Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-12-23
HUNTERS DELIGHT.
FAMOUS HUNTING GROUNDS WEST
OF THE BIG MUDDY.

Rare Sport for the Adventurous in the
Coteau Hills and the Bad Lands-Featii-
cred and Hairy Game Galore-Hcw De
lIores Killed the Eear.
The most accessible and attractive hunt
ing grounds in the United States are the
famous Coteaus and Bad Lands. Duck and
prairie chickens are found in the greatest
numbers on the outer edge of civilization,
where they can feed il comparative secur-
ity in the wheat fields.
The Coteaus are range of hills, or rather
q region of hills, occupying a strip OF coun-
try as large as the state of Massachusetts,,
on the east side of the Missouri river. The
settlement there is scant. owing to the
billy nature Of the territory. There are in
Vulnerable small lakes and meadows and
patches of timber. It is a safe feeding
ground for deer and the most desirable
kind Of resting place for duck and geese.
The big wheat fields of Dickey, La Moure,
Kidder and Wells counties extend to the
foot of the Coteaus and afford convenient
food for the myriads of prairie chickens
which fatten there.
When the Coteaus are first entered a
scene of desolation forces itself upon the
vision, but this is soon relieved ly mag
nifcent perspective Of water and landscape
The mountains are singularly abrupt Val
leys which at the season are luxuriant
with vegetation and fragrant with bloom
ing flowers wind among the hills Lovely
fresh water, with surface smooth as glass,
shimmers in the sunlight. Myri2ds of birds
awaken the echoes with mefodious war
rf Ii Ie. Sc 81
most constantly in sight. The hunter can
travel for miles without detecting the first
sign of civilization. The name Coteau, or
Coteaux, means the hills of the Dakotas
or Of the Sioux (Cutthroat) Indians.
Deer, antelope, coyotes badgers and
foxes disport by the waters of those noun
tain lakes and offer excellent sport to MIN
rods who seek for it in that direction
There are still a great many beaver on the
creeks which flow from the hills into the
Missouri or the James. This is the prairie
chicken season and hunting parties are
thick along the foot Of the hills. There is
simply no limit to the game and the fun.
After a month of duck and chicken shoot
ing the sportsmen begin deer stalking in
the Coteaus. There are no swamps or
marshes to make travel wearisome and
slow. There is no timber to beguile and
retard the hunter. A person gets over the
hills and hard prairie at a rapid pace, and
the opportunity to come upon the deer
feeding in the big meadows is excellent.
In the Missouri bottoms north of Bis
marck there is big game, and the hunting
there is carried on successfully in the win
ter months. There is less chance of getting
lost along the Missouri than in the Coteaus
and Bad Lands. The river country is tim
bered, and on that account is made the
winter quarters of large game. While the
stalking is comparatively safe, it is hard
work in that region, and is not followed to
any great extent by visiting sportsmen
after the stormy season comes on. Farm
ers living along the Missouri get a good
many deer every winter, but hunters can
do better along in October and November.
Rattlesnakes are thick in the river bot
toms during the warm weather, but after
the sharp frosts of October have set in they
are seldom seen and do little harm. A
great advantage to sportsmen anywhere
east of the Missouri is that there are no
rattlesnakes. Farmers and old frontiers
men do well in the Missouri country dur
ing the winter, sometimes making big
money out of deer, but tenderfeet will be
more comfortable out of there after the LIST
OF December.
One of the most interesting places on
earth, as we'll as fine hunting ground for
large game, is the Bad Lands. For wild
and weird scenery, for curious formations
and for opportunities to get lost the Bad
Lands beat the world. 1t is Incompatible
SO far as the northern frontier is concerned
20
buffalo, but more bear Dear are common.
There are some mountain sheep, an occa-
sional wildcat, any number of wolves and
variety of feathered game. There are
the widest kinds of canyons to traverse
and the steepest kind of hills to climb. No
man can pass a week in the Bad Lands
without having adventures to relate.
Hunting in that region is rough and wild
enough to satisfy the most romantic turn
Of mind. If fellow wants to test his
nerve he can tackle a cinnamon bear or a
panther. 1t is G fact that the Marquis de
Mores killed cinnamon there single hand
ed and alone, after lying out all night to
find the brute. The marquis used only a
hunting knife, but gun that will throw
an ounce bullet three-quarters of mile is
much safer. AS a nerve tester, however,
De Mores took the proper course.
A hunting party going to the Bad Lands
needs to leave the railroad at Medora or
Glendive, and drive or tramp twenty or
thirty miles. Then they will get clear of
the cattle ranches and find good sport. De-
cember hunting tours for deer are becom-
ing popular A little snow is an advan-
tage, and it is seldom as deep in that sec
ton as it is east of the Missouri, or any
where in the Missouri bottoms.
Wisconsin and Minnesota hunters who
are accustomed to spending week or tive
with an expensive outfit in shooting half a
dozen or a dozen mallards may think they
are having fun, but they do not know what
sport is. Duck are slaughtered by the
hundred in this country. Sun.