The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-08-03
HOW HE SHOT A DEER.
4 estate Journal Rep orter in the
Rockies.
4 DAY FULL OF ADVENTURES.

3 DAY FULL UF ADVENTURES. !
Hest in the Weeds and Hard Tramp
Through the MOunta1ns-safe Ar
rival at Camp.
STATE JOURNAL CAMP, In THE Noun
TAINs EIGHT MILES FROM SAPINERo,
GUNNIsoN COUNTY, Col, July %, 1885,
Z have taken my first deer hunt and
while it was productive of little else than
experience, I do not consider that it was
an entire failure.
The principal stream ia this vicinity is
Soap creek which tumbles its reckless
course between the mountains, and all
other streams for miles around are it's
tributariss- The nearest is Cow creek
which has its source in the mountains ten
miles north.
Jim Watson is tie chopper and hunter
whose cabin we share. When we reached
his place he had just eaten his last piece
of YenisoR and he informed us that he
was about to &c into the mountains above
Cow creek to get deer and that one of
Us might go along. The lot fell upon
me. probably because I am the most USE
less man around the camp.
Friday morning Watson brought out
his horses. There were three of them
and the mountaineer kindly put his big
saddle on the most gentle one and told
me I might ride. He would walk and
lead the other two which were loaded
with our bedding and a supply of provis-
ions sufficient to last several days.
1t was o'clock in the morning when
we started. Watson carried his Winches-
ter ia his hand and thers was big, ugly
looking hunting knife dangling at his
belt by gun was fastened to the sad
die horn. We crossed Soap creek and
assembled the Cow creek basin, Watson in
the lead. A mile and half from camp
we came to the cabin of a Mexican tie
chopper, the last habitatiOn on the road.
After skirting Cow creek a half mile
further Watson turned to the right and
We commenced the ascent of the noun
tain through the dry bed of torrent
I soon found that my horse could not
carry me up the steep road and l dis
mountsd and followed Watson's example.
Any one who has ever climbed
mountain knows what q difficult
task. it is for one unused to that kind of
exercise and l was compelled to stop to
Eest every few steps At last we reached
q place comparatively level and l again
mounted my horse. We then followed a
ledge several miles when we came to q
beautiful open place surrounded by tim
Der, which Watson informed me was our
destination These open places are
called parks" and this one contained at
least 100 acres. A little stream of Joe
cold water gushed from rocky ledge
near its center and formed a little brook
This was the source of our W alter supply
and we dismounted at the edge of the
timber 200 yards farther on.
There, under a large spruce tree, we
selected our camp. Watson trimmed
away the lower limbs with his Ratchet
and we spread our bed clothing on a
, cushion of small spruce twigs. It was
2 o'clock in the afternoon when we
reached our destination and our appetites
had not suffered by our difficult journey.
So dinner was spread aud we ate as only
hungry mea can. Our horses were
picketsd in the park where the Iuxuriant
vegetation reached to their knees.
Then we took our first hunt. l was
careful to keep close to Watson for I did
net care to be lost in a dense woods
among strange mountains. Watson saw
one deer but neither of US got shot
Before we got back to our camp under
she spruce tree thunder storm came
up-one of these mountain storms which
burst upon you unRWares l tried to find
shelter under a large quaking aspen but
the rain seemed to come from every side
and l was thoroughly wet before the
storm was over When we reached the
camp we found that the rain had wet our
bedding. A large fire was soon kindled
and our wet clothes were pretty thor
oughly dried.
We then lay down in our damp bed on
the ground to spend the night l lay
down with my clothing and hat on and
attempted to sleep I would awaken
shivering, from a restless nap to again
doze off into half waking condition.
Our bed was hard and cold and when the
first streaks of dawn were visible l Got
up. l was in a very bad humor and I did
mot care much whether we found deer
or not.
Watson suggested we should take a
hunt before breakfast and we went. The
shrubbery and grass were wet and it was
not long until we looked as if we had
forded stream. I found that l could
not keep up with Watson, and so started
back to the camp. l was walking very
quietly through the thick timber, when
I saw not over fifty yards in front of me
what 1 first took to be a large log but
after looking for awhile saw part of the
head of a deer protruding from behind q
big aspen tree. I could only see half the
deer's body and I thought if l stepped a
Aitle to one side I could probably shoot
him through fatal part. My Winches-
ter was at my shoulder, as l took very
short step to the right. The movement
slight it was, did not escape his deer
ship and he was off like flash Iheard
him with sinking heart as he bounded
away like a rubber ball When he got a
short distance away l suppose he stopped
to reconoiteEs for he snorted several
times much like a horse. I returned tc
camp crestfallen, and Watson arrived