122 THE WILDERNESS HUNTER. 



wind. There was much sheep sign, some of 

 of it fresh, though I saw none of the animals 

 themselves ; the square slots, with the in- 

 dented marks of the toe points wide apart, 

 contrasting strongly with the heart-shaped 

 and delicate footprints of deer. The animals 

 had, according to their habit, beaten trails 

 along the summits of the higher crests ; little 

 side trails leading to any spur, peak, or other 

 vantage-point from which there was a wide 

 outlook over the country roundabout. 



The bighorns of the Bad Lands, unlike 

 those of the mountains, shift their range but 

 little, winter or summer. Save in the breed- 

 ing season, when each master ram gets to- 

 gether his own herd, the ewes, lambs, and 

 yearlings are apt to go in bands by them- 

 selves, while the males wander in small par- 

 ties ; now and then a very morose old fellow 

 lives by himself, in some precipitous, out-of- 

 the-way retreat. The rut begins with them 

 much later than with deer ; the exact time 

 varies with the locality, but it is always after 

 the bitter winter weather has set in. Then 

 the old rams fight fiercely together, and on 

 rare occasions utter a long grunting bleat or 

 call. They are marvellous climbers, and dwell 

 by choice always among cliffs and jagged, 

 broken ground, whether wooded or not. An 

 old bighorn ram is heavier than the largest 

 buck ; his huge, curved horns, massive yet 

 supple build, and proud bearing mark him as 

 one of the noblest beasts of the chase. He 

 is wary ; great skill and caution must be shown 

 in approaching him ; and no one but a good 

 climber, with a steady head, sound lungs, and 



