Hunting at High Altitudes 



on our left, probably the young bulls seen several 

 times, and then climbing up high on the mountain 

 to approach them, I discovered two large bands of 

 elk feeding; no doubt the ones seen a few days 

 before. They were about three miles to the south 

 and on the bench near Rock Creek. I regretted 

 that we had not moved the day before, so that we 

 might get around them and start them up the 

 valley, so as to have them near us when we moved 

 camp further up the mountains to the north. 



Going about a mile further around the moun- 

 tain, we discovered a fine old ram sunning himself 

 about half way to the top. We passed him with- 

 out attracting his attention, got under cover, and 

 then ascended the mountain by way of a ravine in 

 order to get the wind on him and to approach him 

 from behind rising ground. About the time I dis- 

 mounted and prepared to stalk him, I discovered 

 the remainder of the band, six or eight sheep, a 

 little higher up, but in full view of us. They had 

 seen us, and got up and ran off. I hurried toward 

 the old ram, in the hope that he would not dis- 

 cover this movement of the others, but getting to 

 within two hundred yards of him, found he also 

 was starting up the mountain. I gave the band a 

 shot at three hundred yards, but it fell short, and 

 then I fired at the ram, but without effect. 



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