The Opelousas courier., 1896-08-15
ROPlNG ELK.
AN EXCITING GPORT IN MON
TANA MOUNTAINS.
How the Hunters Slide Down Noun.
tain-Sides ON Their Skis-Sur-
prised Animals Caught
With Lariatso

HNA ~
might have been seen pre-.
~ pairing for an elk hunt in
front Of a typical noun.
tain cabin. 1t has been esti,
mated that about one man in 1000
would make a good elk hunter on the
skis, hence the three men who had
gathered for the sport we're objects OF
no ordinary interest. The party was
organized, as a rsncher had decided
to take a number Of elk alive to make
mp a herd, and had sent for the best
and most skillful riders for that pur.
pose in the Montana mountains. The
men were trying on their skis, rub.
bing on "dope," supposed to make
them swifter and increase the polish,
and discussing the prospects. Finally
the party was ready and the start
made; three men moving along easily
on the skis, and others on ordinary
suow.shoes; the former armed with
lariats--an important feature in the
hunt. Elk had been massing in &
canyon about two miles away severa'
days before, and since then there haj
been a heavy storm and freeze, SO that
the mountains were piled deep witt
snow, over which was a hard crust
that cleaned and glistened in the sun
light like glass.
The plan of the hunt was to stea'
along the crest of the hills and noun.
tains until a herd of elk WIS sighted
in the valley below, then, at the wore
start, slide down the mountain, dasl
into the herd at full speed and rope
the elk with q iariat, before they couli
recover from their establishment.
After travelling some distance the
hunters finally reached the ravine il
which the elk had been seen and care
fully followed along the edge, which
was lined with snow covered brush
They had gone nearly a mile when tht
leader suddenly stopped and pointed
ahead. Through an opening in thu
brush down in the canyon, at the base
Of the deep slide, the dark forms o
numerous elk were seen. The mel
estimated that it was at least two mile:
from the open country, and that /
would be impossible for the elk tt
make much Roadway up the sides 0
the ravire, owing to the deep drifts
Lariats were now taken in hand an>
made ready, and the three ski rider!
began to examine the slope for a favor
able place to take the slide. This wa
an important matter, as. if a tree, O.
some obstruction that could not b.
leaped was struck, it would end tn
hunt so far as the ski man was con
cerned.
The slope OF the mountain was dotte>
with large pines, about which the
snow was piled 60 that many looked
as though the tops were %projectin!
from the snow. Some distance o,
they came to a place where eviaentl,
early in the winter there had Areen
slide, and trees and brush had sbeel
carried down in the rush, leaving
comparatively smooth run, whic.
would bring them directly in the pat
of the herd. The edge was approa he
carefully then at the word, tAeane:
sprang forward and went hyingdow
the eide of the mountain.
There vas a ridge part way down
so that the elk could not be seen unit.
they had passed it, and it SCENE
hardly a second before the rider
reached it. bounded into the air, com
ing down gracefully, and rushing o
like the wind itself. The elk saw tn
mysterious figures, like birds, rushin
down the slope upon them, and for
second stood rigid with emazemen'
then rushed ahead, some going up th
opposite slope, others %plunging dow
the canyon. On came the ski rider
with q rapidity that vas incredible.
single false step would have sent thel
whirling headlong over the icy snov
The elk made desperate efforts I
escape, but before they could max
any Roadway n Of the hunters dashe
into the herd and, whirling his riat'
sent the rope over the long, branchiu
horns and skilfully rounded himse
up by it, thus reaching the side of Il
Infatuated animal, that, half buried
the treacherous snow, struck ct
captor and endeavored to trample hi
under foot. Another rider can
whizzing into the herd almost simu
taneously and threw his RATA over II
head of a doe, while the third, aft
dashing down into the rayine and I
some distance on the other side, r
turned and successfully roped a fl
buck, which had been stalled in t