The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-10-25
where Game IS Plentiful
Some Famous Hunting Grounds Lie
West Of the Big Muddy.
HOW DE MORES KILLED BEAR
Rare Sport for the Adventurous Is to DE
Found in the Coteau Hills and tho
Bad Lands Feathered an
Hairy Game Galore.

Inc mOSU accessible ana aJtrdctlVe nunO
ing grounds in the United States are the
famous Coteaus and Bad Lands. Duck and
prairie chickens are found in the greatest
numbers on the outer edge of civilization,
where they can feed in comparative secur-
ity In the wheat fields.
The Coteaus are range of hills, or rather
a region of hills, occupying a strip of coun'
try as large as the state of Massachusetts,,
on the east side of the Missouri river. The
settlement there is scant, owing to the
hilly nature of the territory. There are in.
Vulnerable small lakes and meadows and
patches of timber. 1t is safe feeding
ground for deer and the most desirable
kind of resting place for duck and geese.
The big wheat fields Of Dickey, La Moure,
Kidder and Wells counties extend to the
foot Of the Coteaus and afford convenient
food for the myriads Of prairie chickens
which fatten there.
When the Coteaus are first entered
scene Of desolation forces itself upon the
vision, but this is soon relieved by mag
nificent perspective Of water and landscape
The mountains are singularly abrupt. Val
leys which at the season are luxuriant
with vegetation and fragrant with bloom
ing flowers wind among the hills. Lovely
fresh water, with surface smooth as glass
shimmers in the sunlight. Myriads of birds
awaken the echoes with melodious war
bling. Small game Of various kinds is al
most constantly In sight, The hunter can
travel for miles without detecting the first
sign of civilization. The name Coteau, OF
Coteaux, means the hills Of the Dakotas,
or of the Sioux (Cutthroat) Indians.
Deer, antelope, coyotes, badgers and
foxes disport by the waters of those noun
tain lakes and offer excellent sport to MIN.
rods who seek for it in that direction.
There are still great many beaver on the
creeks which flow from the hills into the
Missouri or the James. This is the prairie
chicken season and hunting parties are
thick along the foot Of the hills. There is
simply no limit to the game and the fun.
After month Of duck and chicken shoot
ing the sportsmen begin deer stalking in
the Coteaus. There are no swamps OF
marshes to make travel wearisome and
slow. There is no timber to beguile and
retard the hunter. A person gets over the
hills and hard prairie at rapid pace, and
the opportunity to come upon the deer
feeding in the big meadows is excellent.
In the Missouri bottoms north of Bis.
marck there Is big game, and the hunting
there is carried on successfully in the win,
ter months. There is less chance Of getting
lost along the Missouri than in the Coteaus
and Bad Lands. The river country is tim.
bered, and on that account is made the
winter quarters of large game. While the
stalking is comparatively safe, it is hard
work in that region, and is not followed to
any great extent by visiting sportsmen
after the stormy season comes on. Farm.
ers living along the Missouri get good
many deer every winter, but hunters can
do better along in October and November.
Rattlesnakes are thick in the river bot
toms during the warm weather, but after
the sharp frosts Of October have set in they
are seldom seen and do little harm. A
great advantage to sportsmen anywhere
east of the Missouri is that there are no
rattlesnakes. Farmers and old frontiers.
men do well in the Missouri country dur.
ing the winter sometimes making big
money out of deer, but tenderfeet will be
more comfortable out of there after the 1st
of December.
One of the most interesting places on
earth, as we'll as fine hunting ground foi
large game, is the Bad Lands. For wild
and weird scenery, for curious formations
and for opportunities to get lost the Bad
Lands beat the world. 1t is Incompatible
so far as the northern frontier is concerned
for wild outdoor life. There are some
buffalo, but more bear. Dear are common
There are some mountain sheep, an occa
sional wildcat, any number of wolves and
variety of feathered game. There are
the widest kinds Of canyons to traverse
and the steepest kind of hills to climb No
man can pass week in the Bad Lands
without having adventures to relate
Hunting in that region is rough and wild
enough to satisfy the most romantic turn
of mind. If a fellow wants to test his
nerve he can tackle cinnamon bear or a
panther. 1t is fact that the Marquis de
Mores killed cinnamon there single hand
ed and alone, after lying out all night to
find the brute. The marquis used only a
hunting knife, but a gun that will throw
an ounce bullet three-quarters of amile is
much safer. As a nerve tester however,
De Mores took the proper course.
A hunting party going to the Bad Lands
needs to leave the railroad at Medora or
Glendive, and drive or tramp twenty or
thirty miles. Then they will get clear Of
the cattle ranches and find good sport. De-
cember hunting tours for deer are becom-
ing popular. A little snow is an advan-
tage, and it is seldom as deep in that Sec
tion as it is east of the Missouri, or any
where in the Missouri bottoms.
I Wisconsin and Minnesota hunters who
are accustomed to spending week or two
with an expensive outfit in shooting half a
dozen or dozen mallards may think they
are having fun, but they do not know what
sport is. Duck are slaughtered by the
ll, ,Iadrnd in this, Cur,