The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-24
HUNTING IN THE ROCKIES
Sheep Growers Invading Pastures
of the Deer.
Absolute Security for the Animals
Only Found i'm the Yellowstone
MISREPRESENTATION of Buffalo an
Argument Against other Slaughter

Mountains between the Spanish peaks ana
Targee Pass in pursuit of fur, fin, and
feather | have had the pleasure "f 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 grayfing, Thymallus
signifer.
Early in August, after the frost king
has eXhaled .us icy breath and paralyzed
the myriads of understanding insects
which swarmed along the streams during
the preceding month. the angler may I'M
molested cast his fly in the dashing and
foaning 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 he
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 sure-footed cayuse and armed
with his deadly Savage. he may ride forth
in 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 u
perfect chevaux de frise of fallen timber
or by seemingly inpenetrable 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;
hn nd rt-lf
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 Tetons, up near the snow
line, and in the high mountains north
west Of there, near the sources of the
Yellowstone and Buffalo rivers.
The blacbtail 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 hesdwaters 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
Ill the following spring, when they re-
turn greatly reduced in flesh and num-
bers.
During the migratory season, while
camping for a couple OF weeks near the
base of old Sleepy Gap 1 had the
pleasure of seeing as many as 100 of them
a day. And while their numbers are be-
ing gradually reduced, stilI, under the re-
stIictive laws of the State, which are
fairly well enforced, 1t win be many years
N-,s 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 /
stone National Park. There they find |
abundant pasturage and fine water, and |
under the protecting care of the United |
States authorities enjoy absolute i'm |
munity from molestation; there, too, they |
bring forth their young.
As TO the number in the National Park |
and its Immediate vicinity, various esti- \
mates have been made. Mr.. 5. T. os-
borne, a deputy game warden OF Nyom- /
ing, who has faithfully served the State in 1
that capacity for many years, and who /
has followed every wapiu trail from the 1
Hoback's River, and whose opinion on the |
subject Is, l think, entitled TO more weight /
than that of any other person, puts the |
present number at .. go And while the |
opinions of others protesting to have some 1
knowledge on the subject differ, some esti-
mating the number above and others be-
low that named by Mr.. Osborne, L am in
cliued TO think the latters figures are ap-
proximstely correct. Last summer while /
in camp with two other hunters on the
head Of Thoroughfare Creek, a few miles
south and west of the southeast corner OF
the National Park, snow fell TO the depth
OF twelve inches and remained for days |
During the prevalence OF this storm great
numbers Of wapiti abandoned their sum
iner pastures on the high mountains In the
National Park and directed their course |
toward the iow-lying buttes situated in |
and along the basin OF Snake River.
In going about we here met small bands
of old bucks, numbering from three to a
dozen. and larger ones composed of
bucks. cows. and calves. sometimes num-
bering hundreds. all heading south. They |
were often quite gentle, allowing us 10 |
approach within less than ten yards of |
them. Many of them had doubtless never
before seen man nor heard the crack
OF a rife. II Is safe to say that I'm three
days more than loo We're seen by us
within easy range Of our rifles; but not
outstanding this. not a shot was fired
py any Of our party, we having previous |
ly each killed as many as our license au-
thorlzed. Then. too, We had as much
meat and as many heads as any tr1ie
sportsman would care for during any one
hunt
The wapiti have learned by sad exne-
Renee that during the winter In the high
In the National Park and it's
vicinity the snow falls to 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
ines. me. mountain ranges. gradually moving
southwark, many OF them going as far
as Hobacks River, where thev find OK
ceuent winter pasturage In the basin of
snake River and its continents. They re-
main at this latter place until the snow
disappears in the National Park when
grounds
They cannot exist in the National PARK
turing the winter. and but for the mas |
-uraSe Afforded them in the Snake River
basin they must perish. for they can lind
! , noHhere eise. They cannot go west on
account OF the population covering the
Madison and Henry's Fork basins Nor
an they ind winter uasturage among
ne barren, snowclad mountains to the
lines called the Tetoa Basin which was
'nce part of their favorfte pasture
rounds. is now densely populated, and
hey can no longer go there. And so they
re now restricted for winter pasturage 10 J
ne Snake River basin
On my last trip through Jackson's Hole I
, M me country lying south of the Ma
hreatens them. Sheep Craze upon the |
anne grasses and herbs and browse upon {
he same kind of twigs as the wapiti, and
"a "a, expanding and profitable sheep in
ustry is demanding the right to enter
no occupy that part Of the basin of the !
make River which now affords winter :
ssturage for the wapiii
Last summer thousands of sheen were | q
tiven TO the southern rim of the basin of | /
toback b River and other thousands from | q
ne Idaho side were driven to the top OF | 9
he Teton Range overlooking the basin OF |
ne snake from the west. where they | p
iere stopped BY the show OF armed re- | y
istance offered by the irate peoDle az the /
make River basin 4
me sheep men threaten to invade the I
asin during the coming summer with | Z
neir great herds. and the Snake RIver Z