Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-02-02
PROVES Or - .nIH1iY ELK.
u Was Not Only Physical, But Mental
as Well.

II Was Not Only Physical, But Mental
as Well.
Frank s. Metzel and Will o. Metzel,
natives of Madison county and prom
inent as hunters and stockmen, have
recently completed two remarkable
hunting trips, says Helena, Mont,
letter. On one they secured five deer
within a few hours without going
more than half a dozen miles from
their home ranch.
On the first trip they went elk
hunting in the rugged mountains d.
viding the Madison valley from the
Ruty. There the mountains average
5000 feet in height, and deer, elk,
mountain sheep and mountain lions
live in contentment save when some
mighty hunter comes along and dis
turbs their quietude. The hunt was
successful, and both Metzels brought
back big bull elks. The elk secured
by Frank Metzel has a spread Of ant
lers of more than eighty inches. At
the risk of getting a call-down as a
nature faker. Mr.. Metzel told Of his
experience In staying this mighty bull.
I'VE went into camp close to the
head of He'll Roaring creek, which
some of the tenderfeet are now try
ing to name Elk river" he said. I'VE
hunted for two or three days without
much success, seeing large number
Of tracks, but only an occasional
grouse orfsAew shoe rabbit.
Zone afternoon, after I had. had. a
fruitless hunt and come back to camp
decided would prospect a park
which I could see about two miles
from camp and which looked good
for elk. Accordingly threw my sad
die on a horse and started out. When
I got within a few hundred yards of
the place I tied my pony to a pine
tree and began investigating the
ground.
'1he entire park was as full OF elk
tracks as a barnyard is Of cattle
tracks. Seeing where tree had been
freshly turned over I investigated and
found unmistakable evidences Of a
big elk planting his hoofs in the soft
ground and bowling the tree over by
main strength, planning its fall so
that 1t would dam up a little thread
Of water and form pool that would
would give him wallow. The tree
was several inches in diameter. 1t
did not fall exactly as the old bull
wanted 1t to, and the tracks In the
mud showed where he had attempted
to roll 1t into place, but he was not
heavy enough to do so.
1.-The tracks told an interesting
story and were proof positive that the
elk Of the Madison county mountains
can reason. This wise old bull had
taken bee line to another park close
ty and summoned a number Of other
elk to help him, and upon my word
you could see the horn prints Of at
least five other bulls in the soft ground
where they had assisted in roofing
that tree around so that 1t would jam
the stream and afford wallow which
he could enjoy in comfort
But this old bull was crafty an
imal. He wanted the wallow all to
himself. A desperate fight ensued
and the big bull came off champion,
as trails Of elk going at big gallop
from the battle ground In all direc-
tions showed how they had been put
to flight.
Naturally surveyed the ground with
interest, trying to decide which elk
would follow in an attempt to get
some meat. The tracks were the
freshest I had seen for days and
showed that the battle royal had oc-
Cured only a few hours before. While
I was stuoying heard a noise OF an
animal trotting through the woods
and Immediately threw my rifle In
readiness.
Scarcely ha: done so when the
biggest elk I ever saw, came trotting
out into the opening, snorting defiance
and wanting more fight. 1t was the
old bull, returning from chasing from
the scene the last of the disputants to
the right of the wallow. He had his
fighting blood up, thought he could
whip anything that walked and ne
Immediately charged me. Luckily !
made a centre shot and true hit and
sent a bullet into his body near the
heart. I was careful to shoot so /
would not spoil his head, which was
the finest I ever saw. The shot l
gave him would have stopped run
ming grizzly, but this old elk would
not quit. Then the shell stuck In my
gun, and after frantically trying
to work the lever for few seconds /
turned and ran to the shelter Of big
pine tree, behind which I took refuge
and which I tried to climb.
1.-The climbing was a desperate at
tempt and naturally a failure. Then
the cold sweat broke out all over me
and / thought was meat for that old
bull elk. Just then change came In
his attitude. His eyes became CLASSY
and his head dropped, while his stur-
dy legs began to weaken. Just as
could feel his hot breath against my
body as I still attempted to climb the
tree the big brute crumpled up In
bunch and died.
"It was the biggest elk ever killed
in Montana. The carcass weighed
more than 900 pounds, including the
head and horns. We had to haul 1t
out on travels specially constructed,
and we were three days getting 1t to
point where we could load him up
on a wagon. It was really a shame
to kill this brute, but I have never
heard Of an elk Of such intelligence
that he could make his own wallow
and realize that numbers meant
strenpth when II comes to moving q