CHAPTER XII. 



ELK AND BEAR HUNTING IN WINTER 



In hunting elk in the winter, if the ice was strong 

 enough, we would go up the creek in sleighs ; but if 

 it was too weak for that purpose we would take a 

 hand-sleigh to carry our necessaries. It was usual 

 for two or three of the party to go together; one 

 staying along the river and watching, while the 

 others went in search of tracks, and when they fouud 

 one, followed it, and alarming the elk, it would gene- 

 rally make for the rocks on the bank of the creek, 

 where, being stopped by the dogs, we could shoot 

 them. Sometimes, after they had received a shot, 

 they would fall fifty or sixty feet down the bank to 

 the creek or towards it. When we shot them some 

 distance from the creek, we took out their entrails, 

 and sprinkled powder or sulphur around, to keep off 

 the wild animals, and left the elk there with its skin 

 on, until we could procure a horse to draw it to the 

 river. 



Bear-meat, at that time, brought a much higher 

 price than elk-meat ; bear-oil and bear-skins were also 

 in great demand. The skins sold for from four to ten 

 dollars. If we saw a bear track when we were in 

 pursuit of elk, we would always leave the elk and 



