Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-05-04
NOVEL SPORT
IN MONTANA
HOW MOUNTAIN GOAT WAS Las
soED AND BROUGHT IN
ALIVE.

|
ALIVE.
We were camped on the headwaters
of the Thomson river in northwestern
Montana. There were three of us:
Jerry Grange. Frank Thornton and
myself. Game was all around US;
hunting was pastime, fishing recre-
alton. Black and cinnamon bear,
black tailed deer, mountain goat
abounded, all easy to get but the lat
ter. He would bag a mountain goat
must have wings of an eagle and q
footstep as noiseless as the fall Of
snowflake.
These animals feed high up, away
above timber line among the MOSES
and lichens, on the tender grasses
that spring up just below the melting
SHOWS. It is almost impossible to get
above them, for always a sentry-us-
ually an old Billy-is posted on some
outlying crag, and his sharp eyes are
sure to detect the approach of an en-
envy. Then there is a wild scamper
to other and safer pastures.
We had been in camp six weeks
and had secured several fine bear
skins, deer heads and also some fine
specimens of the bighorn or noun
tain sheep, but no goat had fallen be-
fore the crack of our rifles. Every
few days we would see some white
whiskered old patriarch doing guard
duty, and often we had made long de-
tours, spending hours in climbing
slippery rocks, covering our heavy
boots with gunny sacks, sneaking,
twisting and crawling to where we
could get safe shot, only to find the
quarry had flown.
!; 1t was very provoking, all the more
7 SO as right above our camp, about a
!, thousand yards distant, particularly
fine specimen made it his business to
nonchlant1y inspect us every morning
His sentry box was a ledge of rock
that jutted out from high bare wall
that terminated in a point about 60
, feet above and directly over his beat.
t From the upper aerie our camp was
, invisible, as few pine trees lower
down intervened; so he chose the
ledge below. He would stand there
for hours watching the smoke from
the great camp fire, which appeared
to have a great fascination for him.
Capture One Alive.
One morning | remarked to my
companions that inasmuch as we could
not get goat by shooting it, l was
: going to capture one alive. Then
there was merriment in the camp. AT
ter the laughter had subsidized l was
asked how l proposed to do the job
whether I would ''put salt on his tail
d CT butter on his ,whiskers."
n Neither one" said l. But I in
r tend to drop a slip moose over the
e horns of Billy, the Waterman" (the
e name we had given our inquisitive
: friend on the ledge above).
G "Of course, the goat will stay right
It there, while you are climbing up anG
# arranging the Details" observed Jer
ry. This sarcastic remark being I'm
:, worthy of notice, proceeded to I'm
a fold my plan. Frank and Jerry ad
y mitted that it was feasible, butt
: all depended upon the goat.
5, That afternoon Frank and I climb
ed to the point of rocks above Billy's
s perch, taking a couple of strong lar
:. iats and heavy burlap sack with us
e We carefully brushed away all loose
}. bits of rock and moss from the point
# fastened one of our lariats to pro
It jecting boulder, neatly coiled oul
n ropes, placed rock on our burlaps
# and then clambered down to camp.
=, Billy Came Back.
AS we expected, Billy did not show
d UP for several days, but on the fourth
II morning there he was in his accus
it toned place. After breakfast Franl
d and struck out boldly in the oppo
g site direction and in plain view of GU
y watchful friend. After getting out O
sight we made a long detour to tn
other side of the mountain, whenc,
e We climbed to the top, reaching on
IS vantage ground an hour or so befor,
l. sun set.
n During the afternoon Billy usual.
u had his flock feeding in another local
j. ity, SO our approach had not brighten
e, ell them. Our plan was to stay VI
e. there among the rocks that night, S,
- as to be ready for the goat in tn
e. morning. Jerry, who had RENAME,
re in camp, was to make a great smudg'
,e by piling green boughs upon the fir
in when Billy made his appearance.
,e That night we nearly froze; We dal
70 ed not build fire, and we only ha,
small BLANKET each. Tor grub N
"a munched bareback and jerked VEN
is son.
n How It Was Done.
-. About O'Clock the next mornin
a lcng column of smoke from Jerry
, bonfire told us that our quarry was a
nj hand. Taking off our boots, We stea
.. thily crept to the point. peered o,