HUNTING IN CATTLE COUNTRY 141 



Along the Little Missouri the fawns, sometimes one 

 and sometimes two in number, were dropped in May or 

 early in June. At that time the antelope were usually 

 found in herds which the mother did not leave until she 

 was about to give birth to the fawn. During the first 

 few days the fawn's safety is to be found only in its not 

 attracting attention. During this time it normally lies 

 perfectly flat on the ground, with its head outstretched, 

 and makes no effort to escape. While out on the spring 

 round-up I have come across many of these fawns. Once, 

 in company with several cowboys, I was riding behind 

 a bunch of cattle which, as we hurried them, spread out 

 in open order ahead of us. Happening to cast down my 

 eyes I saw an antelope fawn directly ahead of me. The 

 bunch of cattle had passed all around it, but it made not 

 the slightest sign, not even when I halted, got off my 

 pony, and took it up in my arms. It was useless to take 

 it to camp and try to rear it, and so I speedily put it 

 down again. Scanning the neighborhood, I saw the doe 

 hanging about some half a mile off, and when I looked 

 back from the next divide I could see her gradually draw- 

 ing near to the fawn. 



If taken when very young, antelope make cunning 

 and amusing pets, and I have often seen them around the 

 ranches. There was one in the ranch of a Mrs. Blank 

 who had a station on the Deadwood stage line some eigh- 

 teen years ago. She was a great worker in buckskin, and 

 I got her to make me the buckskin shirt I still use. There 

 was an antelope fawn that lived at the house, wandering 

 wherever it wished; but it would not permit me to touch 



