The individual tracks of the bull are farther off from the center line than in the case of the cow; but as the stride is long, this feature is not apparent to any appreciable extent.
MOOSE BULL TRACK
(About one-half natural size)
The length of the steps, if it is possible to estimate the gait he was traveling from his other actions (feeding, etc.), is one of the best signs of the bull, since he makes markedly longer strides than the cow of equal size.
MOOSE TRACKS
(1) Trail of bull. (2) Trail of cow. (3) Trot. (4) Gallop.
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 cow, but actual observations in the woods will impart to him the ability to distinguish between them with a considerable degree of accuracy. Until he so learns he should follow every likely looking track until it enters a thicket, and if he is following a bull with a halfway good set of horns he will notice overhead broken twigs and bent branches, or perhaps he will find along the trail blazed trees, broken bushes, or the ground torn with hoofs or horns, and may know by these also that a bull made the signs.
Unlike any other deer previously discussed, the moose, when trotting, oversteps the forefeet tracks with the hind feet to a considerable extent. (See sketch of trail.)