The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-10-23
A BIG WESTERN WOLF HUNT
EXCITING SPORT OF THE WYOMING
RANCHMEN.


ing the Country ofWild Animals.
A correspondent of the New York
World writing from Cheyenne, says:
Although hunting parties have fire.
quently gone out in Wyoming for the
royal sport of hunting, yet the idea
of a systematic drive, having for its
scene of operations several hundred
square miles of territory, was a novel one
and attracted widespread attention
among Wyoming people.
The rapid settling up Of Nebraska has
driven many wolves and coyotes across
into Wyoming. The repeal of a scalp
bounty law by the last Territorial Legis-
lature has removed much of the incentive ,
to killing the animals and has resulted IN
their increase to phenomenally large
numbers. The stockmen have been
heavy losers from this condition of affairs.
Young calves and colts fall easy victims
to a pack of hungry gray wolves or CO.
votes. Even yearling calves were pulled
down and killed if they strayed away
from the herd of cattle to which they
belonged Hundreds of dollars have
been lost this season by the cattle and
horse raisers Of Southern Wyoming, and
a big wolf drive was the outcome
At daylight, from every ranch in the
wolf-infested region, stockmen, herders
and cowboys, well armed and mounted
took the field against the wolves. They
were reinforced from Cheyenne by over
three hundred mounted men and boys.
| Stockmen and cowboys from other parts
of the county joined the Cheyenne
! party and brought horses and dogs to aid
| in the chase large number of ladies
attended on horseback and in carriages
to witness the drive.
AT Z o'clock the long line of riders,
under command of ten captains Of the
chase, spread out and moved forward.
From the hills near the Organ ranch,
where the extreme right wing of the line
started, the scene was unique and stir
ring. As far eastward as the eye could
reach horsemen were riding to and fro
in the tall grass of the creek bottoms.
Mingling with the cornet calls of the
captains of the different divisions was
the musical clamor of scores of yelping
and barking dogs of every description.
| ilOll lllG SlluIJCIN hOlH'l w iilt NtllpN
cur, who was present to go under horses
heels and take stray shots into his an
atomy. All the haunts of the wolves and
coyotes were ridden through and beaten.
The occupants usually We're scared 10y the
din of the approaching chase and raced
across the prairie toward the shelter of
the caves in Chalk Bluffs far in advance
of the line of hunters. Occasionally a
sinking pair of coyotes or snarling
gray wolf was run down and a fusiladC
of shots from the hunters cut them down
without mercy Whenever a wolf came
into sight bunch of riders would race
after him in true cowboy style, horses OF
dead run, hats waving and every mar
yelling in style that would scare al
Indian.
A lively incident of the chase was wher
the hounds turned big gray wolf ant
brought him at bay near the line of riders
Afraid to shoot at him for fear of killing
some of the dogs, expert cowboys set on
to rope him. A skillful roper threw hi
lariat fairly over his wolfship's head Tn,
other ropers missed him and the success
full cowboy had lively time bringing hi
quarry to the death. The brute snapped
and snarled and made Il savage rush a
his captor. Whirling his horse quickl,
to one side and then giving him tn
spurs the horseman rode at full spec,
acrosS the prairie, throwing the wolf of
his feet and dragging him to dealt
across the rough ground. Jack rabbit
/, and antelope were raised by the chase
but were not disturbed, the rules of tn
drive as laid nown by the captain, pro
hibiting the killing of game.
| At the different points of rendezvou
: along the bluffs ample preparations ha'
been made for the hunters. Tender year
ling steers had been barbecued and BIZ
T kettles of boiling coffee added an appe
tizing flavor tempting to the hungr
riders. For while the hunt partook o
the nature of an immense picnic, ant
while the cow ponies of the ranchers AM
and the thoroughbred mounts of tn
, town sportsmen munched their oats i
common their riders formed picturesq
. groups under the cottOnwoods, and owe
their roast beef and coffee detailed th
adventures of the mornings drive.
! AlANl hlilNl AllN lNtAl WIN VI AliN va
commenced. Along the line Of bluffs fo
e their entire length the dens of the wolvC
had been marked, and some of ther
= barricaded with stones to prevent the e'
d cape of the occupants, From the fou
y point of redezvous along the valley tn
hunters moved against the cliffs. Fire
! were built at the entrance of the cave
Green bushes and sulphur were throw
! in the flames to make a smoke Disagree
BILE enough TO the wolves to force theI
from their hiding places. A Gordon {
men and boys, armed with shotgun
, rifles and revolvers, formed around IL
! cave. When the blinded and bewildere
= coyotes and wolves broke into vie
= through the smoke and flames they fe
easy victims to the volley of bullets whiC
I greeted them When fire failed 10 brin
y out the wolves, charges of dynamite an
, giant powder were exploded in the cav
4 aud the entire front of the cliffs, blow
, down, burying the animals in the ruin
: All afternoon the work of eXteruunatiC
= went on, and was only brought 10
close by nightfall. Several hundr'
coyotes and gray wolves were Kill,
along the entire line. Many predictt
q accidents from the handling of so maj
'' firearms, and most of the townspeou