The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-07
A DAKOTA WOLF HUNT.
An Annual Roundup and Shooting ON
DEVILS Lake.

St. Louis -Globe-Democrat
In winter, when Devils lake is frozen over
as smooth as a barn floor and the ice is
from one to five feet thick, the wolves
make their headquarters on Rock island.
night the chorus of their short, sharp yelps
sound weirdly over the frozen lake. the
is probably not equaled by any sport known
to the nimrod, since the game is large,
wary, swift of movement and full of tricks.
There is an element of danger in it, too,
for when the wolves are scornered they will
fight with the desperation of mad dogs. 1t
now and then happens that a wolf hunter
comes off the field with his clothes badly
torn and his flesh lacerated by the claws or
has never been a fatality resulting from
the sport. The hunting party get together
at a given point on the shore OF the lake
about noon, and they come from all quar-
tiers. 1t is not an unusual thing to see one
hundred and fifty men engaged in a wolf
hunt. Eacn MAJ, carries a rifle and a couple
of revolvers. Some are on foot and some
on horseback. The horses ridden are usual
ly the little, wiry Indian poney or mustang,
that can run all night and all day ana not
When the party is ready to march it
of the island. The horsemen are sta
toned around the island as near to each
other as it is possible to {, place them ana
form in the shape of the letter Y across
the island. Some Of them carry horns he s
ready the men move in the direction of the
bowlder heaps blowing the horns. pounding
the Iii DdIS dIlu yelling iiAC ~ = ny
| racket rouses the wolves lying among the
rocks and they dash from cover. some OF
sne anlm ont. a and It It IS our but a very tr.yss short
time before there is plenty of game run
ming heller SHELTER, looking for new cover.
| AT the northwest extremity of the island is
a clear spot, and it is the aim of the hunt
ers to get the wolves into this space, where
The men gradually advance up the island.
drumming, rowling and firing OH their
guns, and the beWildered wolves flee be-
fore them until thew are driven DGyOnu the
rocks.
It is not until the animals are surrounded
at the upper end of the island that the real
fun begins. They dash here ana there to
find an opening through which it is possible
e Go siGaesi b dars ST afe horns ue.as and the horrible
yelling. and in their excitement snap and
occasionally a hunter takes a shot at one
and brings him down. and IN this way tne
ranks of the beasts are tnlnned out saner
or eight remain. These are preserved fol
the horsemen on the ice, who are generadly
the best marksmen in the party. Ihe
frightened beasts are given an opportunity
to escape The circle Is broken with tne
flee to the ice. They Immediately dasf
through, and the horSemen remain inactive
until Until they they have Passed fsyon Volt lnel With fhfe hi.
sharp claws, is a swift, runner. even on
smooth ice and when n the thew Ice be + s c capable
of making wonderfully quick time, but, as
fast as he is, the little mustangs are able
race but the wolf has the advantage Of
being able to make quick turns. and tina
is what he does.
Every wolf hunter mounted On a horse is
proud of his craftsmanship, and it is the
head which from horseback. is no easy
matter, TO shoot one through r. ak1u the he. BODY 70 y
often hanpens that several hours are con-
sln1ed in the wild chase of the wolves be-
fore the remnant of the pack IS destroyed,
and it is not infrequently the case that one
man succeeds In killing the greater number
When the last wolf escapes or has beef beef
their trophfes and the affair winds up with
a banquet and ball. which i looked upon as
the event or the season. The man who has
n~oven himself the most expert marksmar
is designated as the leader OF the hunting
party for the next season.