Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1889-12-07
AFTER BLACK TAIL DEER.
ExHILARATINo SPORT IN THE NOUN
TAlNs OF WYOMING.

beautiful Creatures Brought to Earth BY
Leaden Messengers-Tenderfeet from the
East Meet with Remarkable Success in
the Hunt.
On our arrival at the Crystal Spring ranch
nv friend F., of New York, and myself
learned that deer were plentiful in the noun.
tains to the east of the ranch, consequently
we determined to try our luck on the follow
ing day, the Messrs. T., the proprietors of the
ranch, agreeing to accompany US.
1.-THE searching eye of heaven" was lust fir.
ing ''the proud tops of the eastern pinesn AZ
we set out each mounted on a stout LITTLE
broncho and armed with a good rifle and q
large hunting knife We were also provided
with lunches, in order to enable us to be- an.
sent the whole day if necessary.
After fording the river several times, which
runs through the ranch in a winding COURSE
we crossed a comparatively level expanse Of
grassy land well irrigated by a system or
bitches, and before long commenced to ascend
the foothills of the mountains. The keen
bracing mountain air, so different from that
of the "effete" east, seemed to inspire us with
fresh energy and spirits, as in single file wa
trotted briskly along the trail
THE BEAUTIFUL ANTELOPE
On reaching the summit of rather stAer
hill we saw group of antelope quietly graz.
ing in the bottom of broad valley about
quarter of a mile from us. F. and mvsalf
iismounted and attempted to get nearer 70
them, but they soon spied us and made os
with such speed that they seemed in RIM.
ming to devour the way" We sent a counls
of flying shots after them, but to no effect
These animals are very shy, and as they ara
usually found in the open country, it is verv
difficult to get within range of them. Their
curiosity, however, is easily excited, as tbav
are as inquisitive as Mother Eve, and this fact
Is often taken advantage Of by hunters. who
by lying fat on the ground and gently wav.
ing a handkerchief or some other consnien.
Gus object, can often entice them within
shooting range. They are beautifully formed
creatures, about the size of a sucking calf
their coats being of a fawn color and their
tails white and Dushy. Their heads are shane
ly, and in the case of the bucks are surmount.
ed by pair Of slender pointed horns, hence
their name of the prong horned anteloue
Their eyes are of exquisite beauty, being
large, dark and languid looking. and hepcs
have often served as images to poets.
We again mounted and rode on for several
miles, when the nature of the country altered
as we approached the highest part of the
range, being composed of high hills covered
with pine trees and separated by deep "draws+-
with precipitous banks. In some places they
looked almost perpendicular, and it seemed
almost an impossibility to descend them, but
the sure footed little bronchos, now cautious
ly picking out the spots affordirg the best
footing, again putting their feet together and
allowing themselves to slide, would carry US
safely to the bottom. Occasionally, on reach
ing particularly bad place, we would dis
mount and lead our animals, and, on one oc.
casion, we were surprised to see one of our
companions give his horse a shove and allow
him to partly roll and partly slide down the
bank, while he himself followed leisurely on
foot, the broncho recovering his feet and pa.
tiently waiting for his rider at the foot of the
hill
We now determined to divide our party,
having first agreed upon place of meeting
R. and myself taking one draw" and our
companions riding some distance further ''tc
work" another
Spelling A PRETTY PICTURE
After drawing lots for first shot, the choice
falling to R., we rode slowly along the sides
of the draw, keeping our eyes wide open for
deer. We rode on for several miles when, to
our delight, a band of seven bucksAPpearad
on the'divide opposite TO US, who, on catch
ing sight of US, suddenly stopped, threw up
their antlered heads and shifted the air, form
ing picture that would cause any hunts
mans heart to beat more rapidly. We hasti-
ly dismounted and opened fire upon them,
but seemingly to no effect, as they disaP
peared into the next draw. The failure Of
my shot was probably due to 'buck fever
but this could not have been tie case with
R., who had killed numbers of them before.
Leaving our horses, we followed them on
foot as fast as the nature of the ground would
permit, and on reaching the top Of the divide
we noticed that the next draw was walled ID
on the opposite side by steep bluff, render.
ing escape in this direction impossible, and
the deer had halted in the bottom, uncertain
which way to run. We again fired and EVIL
IDENTIFY had both aimed at the same animal,
as the largest one of the group fell to the
ground. The echo of our shots from the oP
posite bluff seemed still further to confuse
the rest, and they hesitated long enough 70
enable us to get several more shots at them,
and three more bowed their proud, antlered
heads and bit the dust. The other three then
started up the draw with lightning speed ana
were soon beyond range We were hlgnF
elated, however, at killing four out OF the
seven; the thrill of satisfaction and delSh1
which passes through a mans breast as 10
sees one of these noble creatures fall beneath
his well directed shot needs to be felt 70 Do
fully appreciated.
We had each killed two, although we conh
not determine with certainty who had sno'
the large buck, as there were three shots ID
him, any of which would have proved fataL
He was indeed a beauty, as large as year
ling steer, sleek and fat, with magnlhcens
head, finely shaped and adorned with pau
of large, spreading antlers which we were
very careful to preserve with view to nav
ing it mounted on our return to clvlllzauoI
and hung at the head of the ancestral nAn
amid other trophies of the chase. we ho"
whipped out our knives and proceeded 10
lieve him of his hide and to cut OF the nus
edible portions, viz. the hams, which we 1eu r
behind our saddles. The rest we "eio
obliged to leave upon the ground as we wa.
a long distance from the ranch and coula nv
carry very large load.-W. Lynn "h''"
in Detroit Free Press.
A JOhnstOwn Dog.