Plentywood herald., 1928-04-20

are like prophets. But
even a skeptical neighbor pays his re-
spects to man who puts up good
fight against odds, especially when he be-
gins to succeed. Courtland DuRand. who
has worked two years to establish the
wild elk range of Montana, has made the
first step toward success. He has his elk
in corral And getting them there was
the heart-breaking climax of long, hard
struggle.
The new elk range is at the DuRand
ranch in the Belt mountains, 20 miles
from Martinsdale, the nearest shipping
point When Mr.. DuRand came from
New York in Januray to buy elk from
the government Bison range near Dixon
he had worked for two years getting the
backing of sportsmen for his project.
His preliminary work was done. He had
organized trust and was well financed.
He had won out in another point essen
tial to his plans, in securing authority
to take only COW elk and fawns from the
range, instead of the chute-run Of the
herd. He was intent on getting only
females, because it is his intention to
import bull elk OF Canadian stock.
Make Debut in Blizzard
The first shipment Of elk arrived at
the Milwaukee yards, Martinsdale, Janu-
ary 18-three express carloads, 25 to the
car. Unfortunately for every one con-
cerned. blizzard arrived at the same
time. Mr. DuRand had arranged to have
the elk hauled to the ranch by motor
truck. The animals were Grated, and
local trucks could handle six crates to
the load. With two trucks working,
making two trips daily, the elk could be
transferred to the range in three days,
according to Mr.. DuRand's calculations
A two-foor snowfall came the day be-
fore the elk arrived The next day a
high wind began driving the snow The
Musselshell valley is a wind-swept coun-
try, and drifts piled higher and higher
over the country roads. Auto traffic
was suspended and bobsleds were al
most as helpless as cars for drifts In
one place meant bare roads in another
crew of men with shovels started out
In trucks, and succeeded in opening the
road as far as the Holiday ranch. IL
miles from town. They opened it again
coming back, and kept on opening it sc
long as they hauled elk-except on the
days when they didn't get through al
all. At the Holiday ranch the elk were
transferred to bobsleds for the last five
miles of their journey.
Transportation Difficulties
Instead OF making two trips day
the trucks did well If they made one
An incident Of the last days hauling
shows the hardships the drivers had tc
face. The trucks had been loaded before
daylight, and made an early start. BY
noon they were two miles out of town
The wind was increasing, the road clos
ing behind them and in front of then
as fast as they could shovel it out, anc
the flying snow growing more and more
binding. The trucks turned back to the
Grant ranch a half-mile from town, one
of the c. f. Bair properties now LEASED
by c. F. Bolin. Here the elk were un.
loaded, fed and housed for the night
The trucks started for town, and arrived
after dark
Delivery that normally would have re.
quired three days took 10, and in thu
| meantime Mr.. DuRand was payinl
demurrage on the express cars at th'
rate of S45 a day, and the elk were
eating their heads off. 1t took all tht
hay their keepers could beg, borrow, o.
4 buy to keep the elk fed until the.
were out of town. The day the last loaC
was delivered a second shipment ar
rived But this time 1t was only one car
The weather had moderated, the road
were open, and the work went easily
Only Two Animals Lost
With all the delay only two elk wer,
lost. One fractions COW broke her lei
and had to be killed. One died ell
route from the Bison range. This ami
NAL proved to have been injured in
ternally, and Mr.. DuRand assumes tina
it was hurt in 'pileup" at the loading
chutes This stampede, which nigh
have been far more serious than 1T was
had 1t funny side as related by Mr.. Du
rand.
Every precaution had been taken, afte
the roundup Of elk on the Bison rang
to prevent their being frightened o
stampeded. 1t is not hard for expert
enced men to handle elk, for they q
about their work quietly: But the ami
mails are easily startled by unexpectet
sounds or quick motions. In the cours
OF three days riding, 500 elk had beel
gradually crowded down the foothills in
to the collecting pens. Approach to tn
pens was guarded, and all roads patroled
to prevent the approach OF automobile