Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-01-26

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accompanled General Crook and several
other gentlemen on hunting excursion
10 Wyoming Territory. The results OF
the hunt AZ a whole are best summed
I'D by the following mag Of game
much of which was brought through to
Omaha and points bdyond Four
bears, eighteen buck elk. with magnlh
cent antlers; sixteen mule deer, ten
autelopes. grouse and sage hens with
out number. This passage from the
CORES espondent's letter will be found
interesting reading:
AT General Crooks suggestion it was
decided that owing 10 The abundance OF
The game, fact amply proved, the
party should only kill such quantities rs
could be eaten or transported to their
friends. and not leave il to lie or rot on
the plans, as is frequently the case
when game is abundant. AS result
tfis determination nota single COW or
calf was nun bered among the elk killed
by the party.
When it's known that in the noun
talns or on the plains The hunter was
frequently within $50 or 200 ,ard' from
herds of elk, Numbering from fifty to
500. the wisdom Of General Crooks
suggestion Is seen. The habits OF the
elk have titus far been little known,
but it was the fortune of members o.
our party, both on the initial day OF the
hunt and later. to remain concealed Tor
hours in the neighborhood of and oc-
ca.ionally almost in the midst OF large
herds ofthese animals, with Which the
mountains were thrOnged.
It was discovered that each herd OF
elks WAS controlled by a few bucks.
which proved TO be those animals able
to MAINTAIN the mastery over all the
other bucks. The proportion OF large
horned bucks was small, perhaps one
20 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 not
uuirequeully large pieces were broke
of their magnificent anlrrs. and in one
instance we found buck whom con-
tinued fights had left with bat one soil
tary stump as an apology Tor horn.
hut this veteran was still game. One
member Of our party succeeded by per-
s,stent labor aud caution on ono occa-
sion in approaching within Two huAdred
Yards of "A bahd OF not less than one
hundred, There were four bucks 10
The band. three standing outside, not
vet willing to acknowledge defeat and
leave the baud, aud yet whom the
fA,rth bad evidently driven out. Thr
ror wandered proudly around
/ The baud, shaking his lowering
yns at the outsiders as if to invite
Them tc return aud renew tho combat.
FINALLY one OF the bucks advanced
and q sirbt was Witnessed which it l.
not often the lot of a hunter, even III
the far West, TO witness. The two
animals came salagelY together, their
heads striking with a loud report. There
was a Locking of horns, several hrrce
plunpes. a terrific struggle which lasted
for some minutes, the outsider being
again vauquished and driven out,
several tips having been broken of lis
horns. The defeat d buck was com
ulelely exhausted, his tongue pro'rud-
my and his head down, aud wllhdrsw'
ing to IA point 800 ards from the band
he laid down. The watching sports
man decided at once that tie broken
antlers OF the defeated buck would lorin
an interesting trophy and drawlsg u
lead on the animal he shot him dead.