Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-12-31
KILLING WOLVES FOR BOUNTY
Nerve and Ingenuity of woIfer Jim
Against the Pest of wyoming
Ranges.

A meeting OF stockmen was held In the
Big Horn basin of Wyoming the other
day to consider the question OF increa sing
the bounty on wolves. These animals
have been increasing 20 rapidly in north
ern Wyoming in recent years that II Is
said they are killing calves and carrying
of sheep in broad daylight.
wyoming pays a bounty OF IS q head
on wolves. but this Is not enough TO pay
for the trouble Of killing them The
stockmen propose TO subscribe a fund in
creasins the wolf bounty to so a scalp,
and this, it is anticipated. will set the
"wolfers" at work again Kidding the range
OF its greatest pest.
In Montana which pays a heavy wolf
bounty. there are several wolfers so ex-
pert that they are known all over the
northwest. On the Crow Creek Indian
reservation, in the southwestern part of
the state, are two wolfers who are prob
ably the most skilled Of their class One
or them is Lee Parish and the other is
known simply as Jim. OF the two, Jim
is probably the more skilled. He is able
to catch wolves when. In the vernacular of
the country, there amt anything but
coyote tracks in sight"
HIS OUTFIT is up-to-date in every par
ucuiar. The traps form Jim's most eff
fective way Of disposinE of wolves A
trap may be skillfully planted near a
bait" but unless the odor is killed the
chances are the wolf will keep at a safe
distance from the lure. coyote may be
causht IN the trap. but not a wolf, for
the more savage OF these prairie ma
RAIDERS is also the most shrewd.
Until I found a secret command said
j
wolves. I have lost thousands of dollars
by having the wolves eat the poison ana
then get away and die where I couldn't
find the bodies. There is no poison that
VIII act quick enough to kill a wolf right
away. He has a chance to make a rim
for It, and then it is up to you to find
the body and get your pelt I tried all
the poisons that man ever invented 7
guess, but nothing would get Mr.. Wolf
in an instant
so I tried fixing up my trans. tried
all sorts OF methods Of burying them.
but that wouldn't work, as a wolf can
smell trap far underground Then
thought or getting something that wouId
XIII that smell Of steel So 1 worked and
worked and finally got It, Now I lust
smear II over my traps and plant them.
ana MT. Wolf, If he happens to be in the
heisnDorhood OF the bait. blunders into
the steel and his pelt is mine"
Next TO trapping the wolves comes trail
ing them to their dens and Staying them
literally In their own castles
oont take any firearms into the don
win me- said Jim. why, man ~
would kill YOU TO fire a revolver IN a ,j,tla
piace ike that. l take Ratchet tn on
large the sides Of the den as l 90 aIone
ana carry long rod to kill tho wolf
III MT wolf shows fight simply lam tina.
rod down his throat. and then finish hin,
with the Ratchet. Sometimes IL forget
the rod ] Just jam the Ratchet down the
"olf $ Jaws until can ge. good b,ow
win II. But wolf hardly ever Show.
night unless II is to snap at Won onca ~.
twice. Generally there is n uttIe rooos,
at the end Of the den, and the vo,f all,
SUCK its head In this. Thinks If its bo,,
Is hidden IL is safe. guess. wa,I
just reach into the den when 7 have .o.
TO the end Of the passage and grab Tho
wolf by the hind leg and yank It out and
XIII It, Or maybe tie rope to it's bin1
leg, IL II is a big fellow, and then null -
PACK up to the mouth of the den ana
shoot II. ''
shoot IT."
jim Is noted as the best shot IN south
eIn montana He carries a heavy old
style Winchester and a similarly anc,o,t
Colt 40 at his hip. He looks with ale
1aVor on the new automatics ana otbo-
styles-not that they will not shoot oil
right but he simply figures that there "a
no use going back on weapons that he has
Irled ana knows to be true And. az he
mas Killed silvertips with his revolver. ow-
In 81 H.. e.
ing 70 ,ne tact that he knows just where
10 plant his shots. perhaps there Is a good
deal to Jims philosophy.
Inc stockmen who have huge bands q,
sheeep on the Crow reservation contribute
TO Jim's exchequer. Not only does be ~.
ceiVe the states liberal bounty, but he
se.s Dig pay from the stock owners for
wolf skins at pretty figures. covoto. ri
MN no small income also. as there I. .
bounty on each coyote slain-Denver Re-