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. 



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