Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-09-05
PLENTY or DEER.
How to Get Them Bucks and Docs
"A Lake Without a Bottom-cer-
tainty OF Big Load OF venison-
A Lovely Trip Lasting Four Days.

4
During the deer shooting season, pos
sibly but few Of our sportsmen know
where TO 20 10 get the best and the largest
quantity Of venison, for themselves and
| for tale. There are two routes, one via
the Wilson trail, up the Little Santa
Anita Cation, over into the Big Canon,
thence to the west fork OF the San Ga
briel river by trail, or via the San Ca
b.iel Canon 10 the fork. But as the
latter route is impassable, on account Of
the enormous stream of water, the first
named route Is the best, especially as
the trail In the west fork Of the San
Gabriel Canon is cut along the side of
the Sierra Madre mountains, far above
the swashing water, which is plainly
seen below the trail. For about half
mile above the mesa of the Santa Anita
Rancho the ascent of tho Wilson trail Is
very steep. but passes along the
north slope Of the Sierra Madre
mountains, on an easy.n grade,
to a spur OF the mountains, where it
passes TO the right, over to the west side
of the Little Santa Anita Canon, which
Is covered on both sides with large
bushes and enormous trees, making the
route always shady.
From here the trail passes over into
the Big Santa Anita Canon, thence over
the western summit along the southern
slope of the Sierra Madres half mile,
when the summit is reached, abounding
in magnificent pine and cedar trees,
through which the signing Of the wind
makes n sound like an eolian harp. A
short walk over the summit, where the
trail passes, to high spur, discleses one
OF the grandest views ever seen and
which must be seen to be appreciated.
Close by is beautiful forest of white
oak trees, iare tree in the mountains,
although plenty enough in the val
leys.
From this place an old but very passa-
bic trail leads down the mountain on
the side of the canon into the west fork
of the San Gabriel Canon, thence about
ten miles by an EASY trail to the beauti-
full darksome lake at the head
waters of this cafion. This lake is dark,
day or night, and is surrounded by dense
trees and shrubbery, with the heaviest
timber in all the Sierra Madre range. A
donkey for blankets and provisions. an
other tor venison, including the first
one, on the return trip; and one each
for the hunters, are indispensable, and
these will Craze upon snyoi the oun'ain
feed. But they ought to be gagged in
the vicinity of the lake, so as not to
scare the bold deer away by their usual
brays, from the lake, the bottom of
which has never been found.
A deer hunter should leave Los An
geles early in the morning, and camp
over night at the spring at the seven
mile end of the Wilson trail, leaving
again for the dark and deep lake, very
early the following morning, and by
easy stages, arrive at the lake IN the late
afternoon. Here cold lunch should be
taken, and the burros gagged. The
time TO awake is between and o'clock
In the morning. when the deer
come unsuspiciously down to the lake to
take their morning drink. A good shot
is sure to bag at least one, and as they
are altogether unaccustomed to hunters
and guns and are very little scared, sew.
eral can be shot and tied securely upon
the backs OF the donkeys, who are then
unmuzzled. A hot breakfast is now in
order, about 7 o'clock, to prepare for the
home trip.
Another nights rest is necessary at
the same spring. just over the summit
of the Serras, where, as going up, the
canteen should be filed, and also at the
lake. The route down with n load Of
venison and minus provisions, the blan.
kets being the only load except the deer,
is much quicker aud easier than the up
trip, and besides there is something to
show for it--a beautiful trip, with plenty
of ozone, big appetite and q lot of
splendid venison. Some of these sue
cessful hunters, when they return to
the city smile all over. The entire trip
only takes four days; leaving the city,
for instance, Monday morning, the re-
turn is made on Thursday evening, when
sound sleep prepares for the duties
Of the following day.