The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-01-21
The Battle Of the EIks,

A New York Herald correspondent
accompanied General Crook and several
other gentlemen on a hunting excursion
in Wyoming Territory. The results of
the hunt as Il whole are best summed
up by the following "bag of game"
much Of which was brought through to
Omaha and points beyond: Four bears,
eighteen buck elk, with magnificent
a~ntlors; sixteen mule deer, ten ante
lopes, grouse and sage hens without
number. This passage from the CORE
spondent's letter will be found interest
ing reading:
At General Crooks suggestion it was
decided that owing to the abundance Of
the game, a fact amply proved, the
party should only kill such quantities as
could be eaten or transported to their
friends, and not leave it to lie or rot on
the plains, as is frequently the case
when game is abundant. AS a result Of
this determination not a single cow or
calf was numbered among the elk killed
by the party.
When it is known that in the noun
tains or on the plains the hunter was
frequently within 1850 or 200 yards from
herds of elk, numbering from fifty to
500, the wisdom of General Crooks sug-
gestion is seen. The habits of the elk
have thus far been little known, but il
was the fortune of members of our party.
both on the initial day OF the hunt and
later, to remain concealed for hours in
the neighborhood of and occasionally
almost in the midst of large herds OF
these animals, with which the noun
tains were thronged.
1t was discovered that each herd oi
elks was controlled by a few bucks.
which proved to be those animals able
to maintain the mastery owe all the
other bucks. The proportion of large
horned bucks was small, perhaps one to
every twenty-five animals, but there
are frequently four or five bucks seen in
a herd of this number, the question Of
superiority not having been settled.
Such instances, however, were always
accompanied by terrific fights between
the bucks for the mastery, in which moi
un%frequently large pieces were broken
off their magnificent antlers, and in one
instance we found a buck whom COM
tinued fights had left with but one soli-
tary stump as an apology for a horn,
but this veteran was still game. One
member of our party succeeded by per-
sistent labor and caution on one occa-
sion in approaching within two hundred
yards of q band of not less than n
hundred. There were four bucks in the
band, three standing outside, not yet
willing 10 acknowledge defeat and leave
the band, and yet whom the fourth had
evidently driven out. The conquerot
wandered proudly around through the
band, shaking his towering horns at the
outsiders as If to invite them to return
and renew the combat.
Finally mi of the bucks advanced and
a sight was witnessed which it is not
often the lot of & hunter, even in the far
West, to witness. The two animals
came ~savagely together, their heads
striking with u loud report. There was
a locking of horns, several fierce plunges,
a terrific struggle which lasted for some
minutes, the outsider being again van-
pushed and driven out. several tips
having been broken off his horns. The
defeated buck was completely exhausted,
his tongue %protruding and his head
down, and withdrawing to n point 800
yards from the band he laid down. The
watching sportsman decided at once
that tile broken antlers of the defeated
buck would form an interesting trophy
and drawing II bead on the animal he
shot him desd.