kind of game is scarce,

and where hunting is pursued as an amusement. A large party is made
up, and the hunters ride forward with their dogs. The hunting ground is
selected, and as it is pretty well known what tracts are usually taken by
the deer when started, an individual is placed at each of those passages
to intercept the retreating animal. The scene of action being in some
measure, surrounded, small parties advance with the dogs in different
directions, and the startled deer, in flying, generally fly by some of the
persons who are concealed, and who fire at them as they