The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-01-19
HUNTING THE BIG HORN.
Its Skill and Speed In TrayersinE PLACED
inaccessible to Other Animals.


Inaccessible to Other Animals.
/ started down the mountain the next
morning, and suppose l had reached
about mile from the level country
when started big bowldor that went
rushing down the slope, and looking
over the edge | saw big animal l
thought was deer spring up from II
rock. II stood q second and looked at
me, then dashed away and WAS out of
sight before could unsling my rifle,
which in climbing had put on my
back, little thinking | should find any
game among the rocks of the upper
range. In that second / recognized
the big horns and massive head of the
mountain sheep, and right then and
there | got the fever l would have
those horns or would never go home,
and, to make u long story short, there
they are. l followed the animal GER
tainly a week before got u shot, and
then he was 80 far away across big
canyon that it w&s the mcrest chance
that | hit him.
What do you think of crawling on
your stomach for five hours, not daring
to breathe or look cross-eyed, worm
ing your way over rocks and around
corners trying to keep down the wind?
But that old buck had my measure;
he knew | was after him and always
kept just so far away. / finally saw
him with several others on spur Of
the range, and by three hours climb
ing got so that could see him fairly,
and when had the chance | shook 80
that it was a miracle that hit him.
The mountain sheep is o thoroughly
game animal, and the sportsman who
brings down q buck may be said to
have earned his spurs and be rated as
true hunter. The animal is instinct
lively suspicious, cautious to remark
able degree and endowed with remark
able powers of speed and skill in max
ing its way over places inaccessible to
other animals.
The horns are enormous, resembling
those of the European ibex. though
more graceful in their shape. The
size of the horns have given rise to
many remarkable stories regarding
their use. One old hunter, who I'M
doubtedly believed what he said, in
formed me that he had seen 81 sheep
descend a mountain by leaping thirty
or forty feet at time, striking upon
the horns at every landing, and that
this was favorite method. That the
capra does land upoH it's horns at times
in its terrific leaps or falls there can be
no doubt, and it is equally certain that
it is an accident. The horns are, as
in all animals Of the kind, merely
weapons of defense, and are Clipped
and worn by the males in their furious
battles with each other.
On the plains below--the rocky fast
nesscs of the mountain shccp-bands
of antelope are still found, and party
from Pasadena recently enjoyed this
most exciting sport. While the noun
tain sheep requires great strategy
on the part OF the hunter. the antelope
draws upon other resources. The ami
NAL keeps to the open Countrywide
great level tracts and rich valleys near
the borders of the Mojave and Arizona
deserts. Ii is there difficult to APP
proach them unseen, and q cool hand
at the rifle and good seat in the sad
die are the requisites. In a recent
hunt the antelope were chased at least
twenty miles before they were run
down, and afforded magnificent sport.
November is the rutting Season. and
then exceedingly large herds are seen;
but in the warm season they separate
to greater or less extent, when the
bucks afford fine sport. Some readily
outrun the swiftest horse and hounds,
though it is possible to wear them
out by continuous running. Pasadena
(CaL) Cor. N. Y Times.