The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1911-12-07
COPTRlGhT HN 81

ing up fell over backwards, dead.
We were certainly elated. 1t was
not yet 9 O'Clock and we had very
large moose, probably weighing 1900
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 big one down. We found
that there had been two moose and
the one we killed was not the Jne
! 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 l want to cor
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 It's
fine flavor and tender quality.
Early the next morning found Herb
anxious to get away to recover che
reputation as marksman lost the day
before. Mrs. B. and l hunted all the
morning without seeing anything and
returned to camp very tired and hun
cry about the middle Of the after
noon. The boys got in after dark and
satisfied look on Herbs face told US
that they had at least seen something.
We were told that they had sighted
a spike bull and killed 1t and after
dressing that, spent some time hunt
ting, but saw only 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 a
Charley horse" from too careful walk
; ing. they decided to stay in camp. and
Gilbert and l accompanied by Mr.. H
Gilbertson.' who had come to spend a
day or two with us, started out. We
tramped hard and followed track fol
! couple of hours in the forenoon, bu,
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 Of one large sandwich
and about two ounces Of homemade
candy. we decided to try an old burn
; ing a couple of miles further north
j. and about o'clock In the Afternoon
found fresh track that looked goot
I to us. Gilbert and I took the trail ant
!. Mr.. Gilbertson started for the farthe
D edge of the large ravine. We had no
walked for more than twenty minutes
when rounding little point up int,
: the ravine. saw. about $50 yards. dis
t tant, standing in a clump Of aide
! bushes, splendid big bull with a mag
. nificent head. raised my gun ant
/ fred. and the big fellow staggered
8 but did not fall, so sent in anothe
!. ball. and he fell in a heap. He wa
q dead when we reached him, with tw
Q ragged holes just back of the shou
4 der, either Of which was sufficient t
It have killed him in a minute or two
3 About this time Mr.. Gilbertson's riff
d began to sing, and Gilbert and l RAJ
forward but saw nothing. My firin
p had started another moose not ia
II away from us but too far for Mr..
It to get accurate shooting. and he &c
q away.
3 We went back and took stock of GU
moose and found that he weighe
a about LOO pounds, and had a goo
g head with an actual spread of 6
a. inches. / don't think that l ever wa
r. SO thoroughly satisfied in my life a
1t at just that time. After dressing on
~ moose and taking of the head. whic
e. Gilbert, strong as a small horse. ca
N ried without a pack-strap down to tn
30 lake. we hit the trail for camp as fas
70 as possible as 1t was already nearl
ir dark. At camp Of course l swaggere
In around some and declared that
% would have to leave my gun in tt
= tent thereafter or l should have I
lg shoot all the moose for the whole pc
IT. ty. ETC., etc.
le We decided that we should make a
IN early start the next morning. despi
d. the fact that the day was Sunday. "