Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-11-10
HUNTING IN THE ALPS
Ehe Dangers Of ChamSis sia~lkins-shoot
ing The Auerhaln.

Tho Dangers Of ChamSis s-,alking-thoot
ing the Auerhaln.
In reality Alpine sport is considerably
tanner than the passing tourist usually
npposes. Chamois stalking, though the
few who practice it declare il to be the
most exciting of all pastimvs, is for the
most part, at least in Austria, left en-
firely TO the poachers. The physical ex-
ertion it requires, the dangers il involves
and the rarity, or rather the entire want
of, stanch and well trained hounds, nc.
count for this. Both the channels and
the roe are driven, but in a way suited
TO the character of the country and i'm
possible on an English estate.
Long before dawn the guests who are
invited to take part in a chamois hunt
assemble at an appointed place. Then
the steep climb into the valley which il
20 be the scene Of operations begins.
When the proper positions are reached,
the head forester assigns 10 each Of the
guests a place near one of the passes the
channels are likely 10 take. AL these
ambushes are hidden from the heights
above by rocks or bushes, and they are
always from three to four hundred, usu-
ally more than a thousand, feet apart.
When once a sportsman has been placed
he is expected to remain where he is as
silently as he cen. lie must not leave
his post on any account. a this might
not only disturb the drive. but endanger
his own life. At about the same time
as the hunting party leave their
rendezvous Il party of drivers ayom-
panied by dogs start from the other side
of the mountain range. The noise they
make frightens the channels over the
crest and, if the parties have been Iroperly
organized, into the valley, where a
warm welcome has been prepared for
them. Except in very rare cases, those
who are posted above tire expected 10 let
the herd pass before shooting, in order
not TO spoil the sport of their friends
below. The huntsmcn must, Of course,
always be placed 30 that the wind blows
toward and not from them. Roe are for
the most part shog in q similar way,
though roe stalking is by no means un.
usual. =
Auerhahn stalk NC is a far more excit.
ing and peculiar Alpine form Of sport,
and it is the favorite recreation Of the
emperor Of Austria. Ii is only in the
mating season, roughly speaking in April
and May, that it is permitted. Tie cock
is generally tn most tinid and cautious
Of birds; but nc this season he becomes a
victim Of passion, and loses his head-at
least at intervals. At dawn he flies TO a
spot which he knows to be f~rcQuented By
the hens, porches npon an exposed bough,
so that all the charms of his plumage
may be seen, and begins his nuptial song.
IL consists Of three distinct parts, with a
short pause between each; and. while
piping it, the cock extends his feathers
and beats upon the bough with his
wings. At such times he seems utterly
unconscious of everything that goes
IN around him. This is the sportsman's
opportunity; he has taken his place be-
fore dawn near q spot which he knows to
be ~frequented and concealed himself In
the best cover he can find. As som as
the bird begins its call. which is techni-
cally known as its balz, he springs for
ward 10 some nearer cover in which he
can lie silently in wait during the first
pause; while the second strain is in pro.
gress he must reach a point near enough
TO take good aim. An Alpine Sportsman
would no more think Of shooting an
Auerhahn in any other way than an
English squire would think of shooting a
fox. In the greater part Of the country
the hens are legally protected during the
whole Of the year: they havea peculiar
cry. which some foresters successfully
initiate for the purpose Of Turing then
mates. Saturday Review.