Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-11-22

stood still for second ana tsEen rear
ing up fell over backwards, dead.
We were certainly elated It was
not yet 8 o'clock and we had a very
large moose. probably Weighing 100
pounds, but he was quite old and did
not have very good horns. We soon
found the boys. who said that they
had sighted their moose about 400
yards away but had missed and they
hardly believed us when we told them
we had a big one down. We found
that there had been two moose and
the one we killed was not the one
they had shot at, We all spent the
balance Of the day in dressing this
moose. packing out the head and some
meat. And right here want to corr
rect very common notion that the
meat from bull moose Is too tough
to eat. We ate moose meat every day
in camp and can safely testify to Its
nne favor and tender quality.
EARLY the next morning found Herb
anxious to get away to recover the
reputation as marksman lost the day
before Mrs. B. and I hunted all the
morning without seeing anything and
returned to camp very tired and hum
cry about the middle of the after
noon. The boys got in after dark and
a satisfied look on Herbs face told US
that they had at least seen something.
We we're told that they had sighted
q spike bull and killed It and after
dressing that, spent some time hunt,
ting, but saw only a COW and two
calves. which they watched for some
time, even walking to within 200 feet
OF them. We all rolled In early and
were up again betimes. and as Mrs. b..
and Herb had each developed =
Charley. horse from too careful walk
ing. they decided to stay in camp. and
Gilbert and I accompanied BY. Mr.. H.
Gilbertson. who had come to spend q
day or two with us. started out. We
tramped hard and followed q track for
a couple Of hours in the forenoon. but
this proved to be a very large COW.
and We had to let her go. After eat
ing our lunch. which. BY the way. con-
sisted each day or one large sandwich
and about two ounces Of homemade
candy. we decided to try an old burn
Ing couple OF miles further north.
and about q o'clock in the afternoon.
found a fresh track that looked good
to us. Gilbert and ! took the trail and
Mr. Gilbertson started for the farther
edge OF the large ravine. We had not
walked for more than twenty minutes,
when rounding q little point up into
the ravine, I saw. a bout i 80 yards dis
3tant. standing In clump. OF alder
bushes, a splendid big bull with q mag
inificent head I raised my gun and
fired, and the big fellow staggered.
but did not fall. so ] sent In another
ball. and he fell in a heap. He was
dead when we reached him. with two
ragged holes just back Of the shout
der, either of which was SUFFICIENT to.
have killed him in a minute or two
About this time Mr.. g ilbertson's rife.
began to sing, and Gilbert and ran;
forward but saw nothing. MY firing
had started another moose not far
away from US but too far for Mr.. G.
to get accurate shooting. and he got
away. q. 3E II l.se
We went back and took stock OF our
moose and found that he ri weighed
about 1 100 pounds. and had good
head with an actual spread of 81
inches. don't think that ! ever was
so thoroughly satisfied in my life as
at just that time. After dressing our
moose and taking of the head, which
Gilbert. strong as a small horse. car
ried without a pack-strap down to the
lake. we hit the trail for camp as fast
as possible as 1t was already nearly
dark. AT camp Of course ! staggered
around some and declared that 4
would have to leave my gun in the
tent thereafter or should have to
shoot all the moose for the whole per
ty, etc, etc. n
We decided that we should make an
early start the next morning. despite
the fact that the day was Sunday. We