The herald. (Big Stone City, Dak. [S.D.]) 1883-1890, 1889-03-08
HUNTING THE BlC.AORN.
The Animals Speed and skill in Travers-
ing Places Inaccessible to other
Animals.

81 started down the mountain the
next morning, and supposed | had
reached about 4 mile from th. level
country when started a biz bowldcr
tina, went rushing down the slope, and
looking over the edge saw a big ami
ma | thought was Il deer spring up
from the rock. writes a Pasadena.
Cal, correspondent Of the New York
IlhtcS. 1t stood a second and looked
ut me, then dashed away and was ont
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 bic horns and massive head of the
mountain sheep, and right then and
there cot the fever. | would have
those horns or | would novprmo home,
and TO make n long story short, there
they are. followed the animal GER
tainly a week before cot a shot, and
then he was so far away across a big
canyon that it was the mercst chance
that hit him.
"What do yot, think of crawling on
I your stomach for live hours, not dar
inc to breathe on look cross-eyed,
Wolmlng your way over rocks and
+ around corners trying TO keep down
the windo But that old buck had my
! measure he knew ! was after him and
always kept just SO far away. | final
/ ly saw him with several other OH 4
! spur of the range, and bv three hours
climbing got 50 that could see him
+ f.i Il han | ll,a |
shook SO that it was 4 miracle that | hit
him.
The mountain sheep is !, thoroughly
game animal, and the sportsman who
bring down Il buck may be said to
have earned his spurs and be rated as
a true hunter. The animal is instinc-
lively suspicious, cautious to remark
able degree and endowed with remark
able powers OF speed and skill IN max
inc its way over places inaccessible to
Other animals
The horns are enormous, resem-
bling those of the European ibeX,
though more graceful il their shape.
The size Of the horns have given rise
to many remarkable stories regarding
their use. One old hunter, who un-
doubtcdly believed what lie sad, in
formed mo that Ire had seen y sheep
descend a mountain by leapng thirty
OF forty feet 1T 4 time, striking upon
the horns At every landing. and that
this was a fayolite method. That the
capra does land upon its horns At
times il its terrific leaps OF falls there
can he no doubt, and il IS equally ccr-
tain that it is IN accident The horns
4,it ~. -, l~r
merely weapons of defense, and are
Clipped and worn l,y tile males III their
furious battles with each other.
On the plains below - the rocky
Businesses of the mountain sheep
bands of antelope are still found, and
Il party from Pasadena recently en-
loved this most exciting sport. While
the mountain sheep requires great
strategy on the part Of the hunter, the
antelope draws upon other resources.
The animal keeps To the open country
the great level tracts and rich val
lcyS near the borders Of the Molaye
and Arizona deserts. 1t is there diff
iieult to approach them unseen, and 4
cool hand it the rifle and 4 good seat
in the saddle are the requisites. In Il
recent hunt the antelope were chased
at least twenty miles before they were
run down, and afforded magnificent
sport. November is the ruttng sea-
sou, and then exceeding large herds are
seen; but in the warm season they sep
arte 70 i greater or less extent, when
the bucks afford fine sport Some
readily outrnn the swifest horse aud
hounds, though il is possible To veal
them out by continuous running.