Sept. 8, 1887.] 



FOREST AND STREAM 



126 



HIBERNATING SQUIRRELS AGAIN. — 111 the fall of the 



year 3875, an only brother was seriously in jured by be- 

 ing squeezed between two cars. During his convales- 

 cence it was necessary to provide food which was very 

 •strengthing and eaJly digested, commencing first with 

 beef tea and gruel, of which he soon became tired, and 

 Boniething else" had to be tried. The attending physician 

 Suggested small game of any description. Not having 

 New York markets to select from it devolved upon me to 

 procure it. In the earlier stages this was an easy matter, 

 as grouse Avere plentiful and I could secure enough hi a, 

 few hours to last him a week. But we had to make 

 another change, and it was decided that squirrels it should 

 be. I hunted nearly every day in December and a greater 

 part of January, and although I would start early and 

 stay late, I thought it a good day's work if I succeeded in 

 getting three or four squirrels of the red and ground 

 variety. My experience, theu, goes to prove that although 

 squirrels may have the habit, they are not regular hiber- 

 nating animals. A later incident which came under my 

 observation: My nephew is the possessor of a little pet 

 chippy or ground squirrel, which is very tame and is 

 allowed to roam about the house at will, always retreat- 

 ing to his cage if any danger menacos. My nephew left 

 home for a visit, and in the hurry of getting away little 

 Dick the squirrel was forgotten, and was left in his cage 

 out of door. As he had plenty of nuts nothing was 

 thought of it until two or three days had passed, when it 

 became very cold. The little boy then grew very 

 anxious, as he was afraid the squirrel would freeze to 

 death. As soon as he arrived at home his first thought 

 was for his pet. He came running into the house with 

 the squirrel in his hand, apparently dead and frozen stiff. 

 His father advised him to give it to the cat; this he re- 

 fused to do, trying to get what consolation he could by 

 patting it and rubbing his hand over its fur. This he 

 continued for some time, when our attention was called 

 'to him by his exclaiming, "He's alive," and sure enough 

 there seemed to be a little movement in the animal. He 

 was placed under the stove, and soon appeared as lively 

 as ever, running about the room in apparent great glee. 

 The same squirrel is still alive.— E. B. C. (Railway, N. J.). 



mine 



fctg nnd 



Aiidresss all communications to the Forest and Stream Puh. Co. 



COFFEE AND BEAR MEAT. 



IN the fall of 1883 I was engaged to guide a representa- 

 tive of an Eastern lumbering firm to some valuable 

 timber I knew of, located in western Washington and in 

 one of the valleys of the coast range or Olympic Moun- 

 tains. The agent informed me that he wished to see the 

 timber and return. As that would require but three 

 days' absence, 1 took my rifle and seven days' rations, 

 which, with twenty rounds of ammunition, I deemed suf- 

 ficient for a three days' cruise. With this outfit and a 

 pair of blankets each, we started westward one bright 

 morning up one of the numerous rivers that take their 

 rise in the Olympic Mountains and empty into Hood's 

 Canal. Anticipating a quick return, I was careless of 

 my ammunition, shooting pheasants, ducks, pigeons and 

 rabbits. On the evening of the second day I found I had 

 but four cartridges left. 



We arrived at the timber, which was duly inspected, 

 and created such a favorable impression on my comrade 

 that while eating our supper he said: "Now, look here, 

 my boy, this is such a valuable body of timber that, if 

 you will guide me, I would like to go to the head of the 

 stream to see how much country it drains, and if at its 

 highest stage there will be enough water to drive logs and 

 if the channel is passable." As in all probabdity this 

 would necessitate crossing the range as the quickest way 

 home, and as our supplies were limited to four days' 

 rations and it was still thirty miles to the head of the 

 river by a winding, zigzag elk trail, which we had to fol- 

 low, I might well pause to consider before replying. In 

 the first place, could the man stand the trip and the pri- 

 vations that would accompany it? I thought he could. 

 He was a jovial fellow and one who could appreciate the 

 grand and beautiful scenery we were passing through. 

 He was, too, a lover of tea, and gave me to distinctly un- 

 derstand that he never drank coffee, and under no consid- 

 eration would he eat b : ar meat. In reply, I told him he 

 would have to live on bear meat sandwiched with salmon 

 berries. Salmon berries, yes; bear meat, no. It was set- 

 tled that we were to continue on to the head of the stream, 

 cross the range down to the ocean, and go home by way 

 of Gray's Harbor. 



As we had a great deal of climbing to do, we found that 

 on the fourth day out our provisions were gone. Berries 

 to-morrow, sir. But by the next evening we found that 

 there was an aching void in a hungry man's stomach that 

 it required something more substantial than salmon ber- 

 ries to fill; so you may be sure I was on the watch for 

 elk or bear, as there was" plenty of fresh sign all around 

 us. 



It was afternoon of the sixth day out. We were just 

 below the last canon before reaching the head of the 

 stream, and just below snow line. There was no under- 

 brush and but few scattering trees on the mountain side. 

 We were on a little grassy knoll about 50ft. above the 

 stream, when I discovered an enormous brown-looking 

 bear. At first sight I took him for a cinnamon; but it 

 proved to be a large black bear with his summer coat not 

 entirely shed. As he was standing almost motionless 

 over the half-devoured carcass of a young elk, which, 

 judging by the sign, had been killed several days before 

 by a cougar, my comrade overlooked him, and not until 

 I called his attention did he know there was a bear near 

 us. I had but two cartridges left, but for various reasons 

 I must have that bear. Cautioning my friend to be quiet, 

 I carefully and silently wo ked my way nearer and nearer; 

 150, 125, 100yds; yes, I will try him from here. I took 

 careful aim at the center of his body and fired. With an 

 unearthly yell he reared up, fell over backward, and after 

 several attempts succeeded in getting on three of his feet. 

 His right shoulder blade was broken. 



He whirled around several times and started off up the 

 steep mountain side on three legs. Giving my blankets 

 to my companion I told him to follow; wherever I killed 

 the bear there we would camp. Having one cartridge 

 left I started in pursuit and soon had a chance to fire the 



second time at the bear, liitting him in the mouth, half 

 severing bis tongue, but breaking no bones. Now bruin 

 fled with a swiftness that left me little hope of ever over- 

 taking him. There was half a mile of canon before the 

 stream made its final break up. The bear chose the most 

 inacessible places in his endeavor to elude me, He woidd 

 slide down steep banks, where no four-footed animal 

 co Id stand, and save himself from being dashed to 

 pieces hundreds of feet below by falling against a gnarled 

 pme tree that took root in such places. Then he would 

 tack down to another tree, and so on, until he reached 

 the brink of the canon, which was a sheer descent of 

 about fifty feet to water. Here was a narrow bench of 

 land; and here, with fire in his eye, he waited my com- 

 ing. With considerable work I reached the bear, and 

 after resting a few moments I concluded not to kill him 

 at this point, as it was not suitable for camp. Walking 

 up I gave him several prods in the side with my rifle 

 which made him snort. He struck several vicious blows 

 at me with his good arm, and crawling out on the roots 

 of a tree deliberately dropped into the water. This I was 

 confident would kill him; but no; he floundered out and 

 up a fallen tree. I kept him in sight until I could get 

 across and soon overtook him. He had come to a fallen 

 tree, and being wounded and tired could not get over it. 

 Here he concluded to make his final stand; and Avith a 

 right-about that would have done credit to a veteran he 

 faced me. I was within twenty feet of him and a little 

 below him, resting on one knee with gun in hand per- 

 fectly willing to cease hostilities until I could, regain my 

 breath. I intended to get above him, so that if he should 

 make a rush he would have to make it up hill. While 

 resting I examined him closely. He was sitting up, his 

 wounded arm hanging useless by his side. His head 

 seemed to be about two feet between the ears, but careful 

 measurement afterward reduced it to one foot. His small 

 black eyes flashed with rage. As he regained his breath 

 he gave several deep giowls; and "gentle?fte?i I was 

 skeered," But realizing that my life depended on my 

 coolness and presence of mind I shook off the feeling, 

 and at the same moment he made a rush for me. I had 

 just time to club my gun, and as I felt his hot breath on 

 my cheek I struck at his head for all I was worth. For 

 about two minutes that bear and your Uncle Fuller per- 

 formed some of the most wonderful gymnastic feats on 

 record until by a desperate effort I grasped the root of a 

 tree and held on for dear life, while the bear went bound- 

 ing down the mountain side. For the present I was safe. 

 I began to examine my wounds, as in our descent I 

 plainly felt his canine teeth meet in my flesh. The 

 wounds were not there. It was imagination cause! by 

 fear. Aside from a few bruises I was safe and sound as 

 a new dollar. Looking down the mountain side I saw 

 the bear had lodged between two trees. I carefully ap- 

 proached him and found him dead. I examined his skull 

 and found it crushed from the force of the blow that I 

 had struck him with all the desperate energy of a last 

 chance. If that blow did not strain my gun it broke the 

 stock. 



I hardly need add that my companion drank coffee and 

 ate bear meat for the next four days and enjoyed it too. 



___ Tillicum. 



SOME NOTES FROM THE ROCKIES. 



HAVING lived in the mountains for the last five years , 

 guiding during summer and trapping during the 

 winter season, I have had an excellent opportunity of 

 studying the habits of the different kinds of game at the 

 different seasons of the year — abundant in this particular 

 part of the Rockies, the headwaters of the Big Horn, 

 Yellowstone and their tributaries. As the Indians have 

 been forced toward the west by civilization, so the game 

 has been forced from the prairie to the mountains, until 

 animals that once inhabited the prairie are now seldom 

 seen there, but range entirely in the bad-lands and moun- 

 tains. The bad-lands and the table lands that extend 

 from the Upper Missouri south to the headwaters of the 

 Big Horn (called Wind River), which five years ago af- 

 forded a range for 200,000 elk, buffalo, deer and antelope, 

 are now occupied by as many horses, sheep and cattle, 

 without more freedom. Elk, deer, bear, sheep, antelope 

 and mountain lion are quite plentiful here in the moun- 

 tains. 



Elk, which are a prairie animal, are now seldom found 

 outside the mountains, which they inhabit summer and 

 winter. About the first of August, the bulls begin rub- 

 bing their horns. By the first of September their horns 

 are clean, and they are as fat as they get ; and by the 

 fifth of the month they are whistling and "rounding up" 

 the cows and running the young bulls from the band. 

 At this time elk may be found in almost any suitable 

 place at an altitude from 0,000 to 10,000ft. By Sept. 15 

 they are rutting, and this is the best time to himt them, 

 as they are continually traveling ; that makes it easy to 

 find, fresh sign. Their horns are in good condition, the 

 scalp is a good, deep color, hair tight, and the head 

 is in splendid condition to mount. Their continual 

 whistling during the evening and cloudy and stormy 

 weather, which may be heard a mile, indicates to the 

 hunter or sportsman their exact position ; he must be a 

 bungler indeed if he does not get one. During the rut- 

 ting season large bands are found continually in open 

 country, while small bands stay in the timber dming the 

 day, coming into the openings or parks in the evening 

 and returning shortly after daybreak. As the season 

 advances they travel less during the day and lie in the 

 timber on the northern slopes when the snow is deep; 

 and by the first of December the old bulls have left the 

 band, their places being filled by the younger ones. By 

 the first of January the old bulls are to be found in small 

 bunches, and they continue so until after shedding time, 

 which takes place in February and March. In April and 

 May they disband as a rule, while their horns are grow- 

 ing, keeping themselves cached in out-of-the-way places 

 until the first of August returns. The cows and young 

 bulls get pretty well scattered by spring and all join again 

 at the high ranges as soon as the snow will permit. Their 

 summer and winter ranges are about fifty or sixty miles 

 apart. A large bull will dress 6001 :s., a cow will dress 

 from 250 to 4001bs. 



Of the many different kinds of game that inhabit the 

 Rockies, mountain sheep are the most numerous yet the 

 most difficult to hunt. During the summer and fall they 

 range on the highest divides, which are very difficult to 

 traverse. Although some of these divides are rolling 

 grounds which are covered with a short growth of grass, 

 the majority are very sharp and rugged, bearing no vege- 



| tation whatever at the top. These divides are formed by 

 small Btone cemented by a lava cement, and are called 



, conglomerate formations. Although very solid beneath 

 the surface, when exposed to the weather they become 

 loose and dangerous to the hunter or sportsman traversing 

 them. Although the southern slopes of these divides are 

 not very steep, then- northern sides are nearlv perpen- 

 dicular cliffs from 500.to 1,500ft. high, below which are 

 basins or pockets, which form the heads of the streams 

 draining the adjacent country. Large bands of 75 or 100 

 ewes and young rams of en stay in these pockets for days 

 without leaving them. As the bottoms and slopes are 

 covered with a growth of short grass, while through the 

 center of the pocket flows a small stream fed by the 

 banks of perpetual snow lying at the base of the cliffs, 

 and as they bed on the small ledges on the face of the 

 cliff, these pockets contain all that they desire. While 

 they are lying on these ledges it is very hard to see them 

 from a distance, for they are nearly the same color as the 

 rocks. It is seldom that one can get near enough the 

 edge of the cliff to see them from above, and as the 

 pockets are only 500 to 1,000yds. across, precipitous on 

 one or two sides, sloping gradually on the other, there is 

 left but one way to approach them unseen, namely, to go 

 up the gulch. A very clever ruse practiced by the hun- 

 ter is to get above them on the divide, and being care- 

 ful not to expose himself, fire one or two shots into the 

 ground beyond them, and then wait until they come on 

 top, for sheep will almost always run up hill when 

 frightened. 



Although the ewes and young rams of three or four 

 vears old are often found together during the summer, 

 large rams are seldom found among them. Ranging 

 lower than the ewes and keeping themselves cached 

 among the rocks and scrubby pine at timber fine during 

 the day, sportsmen have great difficulty in finding them 

 unless accompanied by a good guide, and even then some 

 go back home without having secured a good specimen. 



Although one can have all the shooting at ewes and 

 young rains he may wish for during the fall, the most 

 favorable time to hunt them is during the month of 

 December, when the snow has driven them from their 

 summer range to a lower and more level country. The 

 rutting season begins the first of the month, and one is 

 sure to find from one to five large rams in each band. 

 They are less watchful and much easier to stalk at this 

 season of ths year. 



The rams grow to be very large; I have often killed 

 them that dressed 2501bs. The horns of a 6 or 7-year-old 

 will measure about 2ft. 6in. in length, varying from 15 to 

 18in. in circumference at the butt. A friend of mine a 

 few days ago killed a ram whose horns were 6ft. 10in. in 

 length, or 3ft. 5in. for single horn; 26in. between the 

 points, I6in. in circumference lOin. from the butt of the 

 horn. It is a perfect head, being 12 years old, and an ex- 

 traordinary specimen, as one seldom* finds a ram over 7 

 years old with a perfect head. 



Whitetail deer are seldom found in the mountains, 

 though they are quite numerous among the foothills, 

 and on streams that pierce the mountains but a short 

 distance. 



The gazelle deer are not, as a great many people sup- 

 pose, the crooked-horned antelope, but resemble the white 

 tail deer very much, although much smaller. They in- 

 habit the heads of the longest streams in the mountains 

 and do not leave them until very late in the fall. In this 

 country they are called mountain whitetail. They will 

 dress about 601bs. 



Although the majority of antelope are to be found on 

 the prairie I have often seen bands of one hundred in the 

 mountains, and I have killed them sixty miles inside of 

 them. They do not shed their horns as deer do and are 

 seldom seen in the timbers. Does after they get four or 

 five years old have horns the same as the bucks, only not 

 so large. They will dress from K0 to 901bs. 



The mountain lions are quite plentiful and inhabit nearly 

 the same range as the sheep. One may travel for months 

 in the mountains and not see one, much less kill one; and 

 as they will not eat from a carcass killed by a hunter it 

 is very difficult to catch them in a trap. I have never 

 heard of them attacking a man, though when very 

 hungry they will often follow a man to h's camp and 

 annoy him by their screams during the night. A large 

 lion will weigh 2501bs. and will measure from 7£ to 9^f t. 

 from tip to tip. 



There are supposed here to be five distinct species of 

 bears to be found in this country — the bald-faced grizzly, 

 silver tip, cinnamon, black and brown. All of these are 

 quite plentiful. I acted as guide for three different par- 

 ties last season and we killed twenty-four in all. The 

 bald-faced grizzly, cinnamon and silver tips are largest 

 and most ferocious, although it is seldom that either will 

 fight unless wounded, and even when wounded they wil 

 sometimes run. 



They may be found at all altitudes at any time, though, 

 as they hole up in the highest timbered country, they are 

 more numerous there than in the lower country in the 

 spring and fall. They come out of their holes in the latter 

 part of March and travel until they find green grass, 

 unless they have been baited to some particular place the 

 previous spring or fall, and they will visit each place they 

 have dined at on meat or the offal of game, tinning over 

 the bones, and continue doing so, making their circuit 

 and returning about every three days, until in their 

 travels they find something better. I have never seen 

 more than five in one band, though I have seen the sign 

 of thirteen traveling together. One will quite often see 

 three, an old one and two yearling cubs together; and it 

 is a very easy matter to kill them all if you get one good 

 shot into the old one, as they will invariably begin fight- 

 ing among themselves, though there are exceptions, as 

 my experience has shown me. I once shot an old silver 

 tip "sow" through both shoulders with a 550gr. ball, 

 120yds., while she had two yearlings with her, and she 

 got within 40yds. of me before she dropped. They can 

 probably stand up under the weight of more lead than 

 any other living animal. 



I have found a great many places where beats have 

 passed the winter, and never saw but one place where one 

 had lived in a cave. They usually select the thickest 

 timber on the t orthern slopes, where the snow is deepest, 

 and dig a hole large enough to hold them from sliding 

 down hill, and then they let the snow cover them. The 

 she bear and spring cubs usually den together during the 

 winter season and stay together until the rutting season, 

 which begins about Oct. 1, when they are driven away 

 by the male. 



