Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-03
THE SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE.
The Game Animals of Colorado, and
the Manner of Hunting Them.

The Denver (COl) Tribune says ::
The old residents, among the earliest
of our early-comers, have prepared a
paper, in which is given an account of
all the resources and attractions of our
Territory, from sportsman's standard
Not only are all the game animals ere
corded" but other intelligence is
given that renders the report as valua-
BILE as it is interesting.
The game of Colorado consists of
buffalo, elk, black and white tailed deer,
mountain sheep, antelope, cinnamon,
black and grizzly bear, wild turkeys,
sage hen, blue or mountain grouse,
willow or pin-tail grouse, ptarmigan or
mountain quail, ducks of all kinds ex-
cept canvass back, geese and brandt,
swan, curlew of several varieties; and
in the Spring and Fall, snipe and plover
for few days, as they migrate North
and South. We have also few Califor-
MIA and State quail, imported for
breeding purposes.
The following fur-bearing animals
are numerous Beaver, otter, mink,
martin, weasel, red, gray, black and
silver gray fox, besides many varities
that are supposed to be cross of the
different distinct species; also very
small animal of the fox kind, known
here as the swift, the large gray and
white timber wolf, white and gray coy
ote and black prairie wolf, panther or
California lion, lynx, wolvereen, cata-
mount and wild cat, badger, skunk,
ground hog or woodchuck, and other
minor species. s..s..
Success in either hunting or trapping
depends more here than elsewhere up
on the experience of the person en-
gagged in it and his knowledge of the
country, for the reason that game is
not generally distributed throughout
the territory, but certain species are
confined to certain localities. No
stranger need expect much success un
less accompanied by an experienced
guide.
Remarkable bags are often made, but
create little remark here. It is moth
ing uncommon for two hunters to load
large freight wagon with deer, ante
lope or buffalo in a day or two after
reaching the hunting grounds. Grouse
rate of from one to five dozen a day to
the gun, provided the hunter has the
time and patience to hunt up their
locality.
The larger animals are very extern
sively hunted during the season, for
both local and foreign markets. It is
estimated that not less than 200, 900
buffalo were slaughtered for their hides
alone last year, and so long as the price
OF skins make it profitable business,
and the buffalo remain, this waste and
destruction will go on.
The good hunting grounds are nu-
merous. Ducks, geese, &C.. may be
found very close about Denver. Will
low grouse are widely distributed, and
may be found in almost any direction
from town by travelling from ten to
twenty miles. They are much more
difficult to capture, and are far bet
ter bird than the prairie chicken of the
States, and are not found in the noun
talns at all, while the blue or mountain
grouse are only found in the noun
talns, and are the finest eating bird of
the grouse kind, and offer poor sport
to any except "pot shooters" they be-
ing excessively tame.
Ptarmigan are only found very close
to the snowy range, and are very good
for the table, but might as well be
killed with club as shot Buffalo
are sometimes found within thirty
miles of town, but usually a ride of
from fifty to two hundred miles east,
either via the Union Pacific OF the
Kansas Pacific railway, will be neces-
sary for any great success. Antelope
are often found within ten miles of
this place, but are more plenty as you
leave civilization behind in either di-
rsetion. White tail deer are not plenty.
They are only occasionally killed along
the water courses and in the low hill
country some thirty to fifty miles to
east, and seventy miles from here.
Black tail deer confne themselves to
the mountainous regions, except when
severe storms prevail; they then come
to the foothills, where they may be
killed in quantities. They afford
fine sport, whether in noun
tain or valley, are very numerous, and
are often hunted within twenty miles
OF town. Bear are distributed
throughout the entire mountain coun-
try. Mountain sheep are very seldom
killed, except on the high mountains,
and from twenty-five miles distant to
as far as the Rocky Mountains extend
Elk are found most numerous in the
Middle and North Forks, from seventy
to one hundred miles distant, and on
the Laramie Plains, and further west
along the line of the Union Pacific
Railway for three or four hundred
miles from Cheyenne, especially in the
vicinity of Fort Steele, as far north as
the Wind River Mountains and Mon
tana Territory.
Very few dogs of pure blood or fine
breed are owned here. Some pointers