The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-12-23
Facts Of Interest for Those Who Like
to Hunt the Bear in His
Home.
Elk. Mountain Lion, Deer and Al
the Smaller Game and Their
Haunts


The hunting season is about closed for
this year. After the LIST Of January il will
be unlawful to kill any game before the 18th
of September, 1sg0. The game of Muntaus
consists Of bison, elk, moose. mountain
sheep, blaektail and whit-ta deer, ante
lope, mountain goats, bear-c cinnamon,
black, silver-tipped and grizzly prairie
chickens, grouse of three different species
crested pheasan,s' iackrnbbit and cotton
] tail rabbits Here is variety 10 suit the
taste of almost anyone, except he he in
search of tigers, hppopotami or elephants.
Even Sir Samuel Baker, who wrote a ser
ies If delightful tales of hunting in the
island of Ceylon, where elephant, elk and
wild bear abound, would not have been
averse to tackling such superb game as ex-
lists in Montana.
OF course the wild animals of this state
are gradually being thinnea out, and year
by wear the hunter is Obliged 10 go further
into the mountains in search Of
big game, Yet there are spots known
10 few where deer can be found within
twenty or thirty miles Of Helena. But the
retreat of the elk aud moose are hard to
penetrate. II takes daring hunter aud
one well equipped for climbing the loftiesi
mountains and penetrating the densesi
pine forests 10 be successful. The Yellow
stone park. of course, ia now the paradise Of
the elk IN Montana. There they are pro-
tected from the incursions of the hunter.
and there aught, now, TO b, many hundreds
AS late as fifteen years ago large herds came
down as far ms Gardiner in the winter time
| 10 feed and about fifteen niles above was a
band of several hundred bison or mountain
buffalo. There IL little or nj difference be-
tween them and the plains animals, except
such as iH brought about hy the change of
habit. In Whitehall park AT the head of
South Boulder IN Jefferson county, there
were formerly quite n large herd Of bison,
called 10y some wngs Major Brooke's cattle,
on account ol the fact ihut the major
while member of the Legislature
some years ago, introduced u
bill for heir rres 'ryatioslDs u nnfahcr of
years. The bill provided severe penalties
for an infraction of the law, hut IL probably
had no material effect in protecting he ami.
by the yelituresome prospector. and he
might kill all be wanted and no one would
be any the wiser. They were regularly
hunted 10y the Noz PerccH Indians years ago,
who made annual visits 10 the pnrk for that
purpose and many lodge poles and other
evidences of their visits are still Ia be found
in that locality. The White Tail purk is n
very beautiful spot situated about fifteen
miles southeast of Butte. II IL low de-
IN al
TO thirty miles III circumference. carpeied
with luxufiant grlssrs, a natural home for
all kinds of gnme, but il il now divided up
into farms and tame cattle have taken the
place of the bison. The Indians no longer
visit the scene, aud the bison If any are
left. have been driven 10 new feeding
grounds.
On the top Of Crow Creek range about
twenty five miles southeast of Helena, IL an-
other park similar to the one above de
scribed. except that il is timbcrcd, and al
most unappronchnble on account of the
steep and precipltOus mountains by which
ID is surrounded. In the center Of the park
il a like. the waters of which il WAS pro-
posed by some imprncticable enthusiast 10
convert 10 the uses of the citizens of Helena.
In this secluded spot is a small band Of elk,
which are seldom molrsted. and there ARE
plenty of bear IN that region. rendy for n
light or a foot-race. according 90 circum-
stances.
Big Hole basin WAS once n paradise for
moose. 1n the early COS there was Il band
of moose there numbering 6lO or eOO.but the
prOspectOrs Of those days soon thinned
them ont. and now there are hut few left
and they are scattered aud He'd 10 the high
est mountains Backtail deer can still
he found almost anywhere in the
foothills where good feed can be
secured. These animals are SOME
what migratory in their habits, travelling
from The valleys aud the foothills 10 the
east of the runge. westward in the spring
and back again IN the fall. I'm this way
they becnme accustomed 90 travel on Ger
tain trails and the hunters were not SLOW 10
take advantage of this One of the best
known trails and most extensively used by
these animals until n few years ago, WIS on
the low range of hills extending east and
west on the north side Of the Prlckly Penr
valley, about fifteen miles north Of Helena.
Here they passed over the trail in the fall of
the year nt the rate of hundred day and
IL was nn ensy matter tO kill them. Ab0ut
daylight IN the morning was their fnyorite
time for travelling, and the hunters only
had Ia station themselves on the trail he
hind tree or rock 60 secure all they wanted.
Az many ~ fifty men have been stationed
M intervals along the trail for distance Of
ten miles, and the crack Of the rifles ia the
early morning sounded like the discharge
Of musketry in battle, and II WAS hard
for deer 10 run the gauntlet of hunters
The animals finally abandoned the thil
and now travel swiftly and 10y night over
any country that happens 10 be in their
route.
White tail deer were nj one time plentiful
throughout the valleys of Montana but
they have been pretty nearly eHtermlnated.
A few eau be- found ON the Big BlackfoOt.
the Dearborn, the sun river, and smnll
tributaries OF the Missouri. They are "A
wary animal, aud II requires quick eye
and prnciiced hand 10 shoot them. They |
are almost invariably on the run when seen,
their acute hearing enabling them 10 detect |
the approach of the stealthiest foe.
Mountain sheep nre seldom hunted now. |
They have become so scarce and shy that /
they are hardly ever seen, and inhabit high |
cliffs and rugged cnnuns difficult ~ access.
These hninnls were quite plentiful IN Mon
tAna NJ one time, but the ruthless pot hunt
ers Of cnrly DAYS nearly externinnted them.
Mountain gOnts nrc never hunted except .
ns curosiies. few oKisit on the rugged |
peaks OF Mount Powell, Deer Lodge county.
and IN the Bitter Root range. These rare
and curious animals ARE only found in Mon
tana.
The greatest number OF antelope arc'to
be found in that section Of the country
lvino het xreu the YelluWgtaue and Mi6gouri