The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-11-05

not considering the smallbutt points, The settlers thereabout are all enthu- siastic hunters. but are not so numerous as to make any impression on the game, and despite the Flutes the deer are yet plentiful enough to satisfy the most enthusiastic hunter. Besides deer the high mountains abound with antelope and some mountain sheep, which furnish exciting sport to those who are ener- getic enough to seek them out in their mountain fastnesses. During tho fall they retreat with the cold weather down sheltered spots, and when winter comes on they are found In the canons ad- Jacent to the inhabited valleys, where they may be hunted with comparative ease.
 Those deslrous of first class sport at this season of the year should visit the more distant mountains The resi- dents of this country have become ac- customed to making annual excursions to some such chosen ground, usually theJuniper mountains in southern Idaho or the Steins mountains in southeastern Oregon, where several weeks are spent in one big hunt. Nor Is the trip en- tirely for pleasure. A supply of venison is secured, which, in that climate at this season of the year. will keep for month or six weeks, and, improving with age, becomes @. delicate morsel for the palate. All that cannot be used fresh Is packed for winter, the hams being smoked or put down in salt and the balance jerked. "Jerky," when properly cooked, with flour gravy makes & fine table dish. The hides are tanned, usually by Indians, and are carefully utilized for gloves and moccasins. The latter are favorite footwear, even among the whites, and are always worn on their hunting trips. As they make no noise, they are of important advantage in deer hunting.. Besides, they are warm, easy on thsfeet, and, with their rawhide soles. very strong.
 It would be difficult to find a more perfect hunting ground than the Junip- CT mountains. Their elevated surfaces include many broad plateaus made up of gradual. rolling hills, which may be tramped over with almost as little fa- tigue as the level ground, and, as all parts are equally KSutted by the deer, one can walk in almost any direction and find excellent shooting. Follow ing along the low ridges and hunting out the numerous little canons, the hunter is enabled to choose every ad- vantage of wind and ground. Those swell-like hills are covered with small juniper trees. species of cedar. which shelter the deer in summer and furnish their food when grass becomes scarce.
 The mountainstfdfn northern Nevada are made up of many short mountain chains running parallel in a. northerly and southerly direction. Between these lofty ridges nestle valleys of considera- ble size. which are usually traversed by small rivers fed .byy numerous moun- tain streams of clear, cold water. Like most of the riyerS fofl Nevada, these rivers sink befdrN Araveling any con- siderable distance, and therby nourfsh the extensive meadows of red-top and rye grass, which are the standby of the great cattle country. In these mea- dows immense flocks of ducks find their spring and summer home, making their nests along the many little sloughs. Being little disturbed, they become quite tame. It Is 8 noticeable fact that no drakes are to be found here after the opening summer months. They appear to desert the country thus early, leaving the ducks to care for and bring up their young. By this time the young are fully grown and are fine eating.
 On the borders of the meadows and on the high plateaus above, are found sage hens and prairie chickens. The former are as large as tame chickens, while the latter are smaller and more like our mountain quail. Either blrd is equal to the choicest domestic fowl for the table. During the warm months of the year they find their way back to the plateaus of the neighboring moun- tains, where the gather in flocks, and when scattered about in the sage brush and grass are hunted out with dog as one would hunt quail. Being nearly the color of sage brush 1t Is almost im- possible to locate them on the ground, 1Au IACy WILL llOL SIAL uAlll IdlSCu Uy d dog.
 Badgers, lynx marten and beavers in- habit these mountains in considerable numbers. During winter, when the snow is on the ground and the fur is at its best, they are trapped, the belts being tanned for robes and coats or shipped to the Chicago furriers. Trap ping furnishes and interesting winter and is a source of profit as we'll as pleasure to the skilful trapper. lynx hunt with hounds ts one of the ] most exciting of sports and meets with favor among theladies. Sev- eral packs of well-bred hounds are kept by, individual settlers for the special purposes of the chase. |