35 



Vancouver Island and East Kootenay seemed to escape the 

 epidemic, but in the latter district, owing to wholesale slaughter by the 

 Indians, they were thought at one time to have disappeared. However, 

 in 1905 a close season was declared and every effort made to protect 

 them, with the result that they have increased to such an extent that 

 a short open season may be allowed in a year or two. When this open 

 season commences there will be splendid chances of good heads, as, 

 with the excellent feed in that district, they rival in size those in 

 Wyoming. 



On Vancouver Island there are still a good many wapiti left, but 

 owing to the ravages of wolves and cougars the stock became very 

 low, and a close season had to be declared, which will probably last 

 for some years yet. 



CARIBOU. 



Osborn's Caribou (Rangifer osbonii). — This caribou is claimed 

 to be the finest of all caribou, and, though it is not found in such 

 bands as the Barren Ground species, it is still very plentiful in the 

 whole of the Cassiar District, and is to be found practically as far 

 south as the 56th parallel of latitude. During the hunting season — 

 in fact, nearly all the year round — their habitat is on the high plateaus, 

 about 4,000 feet above sea-level, and above the timber-line, so that 

 there is no difticulty about picking the best heads. While they are to 

 be found more or less all over the northern part of the Province, 

 they are especially plentiful to the east of Dease Lake. 



Black or Mountain Caribou {Rangifer montauns). — There is 

 little difference between this and the above-mentioned species, except 

 they do not average such big horns and live on more or less timbered 

 plateaus. They are to be found all through the Selkirk Range from 

 the United States boundary-line, at any rate, up to the 54th degree of 

 latitude. Their range widens as you go north until it extends from 

 the extreme east of the Province almost down to the coast. 



In the south the best points to outfit for them are Revelstoke and 

 Golden, on the main line of the C.P.R. ; Mara or \>rnon, on the 

 Okanagan branch ; and Cranbrook, on the Crowsnest line. A fairly 

 good range can also be reached from Nelson. 



In Chilcotin caribou have not been plentiful for some years past, 

 but it is from this district that the finest heads have been obtained. 



Quesnel and Barkerville are both close to good caribou-ranges, 

 and are probably the best for those who can spare more time. 



DEER. 



Mule-deer ( Qdocoilciis hcmioniis). — This magnificent deer is 

 again increasing rapidly in almost every district in the interior. Their 



