302 



RECREA TION. 



they would carefully approach our tent; 

 stopping at short intervals and stamping 

 their fore feet as if impatient. 



I found that by holding a bright red 

 handkerchief before my face I could, by 

 making short advances, and then halting, 

 approach to within 40 or 50 feet of them. It 

 was amusing to see them wheel and run 

 when I would throw down the flag. 



The bucks were all in the velvet. I saw 

 many beautiful sets of horns. A 3 pronged 

 buck, that often visited the licks, was the 

 largest deer I ever saw. He would out- 

 rank all the other deer in height, by some 

 8 inches, and was much broader across the 

 back and shoulders. Many of the yearlings 

 were but little larger than fawns. 



The deep snows of last winter, in the 

 mountains of Idaho, caused the death of a 

 great deal of large game. We found several 

 deer that had died from starvation and some 

 trappers told me that never before had the}' 

 found so many dead or dying deer. 



In the vicinity of Canyon creek, on the 

 South fork of the Payette river, roams a 

 monster elk. I saw his tracks and they are 

 larger than those of a work ox. We found 

 one horn he had shed and it measured, at 

 the base, above the crown, 10^2 inches in 

 circumference, and 53% inches in length. 

 We left it at the cabin of a trapper, near 

 there. He told us he had gotten glimpses 

 of the elk but had never been able to get a 

 shot at him, and that he looked as large as 

 a bull moose. This elk has been known of 

 in that vicinity 4 years. What a prize he 

 would be for a real sportsman. But he will 

 doubtless fall a victim to some prospector 

 or trapper, who will complain of the tough 

 steaks and, on account of the law, will hide 

 the head and skin in the brush, to go to 

 waste. 



Just above the mouth of Dead Man's 

 canyon, in Boise County, is a goat lick. 

 It is a warm spring whose water has a slight 

 alkaline flavor, and is greatly relished by 

 big game. It is constantly visited by the 

 numerous goats that inhabit the rocky, 

 snowy range of mountains, there. The 

 tracks in the immediate vicinity would 

 lead a tenderfoot to imagine a few thousand 

 sheep had been there to drink. In July and 

 August the lick is also visited by numerous 

 deer and some few elk. It is indeed a 

 charming spot for the man who seeks to 

 add to his trophies, for he can sit in a blind 

 and take his choice, at a range of about 100 

 yards. 



and lakes, which are well stocked with 

 trout. Last autumn I made frequent trips 

 up Deep creek, a picturesque mountain 

 stream, after trout. My catches numbered 

 10 to 12, ranging in length from 6 to 12 

 inches. 



The fish I have seen here, thus far, are 

 all salmon trout. The largest I have heard 

 of, taken from Grand river, measured 23 

 inches. 



Though an excellent fish, still, I do not 

 think its flavor is so good as that of the 

 little fellows back in the Pennsylvania 

 streams. 



Here, I prefer the brook trout to those 

 taken from the lakes; while for sport, I 

 take the stream every time. Then, too, I 

 would much rather catch a 2-pound trout, 

 in a small stream, than a 6-pounder in a 

 river like the Grand. 



This Deep creek is the outlet to Deep 

 lake, a fine body of water, almost 10,000 

 feet above sea level, hence the clear wa- 

 ters of lake and stream are always very 

 cold. I venture to say a sportsman and 

 lover of nature, after having made the trip 

 along this stream, from its source to its- 

 mouth, would feel amply repaid for his 

 journey, though he had come hundreds or 

 thousands of miles. The canyon through 

 which the stream flows is from 2,000 to 

 3,000 feet in depth. I think it equal to the 

 famous Royal Gorge of the Arkansas- 

 Standing in a narrow part of the canyon 

 and looking upward, one can get an idea 

 of its immensity. On either side are per- 

 pendicular walls of solid rock, while the 

 sky is only a narrow band of blue. To leap 

 from one wall to the other would, appar- 

 ently, be an easy task. 



Along the rocky cliffs are mountain 

 sheep, and it is to be hoped they are safe 

 from hunters. Among the neighboring 

 hills are deer, elk, bear, grouse, and other 

 game. Here, too, is a magnificent field for 

 the amateur photographer. Innumerable 

 views may be had, while pictures of wild 

 animals can be easily secured. 



Not behind Deep lake, in attractiveness, 

 is Sweetwater lake, without exception the 

 prettiest little body of water I have ever 

 seen. I have, on several occasions, spent 

 a few days there, catching trout. There 

 seems to be an inexhaustible supply of them 

 in the lake; but of this more anon. 



I heartily endorse your course towara 

 the men who mercilessly slaughter game. 



L. D. Gilmore. 



WHERE TO FIND GAME AND FISH. 



Dotsero, Col. 

 Editor Recreation: During the sum- 

 mer and early fall, many tourists visit this 

 locality to hunt, and to fish in our streams 



WHAT CONSTITUTES A REASONABLE BAG. 



Lindsay, Ont. 



Editor Recreation: I have taken Rec- 

 reation, for the past 6 months, and am 

 very much pleased with it; and especially 

 with your earnest attacks on the game hog. 



Allow me to express my opinion of the 

 people mentioned by Mr. Roche, in August 



