THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 103 
AN EARLY DAY BEAR HUNT IN DOUGLAS 
COUNTY 
By W. R. WELLs, Bandon, Oregon 
In 1853 my father settled at Olalla, Douglas County, Oregon. We 
were among the first settlers of that part of the county. At that time 
it was occupied by what we called the Umpqua Indians and wild 
auimals such as bear, elk, panther, deer and smaller animals. The 
Indians were usually in small bands and remained at one particular 
camp but a short time. The country was new and wild at that time 
and I was but a lad of eleven years; but, of course, had my ventures 
in one way or another. 
My first adventure with a bear was, as well as I now remember, in 
March, 1856. My brother-in-law then lived on his farm, near by to 
which was a brushy hillside. He had two promising young dogs that 
were in the habit of treeing wildcats and foxes, and would frequently 
be found baying skunks. One day I was at their place and heard the 
dogs barking which indicated that they had something treed about 
half way up on the brushy hillside. I told my sister I would take the 
rifle and go and see what they had. I started out with the thought 
of finding a fox or bobcat, but after a struggle up through the brush 
I came in sight of the dogs and could see them barking just below 2 
large fir tree that stood on the steep hillside. From their actions I 
felt sure they had a skunk cornered in a hole under the tree, for they 
would work their way up pretty close and then run back down the 
hill a short distance. I fhen concluded my best plan would be to 
climb up to the upper side of the tree and peep around the side with 
the rifle ready to shoot. I did so, but in place of a skunk coming out 
after the dogs! Great Scott! a bear stuck his head out and at once 
discovered my presence. I saw him look up at me, but I was so 
much surprised, I lost all thought. I only looked him in the eye, when 
I could easily have punched him in the eye with the muzzle of the gun. 
But at that time he quickly drew his head back into the hole. I then 
decided to wait in readiness for him to again show his head, but after 
waiting a reasonable length of time he still remained hid and did not 
venture to give me the desired chance. On considering the situation, 
I came to the conclusion my best plan would be to let the hammer of 
the rifle down and get a safe distance below the tree and then fire in 
on him. Not being accustomed to the use of the rifle, I touched the 
trigger before I had placed my thumb on the hammer, and bang! went 
the gun. Out came the bear with the dogs onto him at once. He soon 
knocked them off and in place of attacking me as I feared, he started 
directly up the mountain with the dogs at his heels. Then I concluded to 
load the rifle and follow as I thought he would soon take to a tree. When 
I was ready for a bullet, behold! I found none in the pouch. All this 
time I was actually shaking with what we used to call ‘‘ buck ague.’’ 
Anyway, I shouted to the folks at the house that I had a bear and for 
them to come at once with some more bullets. They came, and we 
only had to follow a quarter of a mile when we found the dogs looking 
up a long fir tree. At once, on nearing the tree, we saw Mr. Bear at 
least seventy-five feet up. My brother-in-law took the rifle and gave 
him a death shot and he came down end over end. He was actually 
so fat that on striking the ground his side burst and the fat was plain 
