When the path of the deer is discovered on the border of a stream or lake, the trap should be set beneath the surface of the water, near the tracks of the animal, and covered by a handful of dried grass thrown upon it.  When thus set, it may either be left to run its chances, or success, further insured by the following precaution:  In winter the principal food of the deer consists of the twigs, buds, and bark of various forest trees, and particularly those of the basswood and maple.  In the season when the traps are set as above described, a most tempting bait is furnished by a large branch of either of those trees, freshly cut, and laid near the trap.  The deer in feeding are thus almost sure to be captured.  There are certain glands which are located on the inner side of the hind legs of the deer, and which emit a very strong and peculiar odor.  The scent of these glands seems to attract the animal, and for this reason are cut out and used by trappers as a scent-bait.  In the case already described, it is well to rub the glands on the twigs of the trees, thus serving as an additional attraction to the bait.  There is still another method of trapping deer, which is commonly employed in the winter time.  The trap is sunk in the snow at the foot of a tree, and the bait, consisting of an ear of corn or a few beards of other grain, is fastened to the tree, above the trap, three or more feet from the ground.  The animal, in reaching for the bait, places its foot in the trap and is secured.

[Page 216] When first caught, the deer becomes very wild and violent; so much so that if the trap were chained or retarded by a heavy clog, the chain, or even the trap itself, would most likely be broken.  The weight of a trap of this size is generally a sufficient impediment, no clog, or at best a very light one, being required.  The first frantic plunge being over, the entrapped creature immediately yields and lies down upon the ground, and is always to be found within a few rods of where the trap was first sprung upon him.  During the winter the traps may also be set in the snow, using the same bait already described.  It is a common method to fell a small tree for the purpose, setting the traps beneath the snow, around the top branches.  The deer, in browsing in the tender twigs or buds, are almost certain to be captured.  Dead-falls of different kinds are sometimes used in trapping the deer, with good success; using the scent bait already described, together with the other bait.  The food of the deer during the summer consists of nuts, fruits, acorns, grass, berries, and water plants, and when in convenient neighborhood of cultivated lands, they do not hesitate to make a meal from the farmer’s turnips, cabbages, and grain.