The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1912-01-23
COPYRIGHT BN OUTDOC

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 on, down. We found
that there had been two moose and
the one we killed was not the me
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 a 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
fine flavor and tender quality.
Early the next morning found Herb
anxious to get away to recover the
reputation as a marksman lost the day
before. Mrs. B. and 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
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 zoo 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 accompanied by Mr.. H.
Gilbertson. who had come to spend
day or two with us. started out We
tramped hard and followed track for
a couple of hours in the forenoon, but
this proved to be a very large COW
and we had to let her 60 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 couple Of miles further north.
and about 4 o'clock in the afternoon
found 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 little point up into
the ravine. | saw. about $50 yards dis
tant, standing in a clump of alder
bushes. splendid big bull with a mag.
nificent head l raised my gun and
fired. and the big fellow staggered.
but did not fall so l 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 shoul.
der. either of which was sufficient to
have killed him in a minute or two
About this time Mr. Gilbertson's rife
began to sing. and Gilbert and I 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.
We went back and took stock of our
moose and found that he weighed
about LOO pounds. and had good |
head with an actual spread of 81
inches. l don't think that ever was
so thoroughly satisfied in my life as
at Just that time. After dressing our
moose and taking off the head. which |
Gilbert. strong as a small horse, car.
lied without pack-strap down to the
axe, we hit the trail for camp as fast
Is possible as 1t was already nearly
lark. At camp Of course staggered
around some and declared that
would have to leave my gun In the
.ent thereafter or l should have to
hoot all the moose for the whole per-
y. ETC., etc.
We decided that we should make an
early start the next morning. DESPITE
he fact that tho day was Sunday. We