68 Hunting the Grisly 



At present the wapiti is of all wild game 

 that which is most likely to fall a victim to the 

 grisly, when the big bear is in the mood to 

 turn hunter. Wapiti are found in the same 

 places as the grisly, and in some spots they are 

 yet very plentiful; they are less shy and ac- 

 tive than deer, while not powerful enough to 

 beat off so ponderous a foe ; and they live in 

 cover where there is always a good chance 

 either to stalk or to stumble on them. At al- 

 most any season bear will come and feast on an 

 elk carcass; and if the food supply runs short, 

 in early spring, or in a fall when the berry 

 crop falls, they sometimes have to do their 

 own killing. Twice I have come across the 

 remains of elk, which had seemingly been 

 slain and devoured by bears. I have never 

 heard of elk making a fight against a bear; 

 yet, at close quarters and at bay, a bull elk 

 in the rutting season is an ugly foe. 



A bull moose is even more formidable, be- 

 ing able to strike the most lightning-like blows 

 with his terrible forefeet, his true weapons of 

 defence. I doubt if any beast of prey would 

 rush in on one of these woodland giants, when 

 his horns were grown, and if he was on his 

 guard and bent on fight. Nevertheless, the 

 moose sometimes fall victims to the uncouth 



