The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-25
VIC SMITHS BEAR HUNTS
The Noted Hunter Brings in Two
Big Fellows.
HILLS ARE FULL OF THEM
He Shot Two Without Moving Out OF
His Tracks-His Efforts to Capture
q Silver Tip-Deer Are Their
{ in Large Drovee.

Vic Smith. the famous hunter. re-
turned yesterday from a successful
chase in the Big Hole country. Vic
brought to town with him two great
black bears. He killed the animals on
the Big Hole river. a mile or two from
'Ethredge postoffice. on La Marsh creek.
Those who have been in the Big Hole
country will remember that when going
southwark. just before coming to the
Anaconda road. there is a vast green
slope n declines gently from the top
of the hills to the valley of French
creek. On this slope the inhabitants of
the Big Hole region have watched for
bears for any number Of years. and
they are seldom disa ppointed. for the
green sward is a favorite spot for the
animals. who make their homes In the
high hills.
, A day or two ago Smith was heading
for home. when he CHANGED to cast his
eyes upon the green slope. There was
n monster Of a bear there. and Smith
thought he might ar well bring him
along as not. In reaching the place
where the bear stood Smith had to cross
a little coulee. As he limbed up the
opposite bank he found himself not
more than 30 feet from bruin. The bear
O at Smith in surprise and Smith
looked at the bear. But Smith didn't
look at the bear out Of curiosity. He
looked at the animal over the top OF the
shining barrel of a savage rifle, ana
when he thought he had looked Ions
enough he touched a little spring at the
bottom OF the gun. The bear turned over
on his back n began clawing the at
.----A-- NNvstA ZACH alakg tho NfROr
of the blows grew weaker. Smith stood
watching the gear for a moment, and
while he was engaged In this interest
ing occupation he heard the
shutting of another bear close behind
him. He turned about with lightning
speed. The second bear did not seem to
be aware of Smiths presence. as a slight
rise of ground interviewed between me
hunter and the hunted. The second bear
was evidently searching for the animal
whom Smiths bullet had cut on in his
prime. -,
Smith moved cautiously toward the
second bear, congratulating himself on
having had the opportunity OF bagging
two such fine specimens OF bearhoou
without having to move out OF MS
tracks. Smith Is said 20 he about the
best rifle shot in these parts. and ne
always has his range finder just above
his right cheek bone. Al soon as the
range finder found its object the bear
who had snuffed ceased snufiing ana
will never snuff more. Smith got "A
wagon from one of the ranchers out
there and brought his prizes to town.
smith a that there are any num-
Der of bears I'm the hills along the Big
Hole. Last week he killed a black bear
and captured another alive. The one
he caught is a yearling. but il of pretty
respectable size and looks as II ne might
have made things lively IL Smiths trap
hadn't been a good one. Smith has also
been camping on the trail of "A big silver
tip. M he is afraid that somebody else
has got his game. About a week ago
Smith got a quiet tip that there was a
bir silver tip at a certain spot in the
hills. and the hunter organized himself
into a strategic board and went after
the silver tip. Smith set his trap anu
awaited results. The next morning ne
found that his trap had worked all
right. but hat the bear had been too
much for the steel and had broken II
I'm bits. Ever since that Smith has de-
nended on his gun. Some days ago ne
found the silver tips tracks and foi'
lowed them. After he had walked about
FIVE miles he heard three or four shots III
rapid succession in a clump or tmper
some distance away. into winch tht
tracks led. He thinks that some otnei
huntsman has got MS SILVER UP h'
there have been no signs Of him since.
smith states that the roads leading IN
10 the Big Hole are in much better con
dition thar they usually are at this tim'
of the year. The rains have made then
soft and muddy in the lower country
hut there is not much difficulty in get
ting over them. He says that the snow
in the mountains Is abou; all gone, oniS
the peaks being still covered. There y
no snow on the Mill creek pass, and thu
Is rather surprising. for II is general!
well along i'm June before the snow dis
appears from hat pass. Smith report
that there are many herds of deer in tn
Big Hole country. in the region below
French gulch. and that they come dow
Into the hay fields without fear. y
one molests the deer, and they max
themselves perfectly at home. IN
deer herds winter down about Dewey
Flat. but in the summer they max
their feeding grounds In the hills abou
Rals.on. There are also elk and goat
I'm the hills in considerable numbers. Tn
goats. of course. remain among IN
crags Of the high peaks far back frof
The travelled roads and seldom com
down to the lower ground.