Hungry Horse news and Columbian. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1946-1948, 1947-01-24
bvstander Interviews Chauncey
beebe, Mountain Lion Hunter

columbia Falls IS sn 1ne 81 no Ame =
aD Lost known big game hun
900 as Columbia Falls
onr s him, came to the com
loa ;.v in 1900 with his father
lu ,,s H. Beebe, a blacksmith
! ~ +be "best horse sheer in the
|unty." ;o;noa +ho
.ioral Park service after
[;ne with the forest service.
10 ,o2O he became assistant chief
sser and also in that year,
the park to join the old bio
rcal survey, which has since
.one the fish and wildlife
s,,;ce Chance, who will retire
; in 1947, after 80 years, is
" Stationed in the Conrad
) east of the mountains.
i, Phantom of North Fork
stories of the Columbia Falls
nter. who was featured in
sntland Rice's first spotlight
Montana, include the track
dnwn of the Phantom of the
nh Fork. It was in 1928 that
ots kept coming down from
North Fork country of a
Bller" mountain lion who
,ldn't be tracked.
rail of the beast could be
lowed for while by tracks
4 partially eaten deer and elk.
en- there would be no trail.
thance left Columbia Falls in
cember on snowshoes, pack
back. With him was Jerry,
ngrel from the Columbia Falls
Lets. now trained hunter.
bnce mushed up to Logging
Elk, then to Big Creek ran
station, and spent a night |
Jean Sullivan's, then a ranch
n the third day, he came
oss lion tracks, which indi-
ed nine foot long cat weigh
over 200 pounds. Through
lucky break the Phantom"
freed and killed on the eve
g of the third day. Why the
he Phantom? This lion would
kktrack for 100 pards or so,
then take a big, sideways
hp down a steep slope. Dogs
)ldn't know that.
Winter Is Best for Tracking
these is no mystery in WIN
weather for the veteran lion
bter. It is over snow that the
cats can best be trai]ed.
IRE was one November pursuit
I required II days. It was
long trail that started near ,
ptted Bear, SO miles above
fam, and then over mount
5 and across streams, often
ng the track. Picking it up .
! in where lay "a fresh elk or ,,
Fr kill. Finally the Middle
X was reached and crossed ,,
r Nyack, and then back up
South Fork, where at Tiger
|ek, the mountain lion was
Ed and killed.
Fhere is probably no Montana
p who has spent more winter
PITS out under the stars.
Today his gun is a 300 Saw
and his dog, Butch, mostly
irish terrier. Chance believes
The modern methods of ell
mating predatory animals. :
+ small 6-inch coyote gun bu- !
In meat and a 80 pistol 1
fridge he believes best.
ne family scrapoook contains
my magazine and newspaper :
Ppngs of the man, best known 6
Killing mountain lion. !.
U.S. Beebe Has Lion Coat
Fls' Beebe is probably the 9
y woman in the world, who =
mountain lion coat, made
IN the skins of five of the
caS shot by her husband.
me Beebe children are: Mrs.
pa /, Collenborne, Columbia q
u Chauncy D. Beebe, White .
r''Mrs.- Evelyn Allison, : Boze-. :
y !, and Edward Beebe, Mis- l
a. who has followed in his
! profession, and also COL
! Trained, is assistant district I
!. Tor the fish and wildlife I
wee in charge of predatory 7
' !, control. +
IAance, home for Christmas, = !.
y, ,oyed playing with the two j.
y. euoorne children. There are :.
~ grandchildren in all. He
.s expressed interest in help
~ slls area once more get rid |
Wiz rnyyNk1-