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FOREST AND STREAM. 



LJULT 15, 1893. . 



"■Game Laws in Brief. ''^ June, 189S, revised. Game and Fish laws 

 of all the States, Territories and Provinces. Correct, reliable, hand- 

 somely illustrated. Published by the "I'orest and Stream." Sold by 

 all dealers. lYice SB cents. 



MULE DEER HEADS. 



The male mule deer, often erroneously called blacktailed 

 deer, has been blessed by nature with a very prolific 

 growth of horns, and while many are very symmetrical 

 and perfect, a great many strange shapes and freaks are 

 often found. The two heads illustrated here are as good 

 specimens of their kind as I have ever had the good for- 

 tune to secure, and a brief description of where they were 

 secured and of the bucks that wore them may be inter- 

 esting. 



The one on page 29 came from near the Trinity Lakes, 

 Elmore county, Idaho. These lakes, sixteen or more in 

 number, and ranging in size from a mere pool up to a 

 body of water making a respectable lake, are situated in 

 the valleys or more properly depressions made by the sur- 

 rounding high peaks of a very rugged and high detached 

 chain of mountains, lying northwest of the South Boise 

 River, about fifty miles from Mountain Home station on 

 the Oregon Short Line Division of the Union Pacific Rail- 

 way, and reached by stage line to Pine Grove, or Rocky 

 Bar, thence by a very rough and little traveled trail. In 

 fact so few travel this route that it can 

 hardly be called a trail. The larger lakes 

 are teeming with the genuine mountain 

 trout, and to catch fifty or sixty of the 

 beautiful little fish in an hour's fishing is 

 comparatively easy. The water in most 

 of the lakes is as clear as crystal, being 

 fed by springs and the melting snows from 

 off the granite peaks. AU about the lakes 

 are high rolling mountains and hills; and 

 deer, a few elk and bear are to be found, 

 while on the i-oughest peaks the white 

 goats make their home. 



Late one November, after the first snows 

 of winter had faUen on the upper moun- 

 tains, driving the game down toward the 

 river, our party of two made a short trip 

 toward Trinity Lakes, and the noble buck 

 that wore the magnificent head of horns 

 shown here was one of the trophies brought 

 out. It was late one evening when one of 

 the party was trudging toward camp. 

 The snow was falling fast and partly ob- 

 scured the landscape, but the trained eye 

 of the hardy mountaineer caught a glimpse 

 of a dark object slowly moving along, 

 200yds. away. Is it a deer? Yes. See, 

 he stops, throws up his head and shakes 

 the fast falling snow from off his lordly 

 crest; he snorts and stamps his foot; he 

 breathes the evening air with mighty 

 whiffs; he has heard a sound of cracking 

 stick, or rolling stone, or rustling bush; 

 but where he knows not, for the wind 

 bears to him no taint of human presence. 

 The hunter silently drops on one knee, the 

 ' 'Centennial" Winchester is raised, a steady 

 sight and a loud report followed by the 

 sharp spat of the leaden missile, and with 

 a bound the buck is off. But not far does 

 he speed. He staggers, and headlong 

 plunges down the mountain side, shot 

 through the heart, and "Uncle" pats him- 

 self on the back as he wends his way to 

 where the fallen monarch lies, with, "By 

 the Almighty, that was a good shot." 

 When dressed and ready for the pack 

 horse it was found that the buck made as 

 large a load as any of the ponies could pack in, and no 

 doubt in weight was over 2501bs. 



To the south of the Trinity Lake range lies another 

 small chain of detached mountains called locally the 

 ' 'Dog Creek Mountains. " They are really the same range, 

 but as the Trinity, a dashing mountain stream, and Dog 

 Creek, another stream, head on the opposite sides of a 

 divide, the two names are used locally to designate the 

 lay of the country. The Dog Creek mountains are not so 

 high as the Trinity range, and are nearer the South Boise 

 River. There are more bears in the rough country round 

 about, but not as many deer until in the fall of the year. 



The buck that wore the above odd set of horns was 

 over 3001bs. in weight, and was killed in September before 

 every vestige of the "velvet" had been worn off or dis- 

 appeared. The weight of the animal was so great that it 

 broke a pack saddle, and proved too much of a load for 

 the jack that we used for a pack animal, and it took the 

 assistance of one of the horses to get the cai'cass down to 

 the river. Although the body of this buck and its antlers 

 were enormous, its head seemed small in proportion. The 

 horns had a great spread, and the beams were thick and 

 massive. The photograph gives but a poor idea of the 

 size and oddity of this specimen. 



This head was purchased from me by a Detroit gentle- 

 man to present to a New York athletic club, and it may 

 be that some of the readers of Forest and Stream have 

 seen it. It does not compare with No. 1 for beauty, but 

 is one that might never be matched by a hunter in a life- 

 time. F. F. Frisbib. 



Another Notable Shot. 



The other fellows must not have aU the say. I once 

 made a notable shot myseK. It was when I was a boy of 

 10. My weapon was an old brass pistol barrel, motmted 

 on a block, cannon fashion. The load consisted of a 

 handful of powder, several wads of grass, well rammed, 

 and a pint or less of gravel stones, with a number of 

 buckshot mixed in, for luck. I had in intent the slaying 

 of a regiment of wooden soldiers, whittled from shingles 

 and painted red to imitate the Britishers whom my ances- 

 tor had mowed down at Bunker HiU. 



' 'Fizz !" said the fuse. ' 'Boom !" the gun. The smoke went 

 out to settle over the arena of conflict, which was the pub- 

 lic square of my village. Had any soldiers fallen? No, 

 not one. I had aimed too high, so I would try it again. 

 I was on my knees in the act of reloading. Then from 

 put the ether at my rear, taking a base advantage, shot 



the foot of a human catapult. There were stars above, 

 around, below me. My ascension was too high for meas- 

 urement by any instrument of earthly make. Then the 

 hand of the catapult followed the foot. More stars. I 

 sought the earth, but there was no repose. In a twinkling 

 the catapult had become a wool carder which would not 

 card, and then it was a catapult again. I was beyond the 

 region of the stars, and space was claiming me for her 

 own. But why recall the things of that ancient exalta- 

 tion? For it was only my neighbor preparing me that I 

 might be led by the ear to view the result of my n otable 

 shot. 



One "Bill" had been sufficiently footed. The other read: 



4 lights plate glass @ $3.50 $10.00 



2 chandelier globes @ .60 1.20 



Damage to lace curtains 8,00 



Repairs of wall 1.50 



Total $30 70 



El Paso de Rables, Cal. W. H. K. 



BRUIN IN THE BUTTERY. 



We had been camping far up on the headwaters of one 

 of the noble rivers of northern New England and were on 

 our return joiu-ney toward the settlements. In the morn- 

 ing, at an hour when the majority of city people are fast 

 asleep, we had eaten our breakfast, struck camp, loaded 

 the canoes and started down stream. All the forenoon 

 we plied our paddles steadily, for the sky was overcast 

 with threatening clouds and there was every indication of 

 a severe storm. 



HEAD OF MULE DEER. 



Dog Creek, Idaho. 



Photo by F. F. PRiaBiE 



We hoped to avoid the drenching which seemed immi- 

 nent by reaching a camp a number of miles below, but 

 between us and our destination was a series of falls and 

 rapids, where we would have to make several portages 

 and carry the canoes, instead of being borne by them. 

 We glanced often at the sky, and the light canoes sped 

 onward as if they shared our feeling of haste. 



Mile after mile was covered between banks clothed to 

 the water's edge witli unbroken forest, which appeared 

 unusually grim and gloomy under the forbidding sky. 

 Once, as we rounded a bend, two deer, a buck and a doe, 

 which were standing in the edge of the water, gave us a 

 startled glance, and then leaped up the bank and disap- 

 peared in the woods. In due time we landed at the head 

 of the first pitch, and the rain had not yet commenced to 

 fall. One of the canoes was turned bottoai up and the 

 supplies and various camp utensils were placed beneath it 

 for protection. My companion and myself each shoul- 

 dered as large a load as we could care for, the guides took 

 the other canoe, and we started across the carry. The 

 path around the fall was a mere trail which could hardly 

 be distinguished from the surrounding forest, and our 

 way was strewn with rocks, fallen trees and logs, which 

 made the trip anything but a pleasure stroll. The trees 

 were so thick that the light was dim, and the ground was 

 so soft and spongy with damp moss that our footsteps 

 made little noise. There was no wind, and the woods 

 were so stUl that one might have thought we were the 

 only Uving things in the vicinity; but the occasional hoof- 

 print of a deer or moose gave ample proof that there was 

 life somewhere in the wilderness. 



In several places we saw on the gray trunk of some 

 great pine or spruce deep scratches in the bark where 

 bears had stretched themselves and sharpened their 

 claws, and when we reached the lower end of the carry 

 there were bear tracks in the mud on the bank of the 

 stream. We placed our loads under the canoe and turned 

 back for the balance of om- outfit, which had been left 

 behind. Before we had covered half the distance a few 

 large drops of rain began to patter on the dead leaves, 

 and the trees were shaken by sudden gusts of wind. In 

 a few moments a perfect deluge was descending, which 

 threatened to drench us in spite 'of the protection afforded 

 by our i-ubber coats. The mossy forest floor absorbed and 

 held the moisture like a sponge, and at every step the 

 water oozed up around our feet. The trail was soon 

 transformed into one long mire, where puddles were far 

 more plenty than stepping stones, and the dripping foli- 



age of the trees and bushes seemed to take malicious de' 

 light in wiping the wet leaves across our faces and iii_ 

 sending little streams trickhng down our necks. _ 1 

 The two ends of the carry are known respectively a^j 

 the "taking out place" and the "putting in place," and. 

 when we reached the former, after our half-mile tramp,, 

 we sought refuge for ourselves under the canoe. 



There is no better roof than the bottom of a birch. We' 

 crouched there for a while watching the storm and listen- 

 ing to the melancholy soughing of the trees in the sur- 

 roimding forest. 



The rain beat a tattoo on our bark shelter and the sur-i 

 face of the stream was covered with innumerable dimin-. 

 utive fountains, so fifrcely was it pelted. 



When the storm showed some signs of abating we made 

 our second trip across the carry, but before we reached 

 the "putting ra place" it was raining harder than before, 

 if such a thing were possible. However, we launched 

 the canoes, put the luggage aboard — covering it with 

 rubber blankets as best we could, and continued on our: 

 journey. Two miles down stream we came to the second' 

 fall. At this place the delay was shght, for only a single 

 ledge extends across the river, and the canoes were lifted 

 around one end without trouble. Then came another 

 stretch of dead water and the "long falls" where for a 

 mile or more the river is one chain of rapids, falls and' 

 pitches. The water, crowded between walls of ragged, 

 broken rock, leaps and dashes through the wild gorge as if 

 angry at restraint. A few pools are interspersed between 

 the stretches of quick water, and canoes can be taken 

 through without making one long carry around. TI 

 first two pitches we "ran," shooti 

 through the foaming water guided 

 skillful paddles, and emerged into a basini 

 of deep, black water behind a great rock.^ 

 Here the canoes had to be carried ovi 

 into another pool to avoid a fall, whent 

 they were lowered by the painters throng] 

 some more quick water. Then they we: 

 taken out again and carried some distam 

 over the rocks, when they were once' 

 more consigned to their native element- 

 In this manner, alternately carrying thi 

 canoes and having them carry us, we 

 gradually worked our way through; but 

 long before we put them in the water for 

 the final stage of the day's journey wi 

 were all wet to the skin. The rocks weri 

 wet and slippery, and we were thankful 

 when this worst place of all was behind us. 



But "it is a long road which has no turn," 

 and at last we were afloat with only fi\> 

 miles of smooth dead-water between u: 

 and our destination. The sky was light- 

 ing up a little in the west and the rain did 

 not fall so copiously. 



We were wet, cold and hungry, so thai 

 with visions of warmth and plenty at the 

 camp we paddled vigorously. The bank.s 

 stretehed away on either hand, the same 

 two unbroken fines of forest trees which 

 aU day long we had been passing; but 

 about three o'clock in the afternoon wt 

 saw a clearing on the right, in which wn; 

 the house where we intended to spend the 

 night. It was a low, unpretentious struc-j 

 ture standing, with its adjacent log hovels, 

 in the middle of the clearing several re " 

 back from the stream, but to us it was 

 welcome as the most magnificent of cii 

 hotels could have been. 



On landing we placed om* goods undi 

 the canoes as before, and then hurried i 

 the house, taking with us cm* rods, riflee 

 and personal luggage. We were given a 

 hearty welcome by the old backwoodsman 

 who lived there, and he soon had a roar-,; 

 ing fire blazing like a conflagration,' 

 aroimd which we grouped om-selves, en-i 

 joying the genial warmth. Our saturated garments hung 

 from hooks in the beams overhead, but in various nonde-; 

 script, but dry, substitutes furnished by our host we were 

 very comfortable. 



In a short time he announced that our dinner was 

 ready, and in a very much shorter time we were discuss-; 

 ing the venison steak and other viands set before us, with' 

 appetites rendered keen by life in the open air and the 

 long fast and exertion of the day. After our meal we 

 again sat around the fire chatting with our host and with 

 each other. 



"There seems to be plenty of game this fall. Two deer 

 came out into the clearin' t'other day, 'n' we sot on the 

 porch 'n' watched 'em a spell afore they went back into 

 the woods. We didn't shoot, for we had plenty of fresh 

 meat in camp. Did you boys see much game on your 

 way down stream?" 



"Yes," one answered, "we saw plenty of deer an( 

 moose sign, as weU as several deer themselves, and the: 

 are fresh bear tracks up at the carry." 



"Yes, bears are pretty thick this year, but it's a rathe 

 cur'us fact that people' don't see nothin' much on 'em ft 

 the woods. As a gin'ral tiling bears are pretty shy, a 

 don't want much to do yvith. human critters, if they cai 

 help it, though they'll fight if cornered, and a she bear 

 don't want much f oolin' round her cubs. It's surprisin' 

 too, how quick one '11 git out o' sight if ye do run across 

 him. He'll give one tremendous jump into the bushes, 

 makin' noise and crashin' enough for an elephant, but 

 after that first jump when he gits out o' sight, you won't 

 hear another sound. They slip away dretful quiet like.' 



"Me and my brother, we come across bear in woode 

 las' winter," said my Indian guide, "he had hole under 

 the roots where big spruce blow over, and we kOl him 

 with axe, We been in woods choppin' and don't have 

 no gun." 



"Well, we had a scrimmage with one, two or tbr( 

 years ago last spring, without goin' very fur away froj 

 home," continued the old man. "One night I had goi 

 to bed and was jest settHn' down to sleep when I heai 

 an awful racket down below, and a boy who was workiw 

 for me came up and said there was a bear in the butt'ry; 

 There was an Indian here that night named Mitch, and 

 after I turned in he and the boy sot here by the fire talk- 

 in' and smokin', when they heard a sound of somethin" 

 or other movin' round in the butt'ry. Then some tin pans 

 tumbled down, makin' a terrible din, and they jumped 

 up and opened tbe butt'ry door to see what was the mat- 



