FROM THE GAME FIELDS. 



DEER HUNT ON SNAKE RIVER. 



A. E. EMEK1CH. 



In the fall of '96, when I was living in 

 Mount Home, Idaho, Bill Turner asked me 

 to hunt deer with him on Snake river. 



We were soon on our way, and by the 

 middle of the afternoon reached the ferry. 



Bill was armed with a .45-90 Winchester. 

 He said is was " pizen " to deer when he 

 did the shooting. 



I had my old .40-70 Remington. 



We crossed the river and, after making 

 some inquiries, decided to go up the stream 

 about 7 miles to a butte called Indian 

 Point, a famous crossing for deer. We got 

 there about dusk, drove down to the river 

 bank, and pitched our tent. Bill called me 

 at 4 next morning. Hastily dressing and 

 eating breakfast, we were soon off for the 

 day's sport. 



We decided to- hunt the sand knolls, a 

 large flat, entirely surrounded by rim rock. 

 As we climbed to the top we saw numerous 

 signs, but in a 3 or 4 miles' tramp failed 

 to start any game. 



As we neared camp we concluded to 

 climb to the top of Indian Point, as it 

 looked a likely place for deer. The top was 

 flat and contained probably 100 acres of sage 

 brush land. Bill took the left side while I 

 was to take the right and follow the rim 

 rock to a certain point where we would 

 meet. 



I soon heard Bill's .45-90 banging a 

 fusillade of shots. Thinking he had started 

 the band. I lost no time in reaching his 

 side, and found he had killed a large doe 

 and her fawn. We took our game to camp, 

 and dined on deer's liver and bacon. 



Bright and early next morning, we tried 

 the sand knolls again. We failed to start 

 any game, however, and as Bill had a lame 

 foot, he returned to camp. I continued 

 hunting, and while following a buck's track 

 came to where 5 or 6 deer had come up 

 to the high ground after crossing the river. 

 I abandoned the buck's trail and went after 

 the bunch. 



I saw them at about 400 yards' distance, 

 and they discovered me at the same time. 

 In a moment they disappeared behind the 

 knolls. I made all haste to follow, and 

 reaching the rim rock, saw they had gone 

 down a small gulch. I crawled to the edge 

 and looked over. There stood 5 does and 

 one buck, about 60 yards away. I succeed- 

 ed in killing 3 does before they got out of 

 range. Hastily dressing them and leaving 

 a few empty shells on them to keep the 

 coyotes away during the night, I returned 

 to camp. 



The third and last day's hunt was a fail- 

 ure. A misty rain set in, and we made 



a late start. We were following the edge of 

 the rim rock, peering over once in a while 

 for game. 



Suddenly there sprang up, not 20 yards 

 in front of us, an immense buck. Bill 

 pumped the .45-90 for all he was worth, but 

 not a shot reached the mark. Next morn- 

 ing we broke camp, taking with us 5 fat 

 deer. 



A REMARKABLE SHOT. 



STUBB. 



Seeing mention of some remarkable shots, 

 called to my mind one that seems worth 

 mentioning. About the first of September, 

 '75, a friend from Iowa came to my home 

 in Kansas on his way to California. About 

 the first question (after the usual greetings) 

 was, " Are there any antelope near here? " 



" Well I should smile? Antelope? Plen- 

 ty within 10 or 12 miles." 



" Good. But how is your work; so you 

 can go? I want to kill an antelope." 



" Yes, I can go but won't say how many 

 antelope you will kill, for they are shy 

 when strangers are around." 



Dinner over, guns and traps to stay over 

 night and we were off. We had to ford the 

 Arkansas river but it was low, so not a dif- 

 ficult thing to do. After going about 8 miles 

 and getting into the hills I saw some ante- 

 lope and asked if he would try them. No, 

 you go after this bunch, which I did and 

 scored 3. 



After dressing these I started for a small 

 lake among the hills. This lake was the 

 secret of so many antelope here, for it was 

 a dry time, with no water on the " flats." 

 Before we reached the lake I saw a big 

 buck and told my friend there was his 

 chance, as it was much easier to get with- 

 in range of a single animal than of a herd. I 

 showed " pard " where to go and gave him 

 all the instruction I could on short notice. 



After making camp and waiting some 

 time. I took my " scatter " gun and my 

 English setter and within 30 rods of camp, 

 got young prairie chickens enough for our 

 supper and breakfast. Returning I soon 

 had supper started. 



Pard soon returned and reported about 

 as I had expected, viz., that having located 

 his game, he kept out of sight and got near 

 where he was to make his shot; that he was 

 just crawling to the top of a low ridge to 

 shoot, when he thought he heard some- 

 thing behind him and on looking around 

 saw his buck following him, with nose out 

 and sniffing at him. "He had not caught 

 my scent until I turned and then — well, I 

 didn't get him." 



Supper over, a good sound night's sleep 

 and we were astir early. Just as I was fin- 



«74 



