FROM THE GAME FIELDS. 



IN THE KOOTENAY COUNTRY. 



Spokane, Wash. 



Editor Recreation: Have just returned 

 from an extended tour, through a region 

 rarely visited by sportsmen. Leaving Bon- 

 ner's Ferry, no miles East of Spokane, and 

 crossing the Kootenay river, we followed 

 an old and well worn trail Northward. 



For the first 30 miles, the trail traverses 

 open pine ridges, whence an occasional 

 brook makes its way to the Kootenay. 

 This is an excellent feeding ground for 

 deer, when snow has driven them from the 

 higher ranges, and here we saw numerous 

 coveys of ruffed grouse. 



We reached Round Prairie at 6 p.m. on 

 the first day out, and determined to stay a 

 week there. We made our headquarters 

 in a deserted cabin, on a little stream that 

 ran through a series of meadows, one to 40 

 acres in extent. On both sides, open pine 

 timber reached back to the foot hills, af- 

 fording good pasturage for our horses. 

 Arising before the sun next morning, we 

 went forth on our respective missions; 

 Will, to fish, Lou, to gather berries, and I, 

 to shoot a deer. 



While passing through the meadow in 

 which our horses were feeding, I was sur- 

 prised to see a white-tail doe, with 2 fawns, 

 make off into the pines; and during the 

 next 3 hours I saw 4 more does, with their 

 fawns, in the parks, and amid the timber. 

 Not caring to shoot anything but a buck, I 

 returned, empty handed, to camp, where I 

 found Will, with 22 fine trout, and Lou, 

 who had picked a large basketful of huckle- 

 berries. 



We had an early supper, and an hour be- 

 fore sunset I went back among the parks, 

 and choosing a position at the edge of a 

 20 acre meadow, awaited developments. 

 Three does, and as many fawns, soon took 

 possession of the field, and fed leisurely, 

 unsuspicious of danger. I was about to re- 

 turn to camp, at dusk, when, with a crack- 

 ling of underbrush, 2 bucks bounded into 

 view, about 100 yards away. I drew a bead 

 on the shoulder of the nearest deer, and let 

 go. He ran about 50 yards, and fell, and I 

 found I had secured a 2 year old. This 

 settled the question of camp-meat for some 

 time, at least. 



During our stay at this camp we caught 

 all the fish we desired, and saw many ruffed 

 and blue grouse, and fool hens. The even- 

 ing before we moved on, I got a yearling 

 buck, at 50 yards, with one, shot. 



We broke camp, and passed the Cana- 

 dian boundary 5 miles from Round Prairie, 

 and 5 miles further on crossed Rainy creek, 

 unpacking there to rest and dine. After 

 dinner we travelled 8 miles, and camped 

 on Moyie river, near the Goat river trail. 



I never saw better fishing than in the 

 Moyie. It is too good, for in 10 minutes 

 one can catch enough fish to supply the 

 camp a day. 



From here on, we travelled slowly, the 

 trail being rough, and running for miles 

 over slide rock. We saw many little chief 

 hares running in and out of their holes in 

 the rocks, uttering their peculiar squeak. 

 While camped at Timothy meadows, our 

 supply of venison ran short, and Lou went 

 up the mountain, and shot a black-tailed 

 buck. It took hard work to pack it down, 

 as the ground was very rough. 



Five miles from the meadows, we came 

 to Moyie lake, a beautiful sheet of water, 

 10 miles long and one mile wide. At the 

 lower end we crossed to the Eastern side 

 of the river by a pack bridge. Three miles 

 up the lake, is the new town of Moyie city. 

 Moyie lake and vicinity is destined to be- 

 come a favorite resort for sportsmen and 

 tourists. The fishing is excellent. Deer, 

 caribou and goats, are everywhere to be 

 found, while the mountains, benches and 

 river bottoms, are fairly alive with grouse. 

 Boats can now be had for fishing and sail- 

 ing, and a naphtha launch will soon be 

 placed on the lake. 



From Moyie city we proceeded to Sifton 

 and Cranbrook, and from there to Ft. 

 Steele. After visiting the principal mines 

 in the vicinity, we turned our horses' heads 

 Southward, and made the no miles to Bon- 

 .ner's Ferry in 5 days. On the third day 

 out from Ft. Steele, while riding leisurely 

 along, we came upon a bear and her 2 cubs, 

 in a berry patch. As we were short of lard 

 for cooking purposes, we killed one of the 

 cubs, and when we camped for the night, 

 rendered from it enough grease to last us 

 the remainder of the trip. Cub fat is com- 

 paratively tasteless, and makes an excellent 

 substitute for lard. We could easily have 

 killed the bear and other cub, if we had 

 had enough time to save the pelts and fat. 



We hope to go over the same ground 

 again, and will have something to write for 

 Recreation, on our return. 



Mazama. 



A DEER HUNT IN CALIFORNIA. 



F. D. MARSH. 



The opening day of our deer season had 

 come and gone, and still my only share of 

 sport was the reading, in Recreation, of 

 hunts that others had enjoyed. By the 3d 

 of September, I could stand it no longer. 

 I packed my traps, and carrying rifle, gun 

 and rod, took the boat to Ukiah, Mendo- 

 cino county, and from there, staged 35 

 miles to H. D. Rowe's station, on the old 

 overland stage road. Arrived there, I, 



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