Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-03-23
TRACKING A CARIBOU.
Snow-Shoeing and Crawling to
Get at the Big Game.
Esciting Chase of n Determined Hunter
AFTER Big Buli-Twenty-Two Miles
over Snow and Through Brush
old Joe's Triumph.


A glance over sportsman's expert
euce will perhaps convey an idea Of
what still-hunting elk and caribou
means when the animals have enjoyed
the doubtful advantage Of a slight ac-
quaintance with mans murderous
methods
Now, first, as TO the caribou-a keen
nosed, shy, fast-trotting, sturdy fellow,
and right worthy game for any mans
rifle. Two varieties of this species
the woodland and the barren ground
caribou-inhabit the American conti-
nent The woodland variety is found
In Maine and certain extreme northern
portions of the United States, notably
about the headwaters of the Missis-
sippi river and in the extreme north of
Idaho. The barren ground caribou
does not generally range so far south
as the international boundary. In
Canada caribou are much moro widely
distributed. They are plentiful in
Newfoundland, scarce in Nova Scotia,
more numerous In New Brunswick,
abundant in Quebec and Labrador, and
fair numbers of them haunt the wilds
of northern Ontario ESPECIALLY the
north shore OF Lake Superior) and por-
tons of Manitoba. In British Colum-
bia they abound among the mountains,
and not infrequently great herds are
seen defiling from some canyon or NOV
| ing down some mountain side in Indian
file, and looking at a distance like
pack train
The best misunderstanding may be
had in Newfoundland and British
Columbia, but Quebec and North On
tario yet offer rare good sport to those
who like roughing it.
During the winter of 80, says Il. w.
Sandys in Outing, was temporarily
located at point on the magnificent
north shore of Lake Super Tor, my COM
panion being half-brecd hunter who
bore u resonant Indian title too long
for insertion in these pages. When he
wanted to travel light he bore the name
of "Jo," which will answer for the
present. 1t was cold up there in the
icy breath of the Great Inland sea, but
we were snug enough in an old rail-
way construction log camp and had
fairly good sport with grouse, filling up
time attending to JOS lines of traps.
between Superior and the 'height of
land" is perfect network of lakes and
streams, large and small; the country
is very rough and rocky, varied with
great barrens, muslegs and beaver
meadows. Vast portions are densely
forestcd, and others carry only ghostly,
scattered "rampikes," showing where
fires have swept Our headquarters
were the log camp referred to, but we
had Il temporary camp at the end OF a
line of traps some ten miles inland,
near the head of chain of small lakes,
famous in the annals Of the fur trade.
from it westward extended an i'm
mense barren for mile after mile,
bounded by gray-blue wall Of forest
One night, while We were at the lit
tie camp, II heavy fall of snow re
dressed the hard-featured landscape
and 10 and fell to discussing tn,
chance for caribou. About daylight
we turned out, and 10 stood for few
moments reading the sky and sweep
ing the barren with those marvellous
aboriginal eyes of his, which coult
count band of animals farther than
could see them. Presently he grunteC
softly and exclaimed:
"Dar um cur'boo!' and pointed west
ward. | looked long and earnestly
and at last made out distant objec
moving slowly over the snowy barren
Getting the glass, / focused on IL anC
discovered that 1t was indeed a carl
bou--a lone built evidently-as no more
could be found.
After hurriedly feeding, we stuffed
our pockets with bread and meat, fel
that matches, pipes and "baccy" wer,
In their places, donned our snowshoe
and started in the direction of our van
ished game. ''Car'boo all right; fec
day on moss. Bymeby find UNI NOR,
car'boo," said 10, and guessed that h
liked the prospect
1t was a cold, gray day, a sharl
breeze blew directly across the barren
and now and then n few snowflake
sifted down, limiting Of another down
fall, though there was already NOR
snow than we wanted. But there wa
little danger of anything serious, AM
we didn't trouble about the weather
After tramping for about three miles
10 discovered the tracks of the carl
bou, but the beast itself was not Il
, sight
10 decided that he would work acros
the barren in case the game ha
doubled on its course, and leave me I
follow the track. ME go cross, loo
long um tree. You run track, bymeb
mebbe you find UNI car'boo," aud h
waved his hand, indicating that h
would cross and then scout along tn
woods on the farther side.
moved ahead rapidly, while 10 wa
In the open, being anxious TO get IA
enough in advance of him to foresta
all possibility of his wind reaching tn
game before got within range. | ha
followed the track until IT was nearl
noon, keeping a sharp lookout ahea'
before ! caught a glimpse of the bu
browsing quietly near the edge Of th
Z woods. A long look through the glai
3, told me that he was magnihcer
4 specimen, bearing a particularly fin
] set Of antlers, and that he was feedin
@ near cover which promised compari
7 lively easy approach within certai
2 range. To obtain this splendid troph
Z was my firm resolve, II patient, skill
Z full Creeping" counted for anything
/ Working carefully well to leeward Il
N shelter of the dense timber was at la
/ safely gained at point some half mi
from the game. had already put in