The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-03-17
TRACKING A CARIBOU.
Enow-Shoeing and Crawling to
Get at the Big Game.
Exciting Chase of a Determined Hunter
After Big BulI--Twenty-TwoM Miles
Over Snow and Through Brush
old Joe's Triumph.

y
what still-hunting elk and caribou
means when the animals have enjoyed
the doubtful advantage of slight ac-
quaintance with mans murderous
methods
Now, first. as to the caribou-a keen
nosed, shy, fastrtrotting, 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 CONT
nent The woodland variety is found
III 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 more 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-
tions of Manitoba. In British Column
bia they abound among the mountains,
and not infrequently great herds are
seen defling from some canyon or NOV
ing down some mountain side in Indian
file, and looking at a distance like a
pack train.
The best caribou-shooting may be
had in Newfoundland and British
Columbia, but Que bec and North On
tario yet offer rare good sport to those
who like roughing it,
During the winter of 80, says E. w.
Sandys in Outing, | was temporarily
located at point on the magnificent
north shore of Lake Super ior my com
panion being half-breed hunter who
bore resonant Indian title too long
for insertion in these pages. When he
wanted to travel light he bore the name
of 30" 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, musl1egs and beaver
meadows. Vast portions are densely
forested, and others carry only ghostly,
scattered "rampilIes," showing where
fires have swept Our headquarters
were the log camp referred to, but we
had temporary camp at the end of a
line of traps some ten miles inland,
near the head of a 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, a heavy fall of snow re-
dressed the hard-featured landscape,
and 10 and I fell to discussing the
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 could
count a band of animals farther than /
could see them. Presently he grunted
softly and exclaimed:
''Dar UNI car bool' and pointed west
ward. | looked long and earnestly,
and at last made out distant object
moving slowly over the snowy barren.
Getting the glass, ] focused on it and
discovered that it was indeed a carl
bou-a lone bull evidently-as no more
could be found.
After hurriedly feeding, we stuffed
our pockets with bread and meat, felt
that matches, pipes and "baccy" were
in their places, douned our snowshoes
and started in the direction of our van
ished game. ''Car'boo all right; feed
day on moss. Bymeby find UNI more
car boo," said Jo,and l guessed that he
liked the prospect.
1t was cold, gray day, sharp
breeze blew directly across the barren,
and now and then few snowflalles
sifted down, limiting of another down
fall, though there was already more
snow than we wanted. But there was
little danger of anything serious, and
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 in
sight
10 decided that he would work across
the barren in case the game had
doubled on it's course, and leave L4e 10
follow the track. ME go cross look
long um tree. You run track, byme by
mebbe you find um carboo," and he
waved his hand, indicating that he
would cross and then scout along the
woods on the farther side.
moved ahead rapidly, while 10 was
in the open, being anxious to get fan
enough in advance of him to forestal
all possibility of his wind reaching the
game before l got within range hac
followed the track until it was nearly
noon, keeping a sharp lookout ahead
before | caught glimpse of the bull
browsing quietly near the edge of the
woods. A long look through the glass
told me that he was a magnifcen
specimen, bearing particularly fint
set of antlers, and that he was feeding
raor. .ox-ar tvbia11 0rorniSad pOunOara