Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1922-03-10
HUNTER MAKES
RECORD KILL
PHIL SCHOOLER GETS 5 COUGAR
ON THE NORTH FORK IN
FIFTEEN DAYS

Five cougar at $50 each, three
coyotes and one bobcat at $3.50
each, together with probable sale OF
the five cougar hides at $25 each,
making a total of 1886, is the haul
of a fifteen day hunt on the North
Fork of the Clearwater river by Phil
Schooler, formerly of Genessee, now
residing near Big Island. Mr..
Schooler arrived in Orofino Friday
evening, March 4, and applied at
sheriff JEWELS office Saturday for
bounty on his killing. Particulars
of the trip as given out by Mr..
Schooler follow:
February IA l crossed the North
Fork at Maiden Island and hunted
| up the south side to Jim Smiths at
Big Island. I was Joined there by
Milton Higgins, a lad from Kansas,
who had no experience in the woods
and who was very anxious to see
| real live cougar in tree.
| Deer were very plentiful around
the Island and were in good condi-
| ton considering the time of year.
Seeing no sign of cougar we moved
on up the river, each carrying a
piece of canvas, little grub and
less dishes, hunting both sides as
we went There were plenty of deer
as far as Silver creek, but none from
there on up to John Larson's, dis
tance of about ten miles.
AT Portage rifle we caught a
large trout measuring about three
feet long. Weighing between six and
seven pounds, which lasted us and
the dog four meals.
I'VE rested one day at Larson's
and caught 55 trout. after which
with replenished grub supply. W,
moved on up the river. accompanied
by Mr.. Larson. We called on Char
lie Smith, who has lived on thu
: North Fork for twenty odd years
and found him In good health, altht
he had recently had a narrow es
cape from drowning. While crossins
: the river the ice gave way and h
had n very difficult time with tn
aid only of an axe which he carrie,
9 In pulling himself back up on tn
3 Ice and was badly chilled before h
could get a fire built.
AT Salmon creek about ten mile
4 above Larson's we saw the firs
y cougar tracks We followed ther
! up Salmon creek ridge and. contrar
h to their custom. found that ther
: were four of the animals in a bune
: When we jumped them they separa
9 ted and l put the only dog we hat
o "Old Jack" on the trail of the lars
II est one which proved to be a wis
t old tom and instead of climbing
tree he took staight to the rive
+ and crossed, leaving the dog and
II to climb back up the mountain an
It try another The second one. a I,
male, was soon treed by the dog an
shot by Higgins. As it was nearl
dark we took our packs to Mckil
mons cabin for the night. Return
10 ing to the tracks early the ne
e morning we soon had the seeor
y cougar in n tree and killed. In u
4 afternoon we picked up the track
Il the tom who came hack across q
I river and turned Jack loose, but Il
ID cougar recrossed and got away. I
he the third morning Larson went ha'
IL after provisions while Higgins al
ad l took up the hunt.
&c I'VE found that the tom was
y our side of the river once more a.
u. with the fourth one of the hune
~, ..i | turned Jack loose on the femal'
III trail and as she cireled | hurri
across. leaving Higgins behind wi
the gun. As | WAS going throu
patch of brush with my head do'
D | heard the snow crunch ana I
er painting of the cougar and as
Is looked up she was right in frG
en- of me coming my way, | vel
.Kamerad' and as she turned as
| hit her with my walking sti
II The dog treed both her and the I
ill and we got them both that day.
hs. I'VE hunted on up the river