The times., 1901-03-24
HUNTING IN THE ROCKIES
Sheep Growers Invading Pastures
of the Deer.
Absolute Security for the Animals
Only Found i'm the fellowstone
ParL-DestructiOn Of Bufalo an
Argument Against other Slaughter

Argument Against other S.auShteF
Durinc my summer vacations / have at
one time and another visited various
places along the chain of the Rocky
Mountains between the Spanish peaks and
Targee Pass in pursuit Of fur, fin, ana
feather" ! have had the pleasure 81 sue
cessfully fly fishing in the head waters OF
the Columbia for the black speckled trout
Salvelinus purpuratus, and then crossing
the chain and there with equal success
taking from the headwaters of the Mis-
souri, the wary grayhng, Thymalius
signifer.
Early in August after the frost king
has exhaled 4ns icy breath and paralyzed
The myriads of blood-sucking insects
which swarmed along the streams during
the preceding month. the angler may un-
molested cast his fy in the dashing and
foaming waters for Salvelinus or Thy
mallus with results that will fill his heart
with gladness; but by the end of the
month he Will find his heart surfeited
on this invigorating and delightful sport.
However. the open season on fur and
feathers begins with September and be
may now transfer his camp from the
mountain on to the high ranges in quest
Of both.
In this latter location he will have more
than one kind of sport. Mounted on his
hardy and footed cayuse and armed
with his deadly Savage, he may ride forth
il search Of big game sometimes found
lying high up on the mountain sides, or
quietly grazing in the little secluded
grass-coVered glades surrounded by 4
perfect chevauX de frise of fallen timber
or by a seemingly impenetrable hedge Of
standing forest trees; or, at other times
hidden in the deepest woody solitude or
darkest and narrowest Of CANYON re-
cesses. Here are found the wapiti-com-
monty, though enormously, called the elk
the black and white tailed deer, moose,
sheep, bear, puma, or Rocky Mountain
lion; lynx, and wolf. the hunting OF
which in season affords the most exciting
sport.
While moose are not common in the
Rocky Mountains, they are found in Wyo-
ming around Tet0ns, up near the snow
line. and in the high mountains north
west of there near the sources OF the
Yellowstone and Buffalo rivers.
The blacktail deer though found every
where along the Rockies. are perhaps
more numerous than anywhere else in
those mountains that are situated in that
part OF Colorado that lies between Hahn s
peak and the headwaters of the White
and Bear rivers In October these ami
mails migrate southwest into the basin Of
the Colorado River and there remain I'M
al the following spring, when they re-
turn. greatly reduced In flesh and num-
bers.
During the migratory season, while
camping for couple Of weeks near the
base Of old SLEEPY Gap 1 had the
pleasure of seeing as many as 100 Of them
- af.sa,-= ire he
ing gradually reduced, still. under the re-
strictive laws of the State. which are
fairly well enforced, it viii be many years
Vet before they become extinct.
The wapiti. though found in various
localities along the Rockies, are far more
numerous in Wyoming than elsewhere.
During the summer months the habitat of
most Of these animals is in the Yellow
stona National Park There they md
abundant pasturage and me water, ana
under the protecting care OF the hiteu
states authorities enjoy absolute I'M
FnunitV from molestation, there, too, tney
bring forth their young
As 10 the number in the National Park
and its immediate vicinity, various esil-
mates have been made MI ,; y. os-
horne q deputy game warden OF Nyom-
ing. who has faithfully served the state IN
that capacity for many years, ana VINO
has followed every waplu tran from Lne
-oDrb boiIndarv OF the National Park to
FobaCks River, and whose opinion on tle
subject Is. think, entitled 10 more weight
than that Of any other person, puts the
present number at 20.u1e- AHC Wnlie lLe
ouiniors of others processing 10 have some
knowledge on the subject differ, some esti-
mating the number above and others be
low that named by Mr.. Osborne, 1 am IN
cliueG 10 think the latter ngures are ap-
uroximately correct. Last summer while
IN camp with two other hunters on the
head Of ThorOughfare Creek, few miles
south and west Of the southeast corner OF
the National Park, q snow fell 10 the depth
OF twelve inches and remained Tor days.
During the prevalence Of this storm great
numbers Of waplti abandoned their sum-
mer pastures on the high mountains IN the
National Park and directed their course
toward The low-lying bUttes situated in
end along the basin OF Snake River.
In going about we here met small bands
Of old bucks, numbering from three 10 a
dozen, and larger ones composed OF
bucks. cows. and calves. sometimes num-
boring hundreds, all heading south They
were often quite gentle, allowing US 10
approach within less than ten yards Of
them. Many OF them had dOubtle9s never
before seen man nor heard the crack
OF q rife. II Is safe 10 say that IN three
days more than IG50 were seen by us
within easy range Of our rifles. but not
WiIEstandlng this. not shot was fired
b. any OF our party. we having previous
~ each killed as many as our license au-
thoTiZed- Then, too, We had as much
meat and as many heads any true
sportsman would care for during any one
hunt
The wapit have learned by sad expe-
Tience that during the winter IN the high
mountains IN the National Park and its
vicinity the SHOW falls 10 a deDth OF
from three TO seven feet. and that dur
ing this time they cannot remain there.
or II they do they must perish. Hence as
soon as the snow begins TO fall they leave
these mountain ranges, gradually moving
southwark, many OF them going as far
as Hoback's River, where they ind ex-
ceilent winter pssturage In the basin OF
Snake River and It's continents. They re-
main at this latter place until the snow
disappears In the National Park when
they return TO their summer breeding
grounds
They cannot exist in the National Park
during the winter and but for the pas
turage afforded them in the Snake River
basin they must perish for they can find
II nowhere else. They cannot 20 west on
account Of the population covering the
Madison ana Henrys Fork basins Nor
can they md winter Uasturage among
cast and southeast. Pierre's Hole, some
times called the Teton Basin which was
once a part Of their fayorfte pasture
grounds, Is now densely populated. and
they can no longer go there. And so they
are now restricted for winter pasturage 10
tire Snake River basin.
On my last trip through Jackson's Hole
and the country lying south OF the Ma
tlOnal Park i discovered that a new peril
threatens them. Sheep Craze upon the
same grasses and herbs and browse upou
the same kind Of twigs as the Wapiti and
an expanding and profitable sheep in
aud occupy that part of the basin Of the
Snake River which now affords winter
pssturage for the wapifi.
Last summer thousands OF sheep were
driven 20 the southern rim Of the basin Of
lIoback's River and other thousands from
the Idaho side were driven to the top OF