Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-10-18
HUNTERS PARADISE.
SPLENDID SPORT AT The HEAD
OF CAPAY VALLEY.
A Party OF Sacramentans Among
the Deer, Quail, Wild Pigeons
and Other Game.

The recent extension, by the Ssuthern Pacific
Company, of the Woodland, Capay and Cleai
Lake Railroad from Madison to Rumsey, at the
head of Capay valley, has made it possible tc
reach within few hours, from San Francisco
or Sacramento, the finest hunting grounds in
the State. The locality referred to has beer
very appropriately called the Hunters Para,
disc" forgame OF almost every variety abounds
including bear deer, mountain grey squirrels
quail. wild pigeons doves, ducks and smaller
game. The present terminus of the railroad
Rumsey, is situated at the head of Capay valley,
which is one of the most beautiful and pro
ductive in the State. Directly opposite the
handsome depot lately built by the railroad
company commodious hotel is in course OF
erection and will be completed in about ten
days. Here hunting parties find excellent
entertainment and can learn the proper di-
rection to take to find the kind of
game they are in search Of Within q
mile from the station the mountains close in on
either side, and the valley ends in the deep
canyon through which Cache creek finds its
way from Clear lake down to Capay valley and
thence across the plains to the Sacramento
river. Rumsey is destined to become center
for sportsmen, because it is located at point
where both the deer hunter and the quail shot
can find plenty OF their fsvoIite game within
easy distance.
On Thursday morning last a hunting party
consisting of Judge S. c. benson, Frank Miller
n. i. White, VIM. b. Hamilton, E. B. Willis J.
NJ. Morrison and Dr. G. A. White, of Sacra-
mepto, and G. L. Ecklon, of Folsom-started
for these happy hunting grounds" and re-
turned on Sunday night having secured four
deer and an immense number of quail and
other small game. One of the party gives the
following account of the trip:
We had glorious time. Heretofore there
has been no place where a man could go to
shoot deer without being away from home
longer than most men can spare from
their business, but since the opening
of that road person can leave here at 7.30 A. NJ
and be at the head of Capay valley right in the
finest shooting grounds imaginable, at 2:l0 P NJ
We went by way of Elmira and Madison, and
thence over the new line through the center of
Capay valley, which is twenty-six miles long
and from two to three miles wide. | passed
through the valley few months ago. before
the railroad was built, and was astonshe d the
other day at the changes that have already
taken place. Two miles and q half from Madi
son is new town called EsperauZa where the
company has erected an elegant twostory de-
pot, with ample accommodations. Across the
track from the depot is a fine lumber yard, filled
with building material, while piles of brick on
recently staked-Cut town lots indicate rapid
Improvement What few months ago was the
sleepy little village OF Capay is now bustling
town, the inhabitants having been reused by
the activity around them into a determine
ton not to let the new railroad towns
Springing up on each side leave them behind in
sites OF Cadanaso. Tancred, Surrey, Armar-
anth. Guinda, Sauterne, Cashmere and Rumsey,
all located on splendid tracts of land which
have been cut up into small parcels and are
being rapidly sold to settlers who are already
preparing for the planting of orchards and
vineyards. 1t Is one OF the richest and most
picturesque valleys in the State, and is on the
top wave of prosperity. Though we were not
lookiCg for fiuit lands. we could not help but
notice that every kind of fruit tree grew
luxuriantly, and the vineyards looked splen-
did.
AFTER leaving Capay we could see occasional
coveys of quail from the car windows. aud by
the time the train reached Rumsey every man
had on his hunting suit and was eager for the
first shot. The whole party was soon scattered
along Cache creek, hammering away at the
quail in fine style. While there were
aans OF quail the tn shooting was not
for reasons that need not be suggested to any
sportsman. Good bags were made, however,
and all hands Came back to Mrs. Bottoms hotel
with keen sppetites for the evening meal. After
supper the famous bear-slayer of the Rubicon"
beguiled the hours until bed time by the recital
of thrilling adventures In the Sierras. Then we
went TO bed and dreamed about bears, and Joa
quin Murietta and his band of cutthroats.
"On Friday morning three of the party started
for deer hunt in the mountains the others
preferriDg 10 remain and enjoy the less arduous
sport of quail shooting. will follow the deer
hunters in their exciting trip as quail shooting
is pretty much the same everywhere, though it
is not often you find the birds so plentiful and
lut CDNtT So uut. lnc ueer hunters were
Messrs. benson, Ecklon and Willis, and they
secured Mr.. Z. |. Lawson, who keeps a hotel
about half mile from the station on the old
Rumsey place, to drive them into the mount
aims and show them where to find the game.
The selection was good one, for
Lawson is an old deer hunter and
knows every foot of the rugged country into
which he conducted the party The road led
through Cache creek canyon, winding along
and up the side of the mountain. In some
places it was just wide enough for the wheels
of the wagon, and you could look down hun
dreds of feet into the bottom of the rocky can
yon. 1t was a grand sight, but the way Lawson
sent that team around some of the sharp
curves when he would strike down grade
made the experience decidedly thrilling one.
After following the Cache creek for five miles
the road turns to the left and the ascent of the
mountain is commenced: Here we met eou-
pie of men on horseback with three fine bucks
they had killed that morning and were taking t.
the station to ship TO San Francisco. They told
| an apparently straight story as to where they
killed them, but we found out afterwards that
| they did not tell the truth and were trying tC
| send us Off on false track.
After going about two miles up the
| mountain we came to what is known
fine sulphur water spring. Here We
| found John Milss who lives about three
miles from Dayisville, and who was camping al
the spring for his health He had killed a mum
Der of deer, and had fine stock of jerked veni
son on hand. He said he did not go there tc
hunt deer, but they were SO plentiful that he
had killed several without going far from the
| house.
when we reached the summit OF the noun
tains, short distance beyond our real work
commenced. Those who have hunted deer dc
not need to be told that it is no child's play
While it is the most excii ing sport left to the
| hunter, it is at the same time hard work and
ought OF to be attempted by those who sre un
able to stand fatigue and hardship. The artfu
buck is net found loafing around ON level plains
| and pasture fields but seeks the seclusion o.
| the highest mountains and deepest canyons
| lie is always on The alert and it requires both
| skill and judgment to get hin within range of
rife, and quick eye and steady hand TO brinf
! him down as he goes bounding over the rock!
| and through the brush
| I'VE left the wagon ON the summit of tht
| mountain, aud packed our blankets, grub anC
| cooking utensils on the horse and mule tt al
| had drawn us thus far. Then we marched
away. along the ridge of the mountain
! to place where Mr.. Lawson had determined t
| camp for the night The view from the top O
| this mountain is something grand. On one side
| you can see over the top of the first range o
| mountains the great sacramento valley and the
| Marysville Buttes in the distance. On the othel
| side you look down into the great canyon where
| the Reed quicksilver mine is located, and ovel
| to the chain of mountains that separate Yolt
| from Lake and Napa counties. In the distance
| Mt. st. Helena and Cobb Mountain tower abov,
| the other peaks, and all combine 10 make one o
\ the grandest mountain pictures to be seen OF
the coast. One side OF this mountain wal
burned over in August, nothing being left OF
some ten thousand acres but the charred stump
| and branches OF oaks, California laurel, mama
| nita pepper-trees and brush. Around the root,
| of these there was luxuriant growth of wild
| pea wires, to which the deer are very partial
| They feed upon these during the night, and IL
| the daytime hide in the deep canyons, whers
| the timber growth is heavy and the under brush
| too dense tor man to penetrate.
| = We finally reached our camping ground in
deep canyon where there was a small spring o
| good water, two of our nimrods taking shots a
| coupe of bucks on the way and missing then
| ingl oriously. We slept that night beneath the
| broad canopy of Heaven, with the moon anC
| stars shining down upon our little camping
| ground, which was not more than twelve fee
| square and that on the side OF a rayine, so tina
| we lay upon angle of about fifteen degrees.
| Just at the break of day We started on ou
hunt and had sport that compensated for al
| the labor and hardships we endured No one
| who has not experienced it can appreciate thu
| exciting pleasure of such hunt. We started
| in different directions and gained favorable
positions upon the sides of the mountains
Then the hounds were turned loose. and sool
| their voices announced that the game was up
All eyes are turned in the direction from which
| the sound comes, and presently fine buci
1 Is seen bounding over the mountain side. YOJ
scarcely catch glimpse of him before he is los
| to view in the brush and appears again some
| distance away. Suddenly the crack of a rife i
| heard, and the first buck of the mornin,
doubles up like jackknife and rolls down th
mountain side until caught by the brush. 1t ha
| taken but one bullet to do the work for thi
| handsome fellow, for it entered near the fanl
| and passed out at the shoulder on the othe
| side. passing through the hesrt on its way. Tn
| hunter is now at his side, cuts his throat witt
| one slash of his keen hunting kni e and swing
h i'm, int fhn hror1 of freq hat h