Big Game in the Rockies 
eight inches, and the greatest spread between 
antlers is forty-nine inches. 
Probably more horrible lies have been told 
by bear-hunters than any other class of men, 
except, perhaps, fishermen, who are renowned 
for their yarns. However, I trust that in the 
case of the few instances I have to give of my 
experience I can keep fairly within the bounds 
of truth and not try the reader’s credulity. 
Bear-hunting, as a general rule, I do not 
think would appeal to most sportsmen. It is 
rather slow work, and one is often very inade- 
quately rewarded for the amount of time and 
trouble spent in hunting up Bruin. There is 
hardly a portion of the mountains where there 
are not evidences of bears, but I do not believe 
that in any locality they are especially abun- 
dant. They have been hunted and trapped 
so long that those which survive are extremely 
cautious. In my experience there is no ani- 
mal gifted with a greater amount of intelli- 
gence, and, in this region, the hunter’s chief 
virtue, patience to wait and stay in one spot, 
is sure to be rewarded, sooner or later, with a 
good shot which should mean success. 
107 
