Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1884-11-05
ALASKA.
A Splendid Country for Hunting and Fishing

And now few words as to Alaska
as a hunting and fishing ground.
There is probably no part of the
country where the huntsman can more
thoroughlyenjoy himself, provided he
be strong in body and not averse to a
good many rainy days. Deer are
abundant, since venison is to the Alas
ans what beef is to the easterner.
quantity here, as are all other kinds
of fresh meat. Venson for breakfast,
dinner, and supper, venison roast,
boiled, stewed, % td mode, and cooked
in every conceivable way, together
with the everlasting salmon, form
the Alaskans bill of fare from one
years end to the other But the deer
are plenty, and the sportsman who
goes out with the determination to
find one will not return empty handed.
The Indian has two ways OF deer
hunting, but the one which he prefers
is to hunt with dogs, driving the ami
nal down into creek, where, with
club, short work is made of the deer.
This method has lis advantage in the
fact that no noise is made. thereby
soaring away any other game which
may be near. At other times he takes
his old fint-lock gun, the only arm
he is allowed by the government to
possess, and, finding deer trail, he
lies down in the bushes and waits, it
may be one or twenty-four hours,
until the animal comes along, when it
is easily shot. 70 the white man,
with his improved long-range rifle,
deer-hunting does not necesstatc so
much patience, as the deer can often
be sighted and shot at comparative. y
long distances. The best localities
for deer hunter are on the islands
around Wrangle and Sitka, upon which
the deer abound. The best time for
deer-hunting, if sport is desi ed, is in
the winter and spring; if the object
is to Kill them for food, the month of
September will find the animal in the
pest condition. During the spring the
bucks. whose horns are just growing
and are very tender, stay on the
mountain peaks, rot caring to venture
in the heavy timber which skirts the
shores.
The Chilcat country, some two hum
dred miles to the northward of Sitka,
is destitute of deer, owing to the fact
that the bears are too numerous, and
it may be well to mention that, if any
one is going to venture out into the
woods, even near the towns. he had
better carry good rife, for at any
time and place he is liable to meet a
bear, and unlucky is he if it happens
to be a she bear with cubs accompany
ing. They are very tenacious of life,
and from two to eight we'll directed
shots are usually required to kill them,
although the Indian, when bear-hunt-
ing, puts six large bullets into his flint
lo;k and blazes away at short range,
and, Immediately upon firing, runs
away at right angles to line of shot,
knowing that the bear will rush for
the smoke, thus giving hime time to
reload. At all events, the Alaska
bear is not a pleasant paryty to meet
single-handed, and it is best if you
are alone, and suddenly run across
one, to follow the advice of an old
hunter If he don't see you clear
out; if he does, climb tree" In the
Chilcat region are many mountain
goats, which afford excellent sport
To the fisherman southeastern Alaska
offers many Inducements. To be sure
the salmon which abound in these
waters do not bite at hook, but in
the rivers and creeks the salmon trout
are very plentiful and may be caught
by the hundred. Aside from the
scenery, the hunting in this regiov
will we'll repay visit for one who il
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