IN THE TETON COUNTRY. 



WILL BURR. 



Since our return from a hunting trip in 

 the Jackson's Hole country in '96, we had 

 been industriously preparing for another 

 campaign. Our outfit was thoroughly 

 overhauled, and we added a spring and a 

 dead-X wagon to our pack train, as well 

 as an Acme folding canoe, an Indian tepee 

 and some sleeping bags, which we found 

 exceedingly useful. 



We left Butte the middle of August, 

 crossed the Rocky mountain divide, fol- 

 lowed the valley of the Jefferson, and as- 

 cended the Stinking water to Virginia City. 

 Then we crossed the mountains again to 

 Madison valley, up which we traveled 2 

 days, arriving at Henry's lake late on the 

 night of the 5th day out. We saw no big 

 game, but killed plenty of grouse and fish. 

 We stopped 2 days at the lake to rest, and 

 with the aid of the canvas canoe secured 

 many a fat duck and goose. 



A party coming out of Yellowstone park 

 told us a new order had been issued 

 by the superintendent, to the effect that no 

 arms, sealed or unsealed, should be carried 

 across the park, under a heavy penalty. 

 A week or so before 2 highwaymen had 

 held up stages in the park and relieved 

 some traveling bondholders of their 

 wealth ; and this order was the result. Not- 

 withstanding that bear and mountain lions 

 are allowed to multiply and threaten the 

 peace and safety of camping outfits, and 

 that highwaymen were about, no one was 

 allowed to carry so much as a pistol, but 

 must await the visit of the robbers with- 

 out any means of defense. 



As the wagon road to our destination ran 

 through the park, we had to devise some 

 means to get our hunting tools into Jack- 

 son's Hole without crossing the sacred soil 

 of the playground of the nation. As Gay 

 had been in the country before and knew it 

 well, he was chosen to carry the guns 

 around the park, on pack horses. He did 

 so successfully, using the old Conant trail, 

 which crosses the Teloris just South of 

 the park line and terminates at the North 

 end of Jackson's lake. He reported the 

 trail passable, but broken down in places by 

 slide rock. He also said it had been used 

 by Indians shortly before; and we after- 

 ward found that Beaver Dick and his fam- 



ily and numerous unshod ponies had passed 

 over the trail ahead of our outfit. This 

 Beaver Dick is an old, long haired hunter 

 and trapper, who married a Bannock 

 woman, and who has operated in and 

 around the Hole for 30 years. He is an 

 excellent guide, and much in demand 

 among Eastern nabobs. 



When we arrived at Jackson's lake and 

 camped on the Snake river, we found there 

 the boys who had taken the guns over the 

 Conant trail. They had a spike bull elk 

 hung up for meat. Skunks made life un- 

 pleasant there, however, and we moved 

 about 15 miles down the valley and camped 

 on Pilgrim creek. We made several ex- 

 cursions up Pilgrim and Pacific creeks, and 

 saw literally thousands of elk. They were 

 mostly cows and calves, and we did con- 

 siderable hunting to get bulls. We finally 

 got all we wanted, and moved down the 

 valley to Blacktail butte, where we got 2 

 buck antelope, and had some fine fishing 

 in Snake river. Ducks and geese, as well 

 as sage hens, were also plentiful. We found 

 the 38-55 a good gun for antelope, but too 

 small for bull elk. It took 7 shots through 

 the shoulders and neck to bring one of 

 them to grass, and another with 5 bullets 

 through the same region ran over a mile. 



I shall stick to the 45-70-405 hereafter. I 

 heard many good reports of the Savage, 

 and Ira Dodge, whom we met at Antelope 

 Springs, said it was the boss gun. He 

 ought to know. 



We left the Hole by way of the Teton 

 pass, to the great detriment of wheels and 

 king bolts. The trip up Teton and Snake 

 rivers was pleasant. There were good 

 roads and plenty of sage hens, grouse, 

 ducks and geese. We stopped at Porter's 

 ranch, and one of our boys got a bull 

 moose in the swamps. 



Taking it altogether, I consider the Jack- 

 son's Hole country and that around Snake 

 river the best hunting grounds in the 

 States. The bad men who are said to in- 

 fest that region exist onlv in the imagina- 

 tions of those who tell of them. We have 

 hunted in there almost every year since '88, 

 and a more genial, whole-souled and hon- 

 est class of men than the residents of Jack- 

 son's Hole it would be hard to find. 



L'AUTUM. 

 The glowing autumn's varied tints 

 With silent joy we always greet, 

 Because its gilded glory hints 

 Of buckwheat cakes and sausage meat. 

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