The Bottineau pioneer., 1893-04-22
CARIBOU HUNTING.


AAe IAAc Tree StAte "AUerhcsS.
I was on hunting trip with Jules
Tristan in the Eagle lake region, says
writer in the Lewiston Journal The
third day out we had struck the track
of caribou, sighted it once or twice,
but never came near enough to get Il
shot, though for eighteen hours we
tramped and plowed our way through
the thick wood and treacherous under
growth in the animals rear. TO atone
for this the Narraguagus hunter pro-
posed that we snare one. Go ahead,
I said, for though a trifle incredulous
having never trapped anything larger
than a rabbi; myself, if it could be
done, l certainly wished to see it. Our
camp was pitched on the shores Of a
small pond. The country around us
was thickly timbered. A couple OF
miles to the north Jules had noticed a
caribou run, leading in from the hills
to the water, and it was along this
| pathway winding in and out among the
trees like {; clearly defined cowpath
that he proposed to put this plan into
operation. BY way Of appliances Jules
carried an AK and a coil of stout wire,
and, selecting a spot where the trees
were thickest and most regular, he was
sc on at work. His scheme was simple
and looked effective. 1t was to erect a
barrier directly across the run, leaving
an opening in it about four feet from
the ground. and adjust moose, fasten-
ed to sapling in such manner that a
caribou, in attempting to force his way
through, would get hung up like
jack rabbit The barrier was built Of
branches, freshly cut, woven in and out
fO <riN toO nf n Ia
hedge, but yet stout enough to offer
C nsiderable resistance to an animll
attempting to pass it, The hole left in
it was about in the center and was
large enough for caribou, stopping, to
get its antlers through. The moose was
the siZeH of the opening, cunningly con-,
c. aled from view, and the young tree
to which it was attached stood some
twelve feet back like some tail excel
ii. ner, tough and strong, but with
plenty of sIring and give.
Two hours was my friend Jules In
constructing the extempOrc gallows.
Then turning to me he offered to bet
that inside of three days it would have
all occupant. Partly from devilment,
partly from doubt, l took him up, as
the saying is, and a new hat hung on
the hanging of that caribou. On the
way back Jules explained that the eff
cheney of the trap rested on the fact
that animals of the horned species,
once accustomed to run. will not
likely be TUNED out Of it, but they will
try to effect passage through any
thing in their way, and the hole, look
ing to be the weakest point, 1t is into
this they stick their necks first. Then
there is a DuShin4 forward q hauling
backward, a believing noise, wild
struggle for about five minutes, during
which the sapling bends and the wire
tightens, and the deed is done. EARLY
the next morning we were both on
hand, as the guide said, to pick up the
pieces, but to my surprise and disgust,
the hedge was broken and the wire
and moose gone. The animal, caribou
to certainty, had been caught around
the antlers instead of around the neck,
and with desperate jerk, had freed
himself This Jules informed me, had
never happened to him before, and it
was with more than usual care that he
repaired the trap and readjusted it for
the second attempt The following day
found it untouched, but 4on the third
day noise and movement among the
trees told us, as we approached, that the
moose had done its work and the cap
tive awaited us. Nor were we mis-
taken, for, sure enough, there swung
a bull caribou, a beauty-48O he weigh
ed-pulling for all he was worth, and
choking to death as the wire tightened
and cut into his throat. A bullet from
my rifle put the animal out Of his mis-
cry and Jules had won his bet.