Memories of a Bear Hunter 



would be attracted to this pile of fat flesh, so I 

 determined quietly to await developments at home. 



Knowing the habits of these bears, it was evi- 

 dently a discreet policy to move with a good deal 

 of caution ; not to show myself to them or to leave 

 my scent around or near the bait late in the day. 

 Alarmed in any way, they would at once become 

 cautious, and would come to feed only at night. 

 I accordingly scouted around early in the day on 

 the outskirts of the locality to ascertain the route 

 by which the bears approached, and then late in 

 the evening, watched the trail some distance back 

 from instead of at the carcasses. The bears soon 

 found the feast and commenced their visitations. 



Four or five days were required to ascertain the 

 direction from which they came and the route or 

 trail they used. I found that one or more came 

 down Rose Creek, or Four Bear, as it was after- 

 ward named, and one or two came down the river 

 on the north side. Watching the trail on the 

 latter stream, on two evenings, I saw a bear pass 

 down about sundown, but on each occasion out of 

 good rifle range. 



A few evenings afterward, the same bear again 

 passed down the valley, but still out of rifle range. 

 Unless sure of a certain hit, in a vital place, it was 

 not good policy to fire. Watching the other trail, 



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