AnimalSize of
Track		Distance
from
Center
Line		Pointing
Outward
of Hoofs		Hillock in
Track		DragLagging
Back of
Hind Legs
Virginia
Deer		-++-++
Fan-
Tailed
Deer		Dust heap in front of track+--
Mule
Deer		-++-+-
Elk++++-+
Moose-+Length of steps
Breaking of twigs with horns		-
Bighorn+-----
Antelope+---Droppings
AnimalClearness
of Track		Roundness
of
Toes		Size and
Form of
Dew
Claws		Blazing of
Trees		Pawing of
Groung
Virginia
Deer		Watching from |cover++
Fan-
Tailed
Deer		Watching from cover++
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 satisfactory, if merely the killing of them is desired, but it certainly is not sport, and does not even deserve to be ranked with trapping bears, as in the latter case the hunter must possess at least some knowledge of the quarry's habitat and habits. Unlike a fox, a bear when once found by the hounds stands no chance of escaping, and there would be just as much sport in shooting the animal in a park or pen as in killing a run-to-bay bear. This applies also with truth to mountain lions, although perhaps there is in the case of the cougar the excuse of the animal's destructiveness.

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 abundant, but everywhere it surely means the downfall and extinction of that relic of gray ages, the bear.

Where not plentiful—and the places where they are found in number are to-day quite few and remote from civilization—bears are, on the whole, harmless, and decidedly more useful than injurious. The damage they do is almost nil, while they serve man in many ways. The meat of young bears is equal to the best venison; their fat is decidedly superior to the "fancy" lard we buy, of the source and handling of which we are ignorant; and the hides give excellent service as robes, rugs and clothing. In my opinion bears should be protected to a certain extent rather than shot down merely to make a record.