The Van Buren press., 1903-07-25
BIG GAME IN kLASKA.
Caribou in Herds and Mountain Sheep
in DroNes Are Found In the
Southern Part.

To the seeker Tor easy game-fsh,
fowl or MAMMAL would recommend
that portion of southern Alaska, north
ern British Columbia and western
northwest territory, through which the
Dalton trail to the Yukon and the
klondike passes, writes corresponds
ent Of the Seattle ost-IntelligenCer.
There are other portions in this north
ern country where certain kinds Of game
are more plentiful, but none where there
IS so great variety within short dis
tance of the coast Few if any bears
will be found to rival the 2,00O-pound
monsters described in the government
reports of Kodiak island; no herds Of
caribou are likely to be encountered to
compare with the great bands, number
ing thousands, that roam beyond the
arctic circle; some difficulty may even
be met with in getting a shot at .
moose on the coast side of the noun
tains. But the hunter who desires to
make a record Nil in two weeks time
likely to see even in any other district
OF North America. | would advise to
board a steamer at Seattle with ticket
to Haines, Alaska.
Haines, formerly Haines' Mission, lies
near the head Of Lynn canal, nearly
| ,0O0 miles north OF Seattle, about 50
IN the same direction from Juneau, and
Is miles south Of Skagway II is the
starting point OF the Dalton trail and
furnishes ample Quitting facilities,
though II one is out only for short
hunt II is best TO 60 light in PorCu-
pine City, 90 miles up the Chilkat river,
near the British Columbian line, and
20 out in two-day or three-Gay jaunts
from there II a longer stay is possible
the chance OF getting moose or carl
bou will be enhanced by taking saddle
and pack animals and crossing over the
mountains to the valleys Of the upper
Asek river. on the British side Of the
line The customs officials at Pleasant
Camp are very lenient toward hunting
parties, and It Is possible to set through
with a very low bill Of duties
The mountains OF this district con-
tain more mountain sheep than any
other section Of America. ! have often
sen them IN droyes numbering many
hundred standing motionless on the
steep slopes Of small mCuntain-side
glacier, their white bodies almost iE-
distingushable against the snowy back
ground, and their black noses and big
| back -curving horns standing out like
a page covered with mixed punctuation
marks But they are as Characters
| tically wary here as In the southland,
and ! often found them more difficult TO
| approach than the more-hurted sheep
Of the Rocky mountains They grow to
n great size and the horns Of some Of
the big rams are enormous Those OF
the only male Killed measured lG inch
rs In circumference at the base, and
there were rams In the same herd have
appeared to have much larger ones,
The sheep ~ tho only animal that is
wilder than In other districts Joined
couple Of mounted police otce on a
moose hunt in which we, on our snow
shoes and with the assistance Of several
Indians, ran biz bun on into the deep
snow and shot him My nret caribou |
peppered all around the CdgV and
missed two or three times while he ran
from couple OF gun lengths off, the
distance at which ! first raised him
over the top ot hIll My packer fol.
lowed him and brought HIN down with
a pretty 900.yard shot, just as Ne was
plunRIng into little lake 10 make
his escape by swimming Several other
caribou lost at short distances by poor
craftsmanship, bear, black and brown
! shot at under ten yards, and once I
lost q big sllyor'tip at 90, plarmgan
and grouse | Killed on several occa-
slons with the "Rco pole" jorkod from
my sled; salmon | have gated At the
rate of ten minute, ard literally
Kicked them from the water IN lhoy
lloundcrCd over u rl1lo.
The bear ar wonderfully tame, par
tlcuafly the black, and almost dhy Kind
OF a shot can average two OF more day
within ten miles Of fdrtlpihe CITY,
ana other game In proportion,