The herald., 1893-08-14
AN ELK STORY.
Result of Shot Sent at Random Into =
Herd.

Result of Shot Sent at Random Into .
| Herd.
ut was on the Western slope OF the
Snowies, not far from the present town
of Copperopolis, that the writer saw fol
the frat time q large hand Of elk, and
| experienced the pleasure and pride OF
seeing the first one fall before bis rife.
| was a member Of military expedi-
tion which started from Helena, Mont,
late in October, 1882, our objective
point being Fort Meginnis, near the
entrance OF the valley known as the
Judith basin, and about 200 miles from
Helena. We saw no game of conss-
quence until after psssin- White
Sulphur Springs, 80 miles out.
Leaving that place, we entered a
country of high, bare hills, covered with
abundant grass and having dense
growth of underbrush along the little
creeks, which flowed through the ravinss
which separated them. We had been
told at White Sulphur that we should
find plenty of game along our route, but
this prediction did not prove true the
first day, for. though we travelled about
70 miles OF the country, we saw nothing
but few stray antelope and deer,
which, from their exceeding shyness,
must have been hunted very recently. l
was greatly disappointed, for L had
heard from old hunters that this partic-
ular bit of country probably contained
more elk than any other section for
hundreds of miles.
"rhat night we camped near the sum-
NIT of little divide not far from the
cabin OF a miner who was engaged in
sinking shaft into the hill in search of
copper. He, like most western miners,
had very expansive notions as TO the
future of his claim, and gave the place
the name of Copperopolis, and 30 1t 10
set down upon the map. But his glow
ing recital Of the superlative richness of
his mine and generally brilliant pros
poets for himself and his property had
only passing interest to us, until he
incidentally remarked that he had seen
that morning large herd of elk cover
ing the next hill. mile distant.
1t was too late then to take any action
upon this information, but il was at
once agreed between myself and ono of
the officers OF the detachment that We
should investigate the matter in the
morning as soon as there was sufficient
light.
1--WE were awakened by one of the
guards at 5 o'clock, arranged that we
should pursue nearly parallel tracks; he
to take the left of the range of hills that
bore away to the west of us. and to the
right. The morning was chilly and the
hills covered with dense fog, or mist,
which extended from these summite
half way to the valley below. The path
was very rough and was intersected at
frequent intervals by deep rsvines be-
tween the hills. 1t was thought that
these ravines would be the most likely
place for game, since each of them con
tanned small water course, and the
grasses and brush upon which the elk
feed grew there in greater luxuriance
tnan upon the hills.
l had gone perhaps two miles, and,
though signs were abundant, saw no
living thing. had given up hopes of
success for that morning at least. and
turned into one of the ravines men,
toned for the purpose of joining my
companion on the other side of the
hills. Owing to the dense fog, which
prevented me from seeing more than
20 Yards in any direction, was COM
PEELED to proceed very slo WY. had
gone, perhaps, half way through when
my attention was arrested by . sudden
snort, and a second alter, from the
noise. it would saem Is though 1
was in the midst of charging regi-
ment of cavalry. The shaaowy forms
which arose apparently from the
torted in twice their actual size by being
directly into large herd of elk.
ho6 a hod <e ha
"buck fever" but quickly recovering,
raised my rife and fred-f must con-
fess at random, for there was no time
for sighting-into the mass of animals,
as they were tearing at full speed over
the hills. 1 could hardly have missed
if tried, but did not anticipate my
good luck in seeing one of them fall
and remain upod the ground behind
his fleeing companions. He was shot
through both shoulders and was help.
less, though he made vicious lunges at
me with his antlefs as I approached
him. A second bulkst soon dispatched
him and secured to me the grandest
prize of all my hunting experiences. 1t
was large bull, and His antlers. though
not by any means the largest, were by
far the most symmetrical ever saw. I
secured them and the head, and still
preserve them as memeiltoes of the ad-
venture.
My companion heard the shot. and
though the herd came close to him, he
could not make them out on account of
the fog. We soon reached camp, and a
detachment brought in the elk just in
time for the members of our party to
enjoy some of it's steaks for breakfast.
Il [Sportsman's Review.