Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-22

Hsaiiag ihs Flssl Fss(sd AAisssps orr ~
or0ad Plains.

ABILENE, Kan. Jan. 2l.-The palmy day
Of the prairie sportsman arc nearly ended
throughout the west-indeed in mos sec-
tions they passed years ago. With the
opening Of one piece Of Indian land after
another and the settlement of Uncle Sans
farm" by the farmers of Kansas. Nebras-
ka and the Dakotas, extkrmjnation Is ap-
parently the coming fate Of some of the
best game of the plains. The prairie chicken
is noticeably scarce, Bob Whites" cheery
call is seldom heard, the buffalo is REM
iniscence, and even the feet footed antelope
is hard to find.
The time was when every white sheeted
campers wagon passed near to the pretty
creatures almost every mile of its trans
missouri journey. 1t was no uncommon
thing for the overland trains to halt near a
herd. as they did near a cowboys camp
ground sometimes, and enable the passen-
gers to get shot at the wondering animals.
Now it is only in southwestern Kansas
and the west half of the Indian Territory
that they can be found i any abundance.
So closely hare they been hunted that they
have been driven toward the foothills and
do not venture far from the recesses of
those regions, SO favorable to the conceal
ment Of game.
In view of the opening of the Cherokee
strip, many hunting parties have gone over
the ground during the past six months aft
er the game that there so generously
abounds, and none has had more enjoy
able trip or one fraught with better re-
ward than those which made antelope their
aim and came back with their horses car
rying great loads of venison. The expert
ence of one party is typical of all
One favorite method of hunting the ante
lope is akin to stalking" Finding some
adjacent ravine, the hunters creep carefully
up its bed until opposite the little herd
perhaps only n trio or quartet of slender,
mild eyed creatures, cropping daintily the
tender grass. Curiosity is their besetting
sin, as it is that Of their relatives, the deer
Slowly, crafty, an old hat goes up on
the end of dry sunfower stalk. With
quick eyes the antelope note the strange
appearance, and every head is lifted and
every eye strained Then seeing that there
is nothing to be afraid of they commence
stealthily. steadily. to approach, step by
step. With delicate mincing gait they
come, and the glistening barrels pointing
through clump of long slough grass have
plenty of time to come to perfect aim.
Nearer, nearer and still nearer the quarry
approaches until suddenly something star
ties the acut" senses.
The pretty animals stop and prepare to
retreat. Now is the time. Crack! bang!
Four barrels speak out almost in unison,
and the hunters rush forward to see two Of
the sleek coated victims gasping on the sod,
while the others are fleeing toward the far
horizon at a rate which promises to ami
hilate time and space. The guide looks at
their tracks and notes the blood spots on
the grass He shakes his head and persists
in following them up. Another. victim is
found two miles away, dying amid clump
of cottonwoods near q stream.
But the most fun is hunting antelope
with dogs. The land is SO level and the
opportunities for running SO good that an
ambitious canine is certain that nothing
Gun escape him. A jack rabbit takes sonic
CT the conceit out of him, and coyote may
make him ashamed of himself, but it is
with an antelope that the real test comes.
To follow the dogs successfully there
must, too, be feet saddle ponies, and the
1.-THE Mexican horses are best for the task.
With the huge saddles with immense backs
and pommels held on by two wide girths,
one is as safely and almost as easily located
on their backs as in the family rocking
chair.
Skirting the bluff of friendly ravine, at
length the guide gives the signal to CONF
out on the level prairie, and there a mile or
more away are the antelope. Slowly the
party rides toward them, waiting until
they shall take alarm before the start Is
made in earnest. All at once the creatures
take fright and prepare to decamp.
The dogs are loosed, spurs touch the
ponies tanks. and the sport begins in ear
nest The dogs do not do their best just It
first, but soon they warm to the work, aad
far though they are behind it is easy to ',ae
that they arc not losing ground