402 SPORTING ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST. 



months; and as their dams and sires are also in the best 

 of condition at that time, say about the middle of August, 

 he who would feast on wild cutlets should then seek them 

 amidst the crags and chasms of their exalted retreats. 



The best time to hunt them is early in the morning or 

 late in the evening, as they are then out feeding and play- 

 ing, or searching for water; and as they are prominent ob- 

 jects in a landscape, they may be seen by the contrast they 

 present to their surroundings, or they may be tracked by 

 their "signs" or droppings. There is only one way in 

 which they can be hunted with any degree of success, and 

 that is to stalk or "still-hunt" them up wind, taking care 

 to use every rock and shrub for shelter ; to move as noise- 

 lessly as possible, as their ears are as sharp as their eyes, 

 and they are very suspicious of the least disturbance of the 

 mountain stillness ; and not to be too anxious for a shot, as 

 impatience is apt to lead to many disappointing and weary 

 tramps. They should be stalked from above, if possible, as 

 they do not expect any danger from that direction, all foes 

 being supposed to come from below. If alarmed from 

 above, instead of running down, they scamper obliquely 

 upward and against the wind, and this habit often leads 

 them to death, as hunters conceal themselves behind bowl- 

 ders, and, as the terror-stricken flocks rush past, they pre- 

 sent an excellent opportunity for close shooting. The best 

 weapon that I ever used against them was a Winchester 

 magazine rifle, as it enabled me to fire in rapid succession ; 

 and its charge of powder, which might be considered too 

 small for larger game, was strong enough to send a bullet 

 crashing through the body of a big-horn at a distance of 

 three or more hundred yards. As they are rarely stalked 

 under one hundred yards, except by unusual fair fortune 

 or accident, a good and accurate rifle is an indispensable 

 necessity to success in hunting them. The novice would 

 find a field -glass an excellent aid in discovering them 

 among ledges ; and should he be accompanied by a guide, 

 he may, through its advantages, get several shots to the 

 other's one, as it is seldom that two hunt close together; 



