The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1911-05-03

for the morrow Ben. Bert and Heiny were tc
60 over to Ben's cabin on Big Salmon lake and
spend two days looking for elk. Charles declared
his intentions of trying again for the big bull on
the west side of the river. while had picked a
lkely-looking mountain across the gulch from
where Heiny had shot his goat on the first days
hunt.
We were out of camp early. Marsh and both
taking saddle horses. We cut out trail through
and around windfalls. across Marshall Creek, and
by ten o'clock that forenoon were we'll above the
snow line.
While We were yet some distance below the
summit. We tied our horses in a sheltered spot
and proceeded on foot. Deer tracks were numer-
Gus in the fresh, wet snow. and on top of a small
ridge I found the tracks of band of elk. There
were eight in the bunch. one track showing
plainly to be that of bull. and Marsh allowed"
We had better try for him. The tracks were cas-
lily followed. but as they had fed all over the
ridge IT took some time to find in which direction
they were going. Shortly Marsh. who was walk
Ing back of me. touched me and pointed out
yearling which was feeding toward u.s. We sat
down and watched this one which was soon
Joined by another and another. until six were in
sight. The two yearlngs came within sixty feet
before they winded us and turned back We
could hear the bull scraping his horns on the
brush. He was in the background. out of sight
We watched them possibly five minutes when
saw what ! took to be the bull. brushing his head
up and down among the branches of a small pine
l nred at point just back of his shoulders Then
came the one disappointment of the trip, for the
animal proved to be big COW. The remainder
of the band stood motionless for a quarter of a
minute then broke into run down the mountain
side.
We dressed the elk and continued our hunt for
goats. We were crossing deer tracks every few
feet. On coming out into a little park I found
one track that looked good enough to follow. and
mad hardly gone ten rods when heard him iump
out OF bed He came into an open spot on the
highest point Of the ridge and stood looking at
me over the top Of some dwarf cedars drew
bead on his neck and fred, scoring a clean
miss The second shot hit the mark and a ten.
point black-tail buck was added to the list. and
went long way toward repairing nv feelings
over the elk.
Inc reunited party had supper together that
evening. Ben put up goat. elk and venison steaks
TO orcer After the big feed was over and mines
niied. We sat around the fire In the teepee tent.
and planned further invasion Of the game zone
across Marshall creek The result waa Ror,.s
basgng OF the largest goat OF the trim and
Char s getting biack-tail buck
The shooting Of Bert's goat was oui,e , 70.
markable feat. He and Ben had Just about given
up looking for goats and were standing on the
edge OF a clih. looking down at q trail along the
SIDE OF the ledge when a goat appeared walking
leisurely. The animal was about fifty fec, horf
zontally and three hundred feet vertically ROW
him when he shot. hitting the goat SQUARE he.
tween the shoulders. killing it Instantly Any
struggle on the part OF the animal would have
resulted In his rolling over the cliff. where n
would nave been impossible to reach him Tho
TWO men crawled down over the slide rock ont
70 "nere the goat lay. and after much careful