Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-12-04

in. regions where tracking is especially
| difficult deer are often jumped with
out any sign having been seen at ALL
| Although still-hunting on foot is on
the whole the best way to get deer,
yet there are many places where from
the nature of the land the sport can be
followed quite as we'll on horseback,
than which there is no more pleasant
kind Of hunting. The best shot l ever
made in my life--a shot into which.
however, l am afraid the element of
chance entered much more largely
than the element of skill-was made
while hunting black-tail on horseback
We We're at that time making quite
long trip with the wagon, and were
going up the fork of plains river in
Western Montana. AS we were out
of food, those two of our number who
usually undertook to keep the camp
supplied with game determined to
make hunt off back Of the river after
black-tatl; for though there We're some
Whitehall in the more densely timbered
river bottoms. we had been unable to
get any. 1t was arranged that the
wagon should go on few mills, and
then halt for the night. as it was al
ready the middle of the afternoon
when we started out. The country
resembled in character other parts of
the cattle plains. but it was absolutely
bare of trees except along the bed of
the river The rolling hills sloped
steeply off into long valleys and deep
ravines. They were sparsely covered
with coarse grass. and also with an
irregular growth of tall sage-brush,
which in some places gathered into
have thought the country entirely too
barren of cover 20 hold deer. but
very little cspeIieuce teaches one that
deer will DE found in thickets Of such
short and sparse growth that it seems
as if they could hide nothing; and,
what is more. that they will often
skulk round in such thickets without
being discovered. And black-tail is
bold. free animal. liking to go out in
comparatively open country, where he
must trust to his own powers. and not
to any concealment, to protect him
from danger.
Where the billy country Joined the
alluvial river bottom. it broke off short
into steep bluffs. up which none but Il
Western pony could have climbed. 1t
is really wonderful to see what places
a pony can get over. and the indiffer
III, orle t,,y,
In getting up from the bottom we went
into wash-out. and then led our po
MES along a clay ledge. from which we
turned off and went straight up very
steep sandy bluff. My. companion was
ahead; just as he turned off the ledge.
and as was right underneath him. his
horse, in plunging to try to get up the
sand bluff, overbalanced itself, and.
after standing erect on its hind legs for
a second, came over backward. The
seconds pause while it stood bolt up
right, gave me time to make frantic
leap out of the way with my pony.
which, scrambled after me, and we
both chung with hands and hoofs to the
side of the bank, while the other horse
took two as complete somersaults as l
ever saw, and landed with crash at |
the bottom of the wash-out, feet upper
most thought it was done for, but
not q bit. After moment or two it
struggled to it's legs. shook itself, and
looked round in rather shame-faced
way, apparently not in the least the
worse for the fall. We now got my
pony up to the tor 10y vigorous pulling.
and then went down for the other,
which at first strongly objected to
making another trial, but, after much
;oaxing and good deal of abuse, took
a start and went up without trouble.
For some time after reaching the top
If the bluffs. WEI rode along without
seeing anything. When it was posi-
Die, we kept one on each side of
creek, avoiding the tops of the ridges.
because while on them horseman can
be seen at very long distance, and
going with particular caution when
.ver we went round spur or came up
over O crest. The country stretched
lway like an endless, billowy sea OF
soil and barren sage-brush,
he valleys making long parallel fur
'ows, and every thing having look
# dreary sameness.
At length. as we came out on q
ounded ridge. three black-tail bucks
tarted up from a lot Of sage-brush
ome two hundred yards away and be-
ow US, and made off down hill. 1t
vas very long shot, especially to try
but. as game seemed scarce
nd cartridges were plenty, l leaped
IF the horse, and. kneeling, fired. The
ullet went low, striking in line at the
eet of the kindmost. l was very high
ext time. making a wild shot above
nd ahead of them. which had the eff
ect of turning them, and they went
If round a shoulder of a bluff, being
Y this time down in the valley. Hav-
Is plenty OF time l elevated the sights
thing l hardly ever do to four hun
red yards and waited for their re-
ppearance Meanwhile they had EVIL
emily gotten over their fright, for
retty soon one walked out from the
Their side of the bluff, and came to q
broadSide toward me. He
'as TOO far off for me to see his
orns.
AS was raising the rifle another step ,
ed out and began to walk towards the
rSt | thought | might as we'll have