The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-08-12
PURSUIT OF BIG GAME.
suOOTiSG Elk IN 1HE 0hBA1
NORTH VEST REGION.
Interesting Account of N Hunting Tip
into the Bitter Root Country.-A
Party of Three Veterans.


that a party OF three, consisting Of Henry
Keller. Max Werner and the writer, all
| veteran sportsmen, left Los Angeles Tor
a hunting trip I'm the northwestern couh-
try wnicn IL was estimated would occupy
! something more than TWO monfnh. II
| ia a long journey from Los Angeles 70
| Montana, even as journeys go IN TINS
great country. by the most direct route
. that can be taken, and without allowing
for any delays, sc viii take five days 10
make the trip from Los Angeles 10 Mis-
soula. For the information OF any VINO
may be contemplating similar trip IL
may be mentioned that the total cost
Of our expedition was about N,ZD. Inc
route Is through Northern California,
Oregon. and Washington. Missoula Is
usually selected as the starting and out
fitting point tor expeditions INTO ihis
region. Here horses and experienced
guides can be had.
Arrived at MissOula, the next thinS
was 90 secure complete oulnt, also
guide and assistants. Upon the care
which is exercised In looking after such
preliminaries depends not only the sue.
cess Of a trip into these mountains, but
also frequently the lives Of those VINO
compose the expedition.
A guide who was known 10 the writer
as thoroughly responsible and expert
( euced man had been secured IN advance.
! Besides the guide we engaged q COOK,
/ a hOstler, and three hunters. We also
( purchased sixteen Indian ponies, ten for
| packing and six for riding. Mules would
be better than ponies for this purpose,
Bui mule is worm tlD IN tDdl region
/ while Indian ponies can be purchased Tor
| SO q piece, and, as several animals are
/ frequently lost during such an expedition
! by railing over preclpice or otherwise,
! the difference In cost cuts quite q hgure.
| Having previously made trip through
| this same country, when came very near
! suffering for lack Of provisions. l was
! determined that We should have sufficient
| 10 eat during this. trip The following
/ Is list of what We "tOted' with Us.
! Three hundred and fifty pounds hour, ~
! pounds rolled oats, Is cans condensed
/ milk. 80 pounds sugar, lS pounds cOiiee,
pounds tea, 10 pounds salt, y pounds
! rice, ~ pounds potatoes, 80 pounds SAT-
| pork. 80 pounds dried fruit, and Il few
cans of syrup We took along two tents.
! and the guide had with him what is
known as an arctic sleeping bag, which Is
most valuable contribution on such a
trip. 1t consists OF long canvas bag,
shaped something Ike the human body,
lined inside with sheepskin. The rest
Of us used heavy blankets. Last, but not
least, | took with me camera, being,
believe, the frst who has packed sucn
an instrument through this dinicult cOun-
Try, where a man without any imptdi-
menta frequently has all he can do TO
keep upon his legs.
Thus equipped our party. which made
quite cavalcade, filed out OF MlssOula
on August =. 1850. attracting considerable
attention from the residents
Among the game which Is found in these
mountains Is deer, mule or black tan
several kinds OF bear, including grizzly,
mountain ll'lH, anu ltIlil'i1s lr 'illtA
attraction 10 sportsmen, however, IS the
presence In this section Of that nODlest
OF all North American animals, the elk
of which this Is the last resting place
iu the United states 1t Is evident that
not many years VIII elapse before the
elk viii be numbered with the buffalo
among animals which have become e1-
ruct in this country. Inc elk in TINS
region run about 800 pounds IN weight
On tht average, for bulls. One which We
killed was estimated 10 weigh l,2H pounds.
They present striking appearance as
they break their way through the undef-
brush, with head erect, surmounted 10y
magnificent aBtlers, and IL really seems a
shame 10 Kill such fine animaIs some
times a big bun Will have twenty or thirty
COWS in his harem. At such times nothing
can drive him away OF scare him. lie
would attack a tiger without any hest
tatiOn. The animal Is then easily ap-
preached. one OF our men walked right
ip 10 a big elk on one occasion. Many
of them, never having seen man, have
no fear of human beings. They seek the
most remote sections ana soon abandon
q country when civilization beSins 70
come in. although heavy storms Occos-
iOnally drive them down toward the set
Elements.
We camped the first night at Lo To
Greek Canon, and here we learned that
d. is no joke 10 20 into camp. The next
day we followed the Creek 10 10 10 Hot
Springs, where We camped. The nara
work begins after leaving 10 L. springs,
where We said gOCd-by 10 civilization,
which we llu NOT see again Tor HtallN
TWO months. We Travelled hard All day
up one steep mountain after another ana
struck camp on the summit OF the Butter
Root range AZ an altitude OF 500 feet,
on the cage OF q beautiful prairie. Next
DAY our journey took AS in Is zgZdS dl-
rectiOn down the mountain ana across
the middle fork Of tine Clearwater River
when fully deserves It's name. II l.
very swift stream. once on the othei
side, the climbing commenced again, I'M
III We had reached an elevation OF 300
feet IL is diuicult % ind one way
through these mountains, even IN the
best OF weather. and with good guide
When possible the best plan Is 10 fol-
low the backbone Of mountain range,
bat this is often impracticdDie when one
is following game.
We had gone into camp y6ar small
lake, where there was TlCh grass, al an
elevation OF probably 500 feet above the
sea. ia the timber near tAe lake were
Il number of park-llke openings. We saw
numerous signs Of elk, and ! eOL up at
daybreak To hunt felt thrll OF OK
element and pleasure as i discovered a
fresh elk trail leading up the mountain
side before me, ana with bdted breath
and stealthy tread ! proceeded 10 foi-
low IT.. my heavy, rubber Oied shoes
dcadeuing the cracke Of tine dead leaves
and tWiss of the underbrusn, making
my progress as nOiseleSs as the silence
around me. suddenly / stopped, breath
less. and my hand sought nay gun, for
through the vista OF scattering pines, not
more than 20 yards away ] saw Inc
massive Heck ana llIt lAJtStlt itdI va
All elk, with Its spreading autlers, inc
great monarch of these Rocky MountaiE
sOlitudes. The great eyes were turned
toward me, and as ne lay IL his bed the
magnificent neck and head seemed TO (
rise from a mass Of brush and leaves. the
body from the shoulders back being
hidden from my sight. Quick as hash
my gun was AZ my shoulder with the
intention OF aiming straight at his proud
head. but when | drew back there sWuns
between me and my point Of aim spray |
OF leaves SO ! lowered for hts neck ana
fred. | threw IN another shell, and then,
and found him stone dead, the bail having
passed entirely through his neck
After that We got more elk. our bag /
for the entire trip was composed OF eleven |
me elk as we'll as d panther, wolf, two !
Rocky Mountain goats, and some smaller /
game. This was very cncOura gins as |
some parties 90 into these mountains |
md get nothing At all except some nsh !
We did not attempt to Kill any cows |
and. I'm fact, avoided indiscriDInate or |
useless slaughter.
After six weeks of further tramplng |
and camping in these Wilds We worked |
our way around ami reached civilization |
again AT the railroad town Of Hamilton !
way south OF our starting place. During |
the trip We covered distance OF perhaps |
go miles an average OF q little over |
four miles a day, which is considered /
pretty good for that country. Much !
time is lost in repacking the animals. |
as the rOapS viii occasionally stretch |
when the bags slip, and If the party hap !
pens 10 be going down a steep grade as |
the time this may result, as # once did |