The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-13
MONTANA DEER HUNTING,
When the Vast Game Preserves
We're Not Troubled by
White Men.
The Adventure of Lieut.. Fremont,
Stationed at Fort MisSoula
in 1879.
Invents a New Toboggan-Snow ,Sheeing
in the Hills-How Army Men Kin
Time and Deer.
| Written for THE HELENA INDEPENDENT

Written for The HELENA INDEPENDENT
In 1879 the country in the northwestern
part Of Montana was practically a wilder
ness. Fort Misgoula. on the western slope
of the Rocky mountains. was the last out
post in this direction, and between it and
Lake Occur d'Alene there were vast game
preserves untroubled by white men.
Ny regiment was stationed at Fort Mis-
soula, and in company with one of the
officers, an ardent and accomplished sports
man, / spent most of my time in tbs noun
taing.
The winter hunting was always best after
a fresh fall of NOW The old trails made
By the animals were partly filled up and
The new traila could be followed easily.
Still, this advantage was about balanced
by the absence of foliage. and the conse-
qusnt great distance at which the hunter
became visible; also the glistening white
surface of the snow lit up the recesses of
tbs thickest woods, and We had to take the
utmost care to avoid being discovered by
the game. Then, too, when thaw and
frost slternated the snow-crust became
thick and the sound made by walking
through could be heard long distances.
'feA "ith Shc"shccs LAtS C6uSeu the lOSS
of many a promiaing chance to get within
shot of gamo we had followed for tours,
and sometimes it sent us to bod supporloss.
Ihe hunting ground decided on, our first
care was to find a secure spot to pitch tho
tent. The thermometer often fell to forty
degrees and fifty degrees below zero. and a
sheltered place. near wood and water. a
e%cssslty. The very best shelter w,s i,
thickets of Photographer pines, 40 called
because tho Indians use them AZ nolan f,r
their 'lodpes or tents they grow &c slo5a
together that it is often impossible Ia
squeeze between them. Growing tall and
free from branches, and only two or thrse
inches IN diameter, a sufficient space cou,a
be easily cleared. Our beds were made of
the fragrant ends of pins and tamarnck
hongha, covered with buffalo robes and
blankets. Then the Sibley stove lighted.
We could defy wind and weather.
Az soon as it was light in the morning MO
cooked our breakfast and were of.
Our hunting suits consisted of heavy
underwear, prairie broadcloth'' (canyasI
coat and trousers, moccasins or rubber
boots under which vera worn several nair.
of stockings, u flannel shirt and n cIoes'
fitting Gap that could be pulled down over
most OF the head in case OF Il blizzard. But
such was the violent e~xertion of these
mountain climbs the cap was never worn
unless We had to face a storm; it was
habltuaily carried slnng to the belt and an
ordinary white handkerchief was tied
around the head. Our appearance with
tins hendgear, and our faces well blackened
around the eyes with charcoal to lessen the
erect OF the light and prevent snowblind-
ness was anything but prepossesslng, but
the comfort was unsr eakublc.
noon inter leaving camp the coats would
follow the caps and be slung to the belts