EARLY DAY STORIES. 95 



Platte. These guns were never called in by the govern- 

 ment, and, as they were with one or two exceptions good 

 shooting guns, were of large caliber and long range, and 

 as fortunately they were not needed against the Indians, 

 they did come in handy in enabling the settlers who learned 

 how to use them to supply themselves and neighbors with 

 fresh meat. Game in almost every case was hunted only 

 to furnish a supply of fresh meat when needed. Deer and 

 elk were not hunted in the spring or early summer, but 

 antelope were hunted at any season when they could be 

 found, but only the bucks were killed in the spring-time. 

 As the antelope went west generally to winter where there 

 was better winter pasture than there was here they were 

 in better flesh in the early spring than were the buck deer 

 — hence when we needed meat in the spring-time we usually 

 hunted buck antelope. Of all the game that I have ever 

 hunted, the most difficult to approach is the antelope, where 

 they have been worried and shot at until they have become 

 wild. They have a great deal of curiosity, and when an 

 object that they do not understand is seen at a distance, 

 they will approach to investigate, but will seldom come near 

 enough for a shot, unless in a country where they have not 

 been hunted. 



At one time when hunting for deer in a rough country, 

 having had poor success in finding game, I followed up a 

 ravine to the edge of a smooth undulating table-land that 

 was two or three miles wide, thinking there might be ante- 

 lope in sight. Peering cautiously through the tall grass that 

 fringed the edge of the table, .there, within a quarter of a 

 mile, were five antelope feeding. All kinds of wild animals 

 are always on the lookout for danger. These antelope would 

 feed for a half minute or so, then raise their heads and take 

 a look around for possible danger, and then put their heads 

 down again to feed. Some of them had their heads up and 

 were on the look out for enemies all the time. As is always 



