Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-10-09

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a clump Of pinyons. stood II huge bull.
his head thrown back as lie rubbed his
shoulders with his horns. There were
several cows around him. and one saw
me Immediately, and took alarm. |
fired into the bulls shoulder inficting
mortal wound; but he went off. and
raced after him at top speed firing
twice into his flank; then he stopped.
very sick, and broke his neck with II
fourth bullet An elk often hesitates
In the first moments OF surprise and
fright, and does not get really under
way for two or three hundred yards {:
but, when once fairly started. he may
go several miles, even though mortally
wounded; therefore, the hunter. after
his first shot, should run forward as
fast as he can. and shoot again and
again until the quarry drops. In this
way many animals that would other
wise be lost are obtained, especially
by the man who has repeating
rife
AhV GIN thuS bltW WIS u RlduI.
His body was the size OF steers,
and his antlers. though not unusually
long. were very massive and heavy.
He lay In a glade. on the edge Of
great cliff. Standing on its brink we
overlooked most beautiful country,
the home OF all homes for the elk:
wilderness OF mountains. the immense
evergreen forest broken by park and
glade. by meadow and pasture. by
bare hillside and barren table-land
Some five miles of lay the sheet OF
water known to the old hunters as
Spotted Lake; two or three shallow,
sedgy places, and spots of geyser for
nation. made pale green blotches on
Its wlnd-rippled surface. Far to the
southwest, in daring beauty and mai
esty, the grand domes and lofty spires
OF the Tetons shot into the blue
sky.
That night, as on more than one
night afterward. n bull elk came down
whlstling 10 within two or three hun
dred yards Of the tents, and tried to
join the horse herd. The moon had
set. so | could not go after It Elk are
very restless and active throughout
the night in the rutting season: but
where undisturbed they feed freely In
the daytime, resting for two or three
hours about noon.
Next day, which was rainy. we spent
In getting in the antlers and meat OF
the two dead elk; and | shot Off the
heads Of two or three blue grouse on
the way home. The following day
killed another bull elk. following him
by the strong. not unpleasing. smell.
and hitting him twice as he ran. at
about eighty yards. SO far had had
good luck, killing everything l had
shot at; but now the luck changed,
through no fault OF mine, as far as |
>ould see. and Ferguson had his in
nings. The day after | killed this
bull he shot two fine mountain rams:
md during the remainder OF our hunt
he killed five elk-one COW, for meat,
md four good bulls. The two rams
were with three others, all old and
With fine horns; Ferguson peeped over
lofty precipice and saw them COM
ng up it only itty yards below him.
Ills two first and finest bulls were OBJ
aimed by hard running and good
shooting; the herds were on the move
Il the time, and only his speed OF foot
Ind soundness OF wind enabled him
% get near enough for shot. One
herd started before he got close, and |
lie killed the master bull by shot |
light through the heart. as II trotted /
'ast a hundred and Htty yards dis.
ant
As for me, during the next ten DAYS |
Killed nothing save one COW for meat; |
Ind this though | hunted hard every !
lay from morning till night. no matter
What the weather Our III success was
n part due TO sheer bad luck; but the
hlef element therein was the presence
u great hunting. party OF Shoshone
indians. Split into bands OF eight 10
en- each. they secured the whole coun.
ry on their tough, sure-footed ponies.
Is they slew whatever they could. but
y preference cows and calves and as
hey We're very perSeyprinC b,,t ,Is,