The sun., 1895-01-20
A DAKOTA WOLF HUNT.
Novel Sport. with Lots OF Excitement and
Spice OF Danger.
From the 81. Louis Globe Democrat.


from the 81. Louis Globe Democrat
DEVILS LAKE, y. D., Jan. 6-For the past
five years the citizens OF Devils Lake have cele-
brated New Years Day with grand wolf hunt
on Rock Island.
Rock Island is an oblong tract near the mid
die of DEVILS Lake. 1t is about two miles long
and a mile and half wide. 1t is barren Of
shrubbery. but scattered over 1t are heaps OF
huge powders, among and under which. in the
winter season. the prairie wolves find shelter.
The fact of these powders being on that spot of
land that was evidently cast up from the midst
OF the lake by natural disturbance gives rise
miles over the Dakota prairies in all directions
and not H. find stone sn;e as large as hens egg
creature TO meet unless he happens to be suffer-
ing from hunger and is backed up by number
OF his ilk; then he is apt to make 1t warm for a
are a great pest to the farmers and stockmen.
for they prey upon their calves and pigs unmer-
six to twenty, and they do the greatest damage
on those wild, stormy nights when 1t is worth a
mans life almost for him to walk dozen yards
1t is almost impossible to trap wolf. He is
one of the keenest Of four-legged animals. and
carefully as ii he had received secret instruo-
tions concerning their whereabouts. The farm
poison, but this method Of determination is not
approved generally, for 1t endangers the lives
OF valuable domestic animals.
In winter, when Devils Lake is frozen over
as smooth as a barn floor and the ice is from
one to two feet thick' ' the wolves make their
there by hundreds, and every night the chorus
OF their short sharp yelps sounds werdly over
Dakota wolf hunt is probably not eaualled by
any sport known to the nimrod. since the game
tricks. There is an element of danger in it. too,
Tor when the wolves are cornered they will fight
hen ne Ss wolf @1 now aRa
field with his clothes badly torn and his flesh
laccrated by the claws or teeth Of an infuriated
suting from the sport.
The hunting party gets together at a given
point on the shore of the lake about noon and
they come from all quarters. 1t is not an un-
usual thing to see 100 men engaged in wolf
hunt Each imam man carries ar rife and couple OF
back. The horses ridden are usually the little,
why Indian pony or mustang, that can run all
party is ready 10 march 1t starts out across the
ice IN the direction Of the island. The horsemen
are stationed around the island as near to each
plete the Gordon.
I across the island some OF them carry horns,
Others tin pans, and when everything Is ready
the men move In the direction of the boulder
heaps blnwlnE the horns, pounding the pans and
yelling like fends. The racket rouses the wolves
lying among the rocks and they dash from cover
some Of the animals are in burrows. These are
smoked out, and II is but II very short time be-
lore there is plenty of game running helter-
skelter, looking for new cover.
Al the northwest extremity OF the island is a
clear spot and 1t Is the aim Gf the hunters to get
inc wolves into this open space. where they may
completely surround them. The men gradually
advance up lac island DRUMMING hOwinY and
i!rlng OIL their guus and the bcwdercd wolves
the rocks.
1t is not until the animals are surrounded at
the upper end Ol the island that the real iun be-
gins, They dash here and there Ia mud an OPEN
ing through whj"h IT. Is uOss!hl" I" csCdlm. They
are rehderri IIhutl" 10y the rHttlnuci hlare of
horns and the horrible elliIg, nld In their PN-
Cltemcnt snap and snarl Ht each other like u lot
~ snriy ours. Occasionally hunter takes n
shot at ono and brings him down. and in this
way the ranks Gf the beasts are thlnned out un-
Ill from u pOrsh thirty ar forty but seven or
eight remain. These are preserved for the horse
men on th" ice, who are generally the best
The frightened hrn-ts are given an opportunity
20 escape. The circl" Is broken with the OPEN
ing So calculated that the wolves will flee To- the
ice. They Immediately dash through and tho
hOrsemcu remain inactive until they nave pa ssptl
beyond their circle; then they give chase Tie
wolf, with its sharp claws IL "a swift runner
with a slight coating OF sUOw he is capable nf
making wonderfully quick time. but, rs fast as
he is the littl" mustangs are able 10 keep close
90 his heels IN straighiaway race, hut the wolf
has the advantage of Icing able tO mako quick
turns. and thar II what he does.
Every wolf hunter mounted on a horse Is
proud or hts mark ksmanship. and IL Is the aim
OF cprh one To shoot animal in the head
whlch, from horseback, Is no easy matter 10
shoot one through the body, these men claim
requires no skill, and ~ n often happens that
several hours are consumed In the wild chase Of
the wolves before the remnant OF the nRCk "
DESTROYED, and II is not intTeqnently the case
number. When the last wolf escapes or has
been killed the party returns to the town with
their trophies, and the affair winds up with a
banquet and bail, which is looked upon as the
himself the most eXpert mari ksman IA sdesfana ated
- the leader OF the hunting party the next season.