The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-04-05
Bear and Bear Hunting.

The black bear is very plentiful in
the western portion of this state, but
is very shy and hard to get shot at.
The best way to hunt them is with
two or three good dogs, early IN the
spring or late in the fall, when they
tree very easily with the right kind of
dogs. One fall, three or four years
ago, Doc Simmons was losing his
sheep, and, as there were good many
bear in that vicinity, he surmised that
they were the pilferers; SO one morn
ing Joe Waldrip came and got me to
find out what was doing the sheep
killing. Taking my dogs went up to
the Simmons ranch, turned the dogs
loose and in about an hour Don and
Sport had bear up a tree, which l
killed. The next morning bright and
early Joe Waldrip and I were out for
more bear. We had not been out long
when the dogs started an old bear,
but instead of freeing he would run a
while, then stop and fight the dogs,
but they were too much for him and
he put out for Summit Lake. The
first glimpse had of the bear was as
l was standing ON a hill overlooking
Summit lake. There he was out in
the lake with the dogs swimming by
his side. He would roll from side to
side like boat in a heavy sea. AS he
landed | gave him a shot behind the
fore shoulder aud then the dogs closed
in on him before l could shoot again.
I was standing quite close to the bear
and seeing no chance to shoot without
hitting dog, I gave the bear kick in
the nose, which he resented. He
threw the dogs from him and caught
me by the leg, but | was about as
quick as he was and gave him shot
between the eyes, but was able to
wear only one shoe for the remainder
of the day, for l was minus one. The
next day went out again and killed
two more bear, which were yearlings.
Thinking | had about rid that part OF
the county of bear / went home, but
the very next day Dudley Simmons
came down and said that another
sheep was missing. Taking the dogs
| went up to the ranch again and
turned the dogs loose. They started
bear, freed him and | shot him.
Taking the hide took a circle to see
if there were any more. In a few
minutes the dogs started another
which was freed and killed in short
order. The following day l again
went out in the same vicinity and
killed another one, which was the
largest of them all, making seven in
one week.
After studying the matter over l
came to the conclusion that the bear
had not killed the sheep, so taking my
gun started out to investigate with
out my dogs. Arriving where the
carcas of the sheep lay / crawled up
on log and began a long weary
watch. / had been there three or
four hours when | heard commotion
among the sheep; cooking my gun /
raised up in time to see long gray
object crawling along in the ground,
l cut loose and then went over to in
spect my game. 1t was large tim
Der wolf. Meeting Doc Simmons and
Mr.. Hurley, | told Doc that l guessed
1 had the mutton lover at last.
The most amusing bear hunt | ever
had was on Mill creek. I went out
one morning to see if | could start
bear and had not been out long when
the dogs started one. They ran him a
mile or so in a circle and finely freed
him. On coming up to the tree l
could not see any bear, but the dogs
were making terrible racket and
looking up inside of the tree, which
was hollow | crawled inside and
peeped up in the darkness over head.
l had nearly came to the conclusion
that the dogs were fooled and that the
bear had slipped them, when l heard
something slip, Git wasn't the bark on
the tree either) it was the bear.
made for the hole so did the bear, and
we met. He was glad to see me, he
Rugged me and clawed and scratched
until began to think of sending in
an order for suit of clothes or a
coffin, or both, but | finally got GA t,
changed ends and put a bullet between
his eyes. | skinned him and started
for camp, but had not gone far when
the dogs started another which freed
and bullet soon settled him. The
next day went out but did not
raise anything. On my return to
camp found a card which stated if I
would bring the hides to Kamilche. I
could get good price for them. l
Immediately started for Kamilche
with visions of an eastern tenderfoot
| with q fat pocket book awaiting to