The Washington herald., 1907-09-15

See their doctrines followed 10 the letter
they should arrange TO spend a few days
with one OF the coyote hunters. who can
be found IN the remote portions of the
Rocky Mountain States. far from the
railroads.
These trappers like a, life that is very
different from the strenuous existence fol-
lowed by the trappers in the days OF the
great fur companies, says the Denver Re-
publican. Then the trapDer had to con-
tent himself with such supplies as he
could pack on horse, and sometimes he
depended solely on what he could kill
with his rifle.
But to-day the trapper lives In 4 white
topped wagon, where he has about all
the comforts OF home. Driving a stout
team. he wanders over the prairies and
mountains. setting his coyote and wolf
traps. and generally reaping a substan-
tial income from the annual yield OF
skins. The bounties paid by Western
States for coyote hides well repay d
skiIlful trapper for his trouble and ex-
.pense in catching the animals, and then
there Is good profit in selling prime hides
FOR robes.
The coyote hunter is welcome wherever
no goes in the West. for he IS recognized
as the advance agent Of civilization.
Without him 10 clear the range Of the
coyote pest, the settlers would be suffer
ing constant losses. Chickens, sheep, and
calves are taken as tributes by the gray
Drowler whose skuIking form can be seen
on the horizon in any OF the more unde-
velOped portions OF the West.
VIII SIitcheITs Exploits.
An Instance Of the usefulness OF the
coyote hunter IS found in the undeyel-
oped country along the Wyoming-Colo-
rado line. Before the land Is settled. or
before the railroad or the settlers arrive.
II IS desired 10 rid the country of its
coyote pests So one Of the most skilled
coyote hunters in the West. VIII Mitchell.
Is operating in this Colorado Wyoming
country. BY the time the water is
turned into the big ditch on the Little
Snake River there will not be a coyote
left within 5 radius OF 100 miles and the
settlers in this new Fl Dorado will not
have 10 pay the usual high tribute 10 the
Western scourge.
Trapper Mitchell is typical OF the mem
beTs Of q strange profession. First Of all
he is an ardent lover of nature This
finds expression in drawing and painting,
and some Of his water cOlOrs are above
the average work Of those who have not
had the benefit Of schooling. Nothing
suits the trapper better than his Wild
free life in his big camp wagon. His pslts
bring him ready cash, so he never lacks
for ample supplies. The winters IN this
country are mild, and he pursues his vo-
cation all the year around. In proper
season he has no lack OF deer and ante
lope meat and higher Up in the hills he
often brings down a noble elk. Wolves.
bear. and other animals besides the coy
ote, are occasionally shot. and there IS
10 lack Of variety in the trapper's life.
Trapper Mitchell has picked up some
strange pets IN the course OF his years Of
work on the plains At present he is Law
sshing his affections on a pet wolf which
he captured a little over q year ago. The
wolf was mere puppy when the trap
per caught her, and he proceeded at once
with her training. Soon she learned 70
come to him, like kitten. Then she de-
veloped an affection for the trappers big
black dog. To-day there are three beauti-
2ul little wolf dog puppies playing about
the trapper's wagon, and the cnce savage
mother could not be driven away from
the camp. When near a town or ranch
house the trapper Is compelled 10 chain
up his pet wolf. as she Is nervous in the
presence OF strangers and might show
fight Out on the plains, however, the
wolf IS unclaimed and follows the wagon
like dog. She demonstrates tho great
est affection for tho trapper, allowing
the man 10 take her in his arms and
fondle her, and never showing any sign
OF anger. She IS even mere tractable
than the trappeT's dog, whose temper IS
somewhat uncertain.
The DecOy Wolf.
This tame wolf has acted as a decoy TO
bring many a prairie wolf within range
of the trapper's rife. Ranging over the
hills she has attracted the attention of
wolves returning 20 their dens in the
morning after an all-night feast on some
newly killed steer-This has enabled the
trapper to set in many deadly shot and
bring 70 camp many a fine wolf skin that
otherwise he would have missed. The
half-breed puppies slngularly enough,
seem TO be more dog than wolf Their
fur is thicker and softer than an ordinary
puppy's, but otherwise at first glance
they would be taken for full bred dogs.
The puppies seem equally divided IN az
iect!on as far as the father and mother
are concerned.
While poisoning Is practiced to a great
extent among coyote hunters, Trapper
Mitchell finds that weIl-baited trans are
best for all-around work. He plants many
OF these traps in day, and SO skilIfulv
s does he bait them that he is generally
well rewarded when he makes the
rounds
1 have perfected a plan that Is going
70 beat traps % DEATH" said the trapper
recently. I have been working for years
on q device that I have just completed
TO my satisfaction. It consists Of a gun.
concealed by q bait When the coyote
takes the bait in his jaws the gun is ex-
9loded and Mr.. Coyote Is dead. I have
worked on this scheme until 7 have made
st infallible The gun is so securely con
cealed that nothing is visible, a few
leaves or handfuls of grass concealing the
muZzle The bait IS 50 arranged that no
matter from what direction II is picked
up the gun discharge will be fatal. Some
times coyotes. being the most suspicious
animals on earth. VIII paw at a bait in
stead Of taking il in the Jaws at once.
But even when this is done the gun dis.
charge will prove fatal And have Der
fected the scheme so there will be no
danger TO stock OF horsemen A herd of
cattle can be driven over one Of m. gun
traps without discharging it. but the
Nghtest pull at the bait will bring down a
coyote"
Still They Survive.
Il IS a remarkable fact that while other
wild animals in the West have suffered a;
the hands OF hunters. the coyote has coo-