first thing to do is to find a track, and if it is old, follow it up
until new signs appear. And now, my son, as you may some day want to
hunt moose on your own account, I shall tell you how to trail them and
what to do when you find them. Listen to my words and remember: As
soon as you find a fresh track, look toward the sun to learn the time
of day; for if it is between eight and nine on a winter morning the
moose will be feeding, as it seldom lies down until between ten and
three. If feeding, the track will zig-zag about, and for a time head
mainly up wind, until its feeding is nearly done, then if the wind is
from the right, the moose will turn to the left and circle down wind
and finally come about close to its old trail where it will lie down to
rest. So when you find a zig-zagging track about which the brush has
been browsed, and when the wind comes from the right of the trail, you,
too, should circle to the left, but instead of circling down wind as
the moose has done, or is now doing, you circle up wind until you
either approach the danger point where the wind may carry your scent to
the moose, or otherwise, until you cut the moose's track. In either
case you should now retrace your steps for some distance and then begin
a new circle, and this time, a smaller one. If you now find a new
trail, but still no sign that the moose has turned up wind, or is about
to do so, you retrace your steps and begin a still smaller circle, then
when you strike the trail again, you can judge fairly well--without
even getting a sight of it--the exact position of your quarry. Then is
the time to take off your snowshoes and approach with greater care then
ever; but remember, always keep to leeward of the track and always look
up wind. Should you now come to an open space, watch carefully any
clumps of trees or bushes; if passing through heavy timber, watch for
an opening, and if there should be fallen timber there, scan it most
carefully where the dead trees lie, for there, too, your game may be
lying. Remember, my son, if you approach a moose directly he will