Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1894-12-06
HUNTERS PARADISE.
MissouIa County, Montana,
Affords Game of the
Larger Kind.
Nimrods Now Getting Ready
tor the First Snow Brings
Rare Sport.

When the first white mantle of snow
falls gently upon the foothills the local
n:mrods lay aside their shotvuns and
take from the lesthern cases the long
range Wlnchesters. Each man Of them
knows that the opportunity has arrived
to aud fresh laurels to his hunting
record and each is anxious to bring as q
trophy of the chase the many pronged
antler of noble buck. Although the
law permits deer to be snot after Sept.
ID. it Is not until after the first snow
comes on the lower hills that the deer
hunting season properly commences. It
is then that tue deer leave their hiding
places in the high mountains and seek
their winter feeding grounds. At this
time the deer's antlers have matured.
He is ready to do battle with his rivals
and he displays much more jboldness in
his ram bles through the forest than in
the summer.
The hills surrounding Missoula may
generally be depended upon to yield
reward in the way of large game to the
experienced hunter. Moderately fair
sport can be found within few miles of
Missoula. a. A short distance up the Rat
tlesnake deer are frequently found, but
it the hunter wishes to find first-class
hunting few places offer better induce
ments than the St. Regis country. Each
season parties from Mlssoula invade that
section and Usually return we'll rewarded
for their trip. Reports from that por-
ton of the country are that deer are
plentiful there this season. A fine deer
| head we'll mounted is one of the most
! handsome presents that can be sent to
friend in the east. The st. Regis can
| be reached from Missoula in half days
journey. 1t is an ideal sportsman's para
disc. For both hunting and fishing 1t is
as good as any place accessible by rail and
eau be reached without long and tire
some Journey on horseback or by wagon.
1t seems to be favorite haunt for the
deer in the winter. Sometimes these
animals can be seen from the car window
gazing in mild.eyed wonder at the train
or racing with the engine along the
right of way. Occasionally elk are seen
but these animals are the first to fly
at the approach of civilization and for
the past few years they have been but
rarely found. Brown and cinnamon
bear are much more common. Every
fall several are killed, some OF them
quite close to Missoula. These animals
will soon, however, be in their holes
alternating for the winter and the
hunter who wishes to add bearskin to
skill must not delay.
The mountain goat and mountain
sheep are also still to be found in Mis-.
soula county, but their haunts are among
the highest peaks of the Bitter Root
range. They seldom come down on the
lower hills. The hunter who desires to
fatigue and be prepared to sacrifice con-
siderable personal comfort to secure the
prize Far up on the tops of the highest
the winter, feeding on the edges Of high
and inaccessible cliffs. Their pursuit is
accompanied with considerable danger.
Four wears ago hunter on the Bitter
Root mountains met with fearful acci-
dent which nearly cost him his life. He
had killed two mountain goats and in
attempting to get on top OF the high cliff
where the dead animals lay he lost his
footing and fell. His leg was broken by
the fall. When found by searching
party 26 hours afterward he was slowly
dragging himself toward the valley. He
was thoroughly exhausted and could
have lasted but short time longer.
The hunting Of the mountain goat can
be done with reasonable chances OF sue
cess only by the experienced mountain
eer. The flesh OF the animal is not re-
garded as much OF a dalicacy. The pe]t,
especially OF one killed in the winter
when the hair is snow white is highly
priced, and if properly taken off with the
head and horns intact, makes magniti-
cent ornament when mounted. The
mountain sheep or big horn is almost rs
difficult to get as the goat, and Is very
seldom seen. The highest and most ln-
accessible mountains are his home. His
flesh is more palatable than than that Of
the goat and resembles venison to some
extent.
Mountain lions are quite frequently
killed around Missoula and are some.
times caught in traps set for bear and
wolves. He is sometimes rather An ugly
customer when wounded but when un-
hurt is generally anxious to keep ont of
the way of any human being who may
happen to run across him in the woods.
Each season several OF them are killed
in this vicinity.