Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-03-02
TRACKING A CARIBOU.
Spow-Shoeing and Crawling to
Get at the Big Gamo.
Exciting Chase OF 81 Determined Hunter
AFher II Big 3uli-Twcnty-Twc Miles
Over Snow nud Through brush
Old Joc's Triumph.

A glance over Il sportsman's expert
encc will perhaps convey an idea of
what still-huutinr elk and caribou
means when the animals have enjoyed
the doubtful advantage of n slight ac
| quaintancc with mans murdcrous
| methods.
| Now, first. as to the caribou-a keen
noscd, shy, fast-trotting, sturdy fellow,
and right worthy game for any mans
rifle. Two varieties of this srcc' e.
the woodland and the barren ground.
| caribou-inhabit the American conti-
| ncnt. The woodland variety is found
| in Maine and certain extreme northern
| portions of the United States notably
about the hcadwatcrs of the Missis-
| sippi river and in the extreme north of
| Idaho. Tho barren ground caribou
! does not generally range so far south
| as the international boundary. In
| Canada caribou are much more widely
distri buted. They are plentiful in
| Newfoundland, scarce in Nova Scotia,
moro numerous in Now Brunswick,
abundant in Quebec and Labrador, and
| fair numbers of them haunt the wilds
of northern Ontario Especially the
north shore of Lake Supcrior) and pOr-
| tions of Manitoba. In British Column
bia they abound among the mountains,
and not infrcqucntly great herds are
seen dctilirfg from some canyon or NOV
ing down some mountain side in Indian
file, and looking at distance like Il
pack train.
| The best Notwithstanding 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 SO. says E. w.
Sandys in Outing, was temporarily
| located at 4 point on the magnificent
north shore of Lake Super ior, my COM
panion being n half-brccd hunter who
bore resonant Indian title too long
for insertion in these pages. Whom 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 "hcight of
land is n perfect network of lakes and
streams, large and small; the country
is very rough and rocky, varied with
great barrcns, musllcGs and beaver
meadows. Vast portions are denscly
forestcd, and others carry only ghostly,
scattered ''rampikeS," showing where
fires have swept. Our headquarters
ywerc the log camp referred to, but we
had temporary camp at the end of a
limo of traps some ten miles inland,
near the head of u chain of small lakes,
famous in the annals of the fur trade.
from it westward extended an i'm
mcnsc barren for mile after mile,
bounded by n gray-bluc wall of fCyest.
One night, while we were at the lit
tie camp, Il heavy fall of snow re-
dressed the manufactured landscape,
and 10 and l fell TO discussing the
chance for caribou. About daylight
we turned ont, and 10 stood for 4 few
moments reading the Sky and sweep
ing the barren with those marvellous
aboriginal eyes of his, which could
count n band of animals farther than
could see them. Presently he grunted
softly and exclaimed:
( "Dar UNI car'bco!' and pointed west
ward. l looked long an! earnestly,
and at last made out Il distant object
moving slowly over the snowy barren.
Getting the glass, l focused on it and
discovered that it was indeed q carl
bou-a lone bull cvidcntly-as no more
could be found.
After hurricdly feeding, We stuffed
our pockets with bread and meat, felt
that matches, pipes and "baccy' were
in their places, donncd our snOwshOcs
and started in the direction of our van
ishcd game 'Car'boo all right; feed
day on moss. Bymeby find UNI more
car boo," said Jo,and l guessed that lie
liked the prospect.
1t was n cold, gray day, n sharp
breeze blew directly across the barren,
and now and then few snowflal1cs
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 its course, and leave me &c
follow the track. me go cross, look
long UNI tree. You run track, bymeby
mebbe you find UNI car boo" and he
| "uNCO Ills 11uICIIIiS lIlSiG liz
would cross and then scout along thC
woods on the farther side.
moved ahead rapidly, while Jp wa:
in the open, being anxious to get fal
enough in advance of him to forestal
all possibility of his wind reaching tho
game before got within range. l hat
followed the track until it was nearly
noon, keeping q sharp lookout ahead
before caught glimpse of the bull
browsing quietly near the edge of the
woods A long look through the glas:
told me that he was magniticen
, specimen, bearing n particularly fine
set of antlers, and that he was feeding
near cover which promised n compare
lively easy approach within certain
, range. To obtain this splendid trophy
, was my firm resolve, if patient, skill
; full creeping" counted for anything
Working carefully we'll to lecward the