LETTERS FROM OUR READERS 



A ROCKY MOUNTAIN BEAR. 



Thirty years ago I was engaged, with a 

 party of assistants, on the survey of public 

 lands in Colorado. At the close of a week's 

 hard climbing we found ourselves in a 

 rough, rock-strewn region near timber line, 

 and made our camp on the margin of a 

 small, icy lake at the head of South Boul- 

 der creek. 



As the following day was Sunday, we 

 put up our small tent, secured the pack 

 mules from straying by hobbling them, and 

 made arrangements' to enjoy a much need- 

 ed rest. My head chainman, whose name 

 was W. R. Morley, lately from the States, 

 was possessed with the spirit of an ex- 

 plorer. Often after a hard day's work on 

 the line he would take his rifle and tramp 

 still farther in quest of new scenes and ad- 

 ventures in the deep forest-covered val- 

 leys, or among the naked, snow-capped 

 peaks and summits. 



On the morning following our arrival at 

 the lake he started Northward along the 

 sharp ridge which forms the watershed of 

 the 2 oceans, intending if possible to secure 

 a deer, or perhaps a bear, for our larder, as 

 well as to find a route whereby our pack 

 animals could be got over the range to the 

 Pacific slope, for I had observed that the 

 course of the line we were running would 

 make this necessary. About sundown he 

 returned to camp with his gun barrel filled 

 with snow, his clothing badly torn, and a 

 scared, woebegone look generally. No rea- 

 son would he give for his dilapidated ap- 

 pearance until he had eaten supper and 

 drunk 2 or 3 cups of strong coffee. Then 

 he told us of his day's adventures. 



After reaching the 'summit of the divid- 

 ing ridge, Morley started Northward, 

 watching on either side for elk or deer or 

 bighorn sheep, which frequent the grassy 

 slopes at the base of the ridge. From his 

 lofty position he observed a large cinnamon 

 bear and 2 half-grown cubs, well up on the 

 face of the snow-covered slope. They were 

 feasting on the locusts which perish from 

 cold while making their migratory flights 

 in that high altitude. So* plentiful were 

 these insects that in many places where the 

 August sun had melted the snow the flow- 

 ing water had carried several bushels into 

 a 'single depression. 



Moving cautiously to a point some 200 

 yards distant, but nearly above the un- 

 suspicious bruins, Morley crawled to the 

 extreme vere-e of an overhanging snow 

 bank, took aim at the largest bear, fired, 

 and had the satisfaction of seeing her roll 

 down the icy slope. The excitement at- 

 tending his first successful bear shot re- 



sulted in trouble at once; for in his hur- 

 ried efforts to recover his feet, Morley lost 

 his balance, and in a moment he shot over 

 the snow bank into space below. The soft- 

 ened snow broke the force of his fall when 

 he struck, more than 100 feet from the 

 place of starting, and again he went off at 

 a rate that flung him among the bears. 

 The old bear was not much hurt by the 

 shot, and, with her cubs, was as anxious to 

 get away from trouble as Morley was ; but 

 neither could control their motions. Some- 

 times the bears were on top, sometimes 

 the man ; the bears frightened into fits by 

 the yells of the hunter, and he scared out 

 of his senses as the growling bears rolled 

 over him in their wild tumble. 



Morley had clung to his gun during the 

 fracas, but he was under too great head- 

 way to use it. Besides it was packed full 

 of snow ; and it is doubtful if in his excite- 

 ment he could have hit a bear at 10 feet. 

 The bears were too badly frightened to 

 offer fight. They, like their enemy, had 

 other things to think about, and all parties 

 were willing to call quits when the lower 

 edge of the steep snow field .was reached. 

 The bears scampered off to the woods, 

 while Morley, who was sure he had nol 

 lost any bears, made no objection to their 

 hurried departure. He tied up his tattered 

 clothing as best he could', and started for 

 camp fully impressed with the belief that 

 bear hunting is sometimes pursued under 

 difficulties. 



C. A. Deane, Denver, Colo. 



DEER WITH NO. 4 SHOT. 



I want to say to Mr. F. L. Haight, who, 

 in the December issue of Recreation, ques- 

 tions the truth of Mr. J. D. Magee's state- 

 ment that he has killed deer at 62 yards and 

 black bear at 54 yards with No. 4 chilled 

 shot, that I consider Mr. Magee's statement 

 possible. I know of a yearling buck having 

 been killed at 40 paces with a charge of No. 

 6 shot. Of course, such shots are excep- 

 tional, not the rule. 



Most old hunters can recall extraordinary 

 shots, the recital of which is likely to create 

 disbelief. I have myself made several re- 

 markable chance shots which, if described, 

 would certainly reflect on my reputation for 

 veracity. 



In regard to Mr. A. H. Dunham's account 

 of the killing of a large bear 60 miles north 

 of Nome, Alaska, by shooting it in the 

 mouth with a shot gun, and your comments 

 thereon, I will say that Mr. A. H. Bradley, 

 taxidermist, recently received from Alaska 



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