FOREST AND STREAM 
131 
For Foust and Stream. 
GRIZZLY BEAR HUNT IN CALIFORNIA. 
I T was the grizzly boar we wanted, and the fame of hav- 
ing slain one, which prompted our little party of live 
to make a seventy mile journey, from Napa CHy, through 
Napa Valley to Clear Lake, to the north, towards Oregon 
and the wild Indians in the primeval forest. Although 
twenty years have elapsed since that meniorablu Spring 
morning, yet, in my mind’s eye, I gaze again and again on 
that wondrous vale— that very land Beulah. The valley’s 
length, thirty five miles, was our first day's journey, and 
Mount St. Helena our first night’s camping ground. Each 
man well mounted, and with a complete outfit, and two 
pack mules, constituted our forces; four trusty Titles and 
one shot gun our arms; the latter for small game more 
especially, but well recommended for close quarters and 
dangerous proximity with old grizzly. Nor was the “little 
brown jug" forgotten, but I assure you, Mr. Editor, a 
broad smile of scorn rippled over the blushing faces of our 
faithful friends, who gathered to give us a good “send off ;" 
for their custom was, ten gallons old rye to twenty pounds 
crackers. From this point we found game in abundance, 
and during the (lay killed a noble eight pronged buck; and 
finding considerable bear sign, made our second camp, 
longing for an encounter with O. G., all of us being novices 
in that kind of game. 
At day break we were about fairly started when old 
bruin, to our unbounded joy, put in a distant appearance, 
quietly feeding on clover. An excited chase followed ; giv- 
ing spur we overhauled him quite winded, from running 
through the tall clover, tongue out and heading for the 
thick underbrush, in which we could not prevent his going, 
but he carried with him a bullet from each of us. After 
dismounting, re loading and holding a council of war, we 
abreast entered the bush, determined on a broadside, but 
to our quick surprise and great relief, wc found the old 
fellow dead. He proved to be the “oldest inhabitant,’’ 
white with age, scarred in many a battle, and a monarch 
of the woods. We judged him able to kick the beam at 
twelve hundred pounds, and estimating his great strength 
we for the first time realized our great danger. Each 
“rifle” took a huge paw, memorable trophies of our first 
bear; "shot gun” cut steaks and Digger Indians appro- 
priated remainder. The autocrat of the forest was no 
more; verily, “A live dog is better than a dead lion." On 
entering Sicgler’s Valley about sunset we counted seven 
more grizzlies feeding on clover but having “winded" us 
they scampered to the deep cafions. Concluding this was 
fair hear country, we camped and supped, (but cannot 
conscientiously recommend old bear steaks; cub’s may be 
better,) and laid our plans for the morrow, which included 
dragging the carcass of a deer across the well-marked bear 
trail, depositing it under a suitable tree on the hill side, 
the branches of which we were to occupy and wait for 
feeding time, which is towards evening. 
As at Waterloo, where, according to Victor Hugo, “a 
few drops of water changed the entire front of the uni- 
verse," so a drizzling rain demolished our whole programme; 
but the enthusiasm of Jim J was not to be restrained, 
and he, alone, proposed to make the bear pay for his 
supper; so he took his departure and we took our pipes. 
(I will remark here in parenthesis, we were limited in those 
days to “plug" for chewing and smoking in a common 
clay pipe, not having those delicious and favorite brands of 
"Peerless" chewing and “Vanity Fair" smoking, manu- 
factured by William S. Kimball & Co., Rochester, New 
York.) 
An hour passed on, and Jim returned a knock-kneed, 
pallid ghost; a modern Esau, back from the chase; a mess 
of pottage restored his vigor and a pipe his speech, which 
was like this: — 
“Hardly got up that next little sapling five feet from 
the ground when five monsters followed the bloody trail 
and found the deer, and had a row over it; sighted the big 
one with a good rest, and only six rods off — knew I could 
kill him sure — fired, and over he tumbled down the steep 
hill; expected the rest to scare and run— not any— they 
‘winded’ me and one made for the sapling, au’d I had 
buck-fever coming on bad. I was horror-struck, and for 
the first time realized the danger of being up the wrong 
tree with a grizzly going for a po ir fellow; poured in 
powder and dropped in a bullet and fired at him on the hill 
side on a dead level. He raised on his haunches snuffing the 
air, back towards me, and within forty feet; saw the bullet 
strike between the shoulders, distinctly saw the hair curl- 
down the hill he rolled — good for number two. Loaded 
quick with a patch this time, nerves growing steadier, saw 
number three seated on a hillock fifty yards away and gave 
him what he wanted — he left that knob and I left that sap- 
ling and got on a frightened horse, I tell you. Here I am, 
but you must not get me in another such scrape." We 
confirmed his statement in the morning. 
During that three weeks we saw 17 grizzly bears, 4 elk, 
of which we killed one, about 400 deer, saw GO of them in 
one herd, killed only one now and again to replenish our 
larder; hare, rabbits and coyotes constantly in sight, and 
no trouble to flush large bevies of the beautiful California 
quail, for they were as thick as “the leaves of Valambrossa." 
Every brook teemed with speckled trout, uneducated ones 
it is true, and simpletons, jumping for the fly dangling above 
the water. 
Need I say we had a jolly good time, aud returned stout 
and rugged? A natural "transfusion" of blood, so to 
speak, took place; we could eat and sleep, the two great 
essentials which make existence desirable. Those only 
who have experienced it can appreciate the refreshing sleep 
of camp life, unconsciously enjoyed on hemlock boughs, 
and those only who have partaken of the delicacies of the 
forest can properly estimate the ravenous appetites to be 
appeased and the oft-repeated satisfaction of being able to 
digest a good square meal; think of the delicious browning 
of the tender bits on the forked-3tick in front of the glow- 
ing embers. Experience is our tutor, and the palate our 
monitor, and we are disposed to laugh at Prof. Blot's 
Boston lectures on the culinary art, eminently preferring, 
for a time at, least, the habits and customs of the American 
woods to all the arts of the French capital. 
Butler, Pa., March, 1875. C. E. II. 
— A Hamden, Ct., correspondent complains that quail 
and partridge have been exposed for sale in the New Haven 
market within a week. This should be seen to. 
— The Game and Fish League, of New Hampshire, held 
its annual meeting in Manchester on Tuesday. Joseph 
Kidder, Esq., delivered an appropriate address. 
For Foust and Stream. 
STILL HUNTING. 
F ROM Charles Fenton, Esq., proprietor of the hotel at 
No. Four, I obtained the following facts regarding 
“still hunting" deer. Mr. F. is an old hunter, and has had 
much experience in that line, and as many persons do not 
understand what the term implies, I propose in the follow 
iug article to show how i'. *is done, and in order to do so, 
shall give it as near as possible in his own words. It is u 
pleasure for some to hunt deer with hounds; to sit all the 
day long on the shore of some lake, straining their visual 
organs and imaginations; transforming every loon, duck 
and floating object on the water into a deer’s head and 
perhaps after all, never having a glimpse of one; or if the 
deer is driven in by the dogs, they may bo lucky enough to 
secure one. But in all my experience, and I have spent 
much time in driving deer, I have never killed one yet; my 
luck never ran that way, or the deer either. Another mode 
of killing deer is called night hunting, or more properly 
termed “floating," This kind of hunting is very exciting, 
uud is fine sport, and by many is supposed to be wlmt is 
meant by “still hunting,” and indeed it would be a very 
appropriate name. But what is meant in the Adirondack* 
by the term, is with rille in hand and alone, to penetrate 
the depths of the forests; to hunt out the deer in his native 
haunts; to steal upon him so stealthily that his quick ear 
caunot detect you, and he can only learn of your near ap- 
proach by his piercing eye, which brings the hunter to an 
eye and eye test with the deer, which will give each 
about an equal chance, especially if there is snow 
on the ground, so as to make a contrast between the deer 
and the snow. But if it is bare ground, the deer will stand 
the best chance for the first sboi, and will greet you with 
his “flag of truce” on tho rapid retreat. Deer depend 
mainly for their protection on their cars. It is almost im- 
possible to get u shot at a deer when it is noisy; that is 
when the snow is crusted, or if it is bare ground and the 
leaves are frozen, nnd there is no wind to clash the tree-tops 
together so as to drown the uoise of your footsteps. 
To be a successful “still hunter" requires long experience, 
great power of endurance, and an eye quick to discern one 
object from another, and also the carriage or manner of 
walking; this has a great deal to do with success. As deer 
only notice things in'motion, the person who walks with 
the least movement of the body will be most likely to get 
near the deer. I know many who, with equal experience, 
hunting over the same ground with the same advantages, 
where one kills ten the other would perhaps kill forty. 
When there is no snow on the ground you cannot follow 
the deer's tracks, but have to move quietly about over 
ground most likely to be frequented by them, keeping a 
sharp look out and reviewing the ground at every step, for in 
the thick woods you ate liable to come on to one at every step. 
When the ground is covered with soft, light snow, six or 
eight inches deep, during the month of November, or the 
fore part of December, is the best time for “still hunting." 
Then, as you enter the woods, the first thing to be done is 
to find a deer’s track in the snow. The next thing is to 
ascertain the length of time the track has been made. 
This requires much experience. If the track is just made, 
the snow in it, where it Inis been moved, wilflook new and 
bright, but grows dull by ago. A good test, when It is cold 
weather, is to feel of the track with your finger, and if just 
made, it will be soft; if not, quite hard. One of the best 
ways to tell if it is a new track is by the manure, if they 
chance to drop any, as it will soon freeze if cold; at any 
rate, it soon changes its nppenrancc. Having found a track 
and ascertained that it is new enough, the next thing is to 
follow it cautiously, traveling at the same rate as the deer 
travels. An experienced hunter cau tell about how fast ho 
has to go to overtake the deer. If the deer is feeding along 
as he goes and stops to browse at every fallen tree-top, you 
must move slowly, looking in every place, at every step, 
for he is not far distant. But, then, if the deer is “travel- 
ing," as we call it, we have to walk much faster nnd scan 
the ground as best we can. But the chance of getting a 
shot is less than when one moves slower and looks the 
grouud thoroughly over. I have followed old bucks that 
were not three minutes ahead of me, for two hours, run- 
ning down hill and hurrying up with all my pedestrian 
powers, the perspiration dropping from my face, and when 
by hard work I finally overtook them, only had the chagrin 
of seeing their tails waving defiance ns they sped away. 
But many times I have been amply rewarded for my long 
race by seeing them moving along, not suspecting danger 
near, uud when I culled for them to stop, would throw up 
their antlered heads, when the quick report of my rille 
would make them spring suddenly into the air, and rush 
madly forward on their last race. To still hunt with suc- 
cess, to tell in what locality to look for deer in different 
states of weather, to know when to follow fast and when 
slow, to know where a deer will be most likely to stop ul ter 
he has once started, and to know how to get more lliuu 
one where there are two together, is only acquired by long 
practice and judgment. But not more than one hi fifty, 
with all the experience in the world, will make a good 
still hunter. It requires a special adaptation to it. It is 
very hard work, “as it necessitates much traveling. But, 
then, to my mind, it is tho rarest of sports, and is the 
most exciting mode of hunting deer.' I have given you in 
the ubove the riwtlun operandi of still hunting; now I will 
give you a little reality. I went out still hunting yester 
duy, (Dec. 28th,) I hud not hunted a day for three weeks 
previous. It had been cold, and not very good hunting 
weather. I had been waiting for a thaw, und I thought 
when it came I would take my last hunt for the season. I 
never hunt after the first of January, as the deer are poor 
after that time. Yesterday the long looked for thaw came, 
so 1 look my rifle, donned my moeeasma aud hunting tig 
and started for the woods north of the lake. When I ar- 
rived 1 found about four inches of water on top of the ice, 
and having moccasins on my feet, which afforded no pro- 
tection from water, I fouud it rather uncomfortable, wad- 
ing a mile in ice water. But pushing ahead, I reached 
the opposite shore with no other mishap but cold feet. 
Walking on about a mile farther I came upon the “spoor" 
of a large fawn, which I pursued. Following him for 
about a half mile he came to a halt and began to feed and 
travel very slowly'. With cautious steps 1 advanced, peer- 
ing into every thicket, and among the snow-covered ever 
greens, until directly I saw him moving slowly along 
arnoug the low bushes. I waited until he came into an 
open place, when I raised my rifle, fired, and he quickly 
disappeared. Loading my rifle, I walked rapidlv to the 
place, when I saw him a lew yards distant stretched on the 
snow. Hanging him un and dressing him, I moved on 
again. After traveling about half an hour. I was surprised 
by seeing a largo buck jump up and run away. I hail 
struck on to him before finding his track. I pursued him 
two hours; started him twice more, but did not eveu see 
him run. I then gave him up nnd went in search of other 
tracks and in tho course of half an hour found another 
largo buck s track, lie appeared to bo going very slowly, 
and l followed for about half u mile. My hopes wore not 
realized for I came upon his soft bed. which ho had sud- 
denly left on tile run. I know then 1 had started him with- 
out even catching a glimpse of him. Weary and ills- 
muir tenon, l followed on und Boon dUeoveied by tins way 
he tun that he hud not soon mo, only hoard mo coming, and 
would not probably run fur before ho would mop and watch 
to see if anything was pursuing him. Coming up a high 
dll and looking across a ravine onto n ledge, 1 saw him 
looming up with his (ail raised ready for a jump; quick as 
thought my rifle flew to my shoulder, and nt the same 
moment iu sharp report reverberated from hill to hill. A 
tremendous leap high in air, a rush forward, with unraised 
tall, told that the bullet had taken effect. (A doer, If 
mortally wounded, seldom raises ills tail when lie runs, hut 
if not wounded, it is curried ruined, ) CHmhlnq up tho 
ledge where the buck had stood, I saw him stretched upon 
the snow dead, lie had run only about twenty yards be- 
fore he fell. Willi a light heart 1 dressed him and started 
homeward, nnd ns luck would have It, I had not traveled 
more than a quarter of a mile when I came upon another 
track, which, to all appearance, had not been made more 
lliuu one hour; and as tho doer was feeding, 1 knew that it 
must ho near. Advancing slowly, 1 expected every mo- 
ment to see him; nor was I mistaken, for I saw her tit was 
a large doe) rise out of her lied, stretch up her neck to its 
utmost height and look directly at me. I know there was 
no time to wait, for she would not probably stand a mo- 
ment. With ull possible speed 1 hiought my rille to hear 
on her breast, and fired. A quick start and a few Jumps, 
making a sharp angle gave mo the hope that tho ball had 
not missed its aim, and such I found to he the case, for on 
nearing the spot 1 saw the snow red with her blood, where 
she had run, and following on about eight rods I found her 
dead. Serving this as 1 hud done the others, 1 made my 
way home, where I arrived at dark, aud although dienehed 
with min, well satisfied with my day’s hum. And so l 
wind up my limiting for the season. ‘To-day, Doc. 20th, 
thermometer at zero at No. Four. 
Hartford, Ct. Fbank Hom.BB, Jn. 
EXTRACT FROM THE JOURNALOF THE 
GREAT AMERICAN SHOOT CLUB. 
Noaroi.K, Vi., March 10, 1078. 
'Kditok Poiusit and Ktiikavi: 
"It Isdocldoil to innko a descent on sumo kind but a* yet unknown 
funner living at or near bum Nock, la Princess Anno county, In ordor to 
test tho murveloos stories of stray unlives from Unit Winter quarter ■* 
to ‘snl|ie and slcli,’ and It Is ordered that time part of the club coutuni 
plating Urn attack make suitable preparation* for an advance at six A. 
M., on the I7lb Inst." 
As of course ull club orders are punctually obeyed, so Hilly bail tho 
wagon and pidr at "I Ip's" door al tho hour spocliled, only to llnd "Pip" 
snog la bed. Now, the club, knowing him of old, bad secured an iilnrm 
clock for tils bcnelli, bat as It Was most carefully placed upon an unovoti 
surface, of course ll refused to act. and the whole expedlllori was delai cd 
until soino it ft. 1 In. was properly clad, and wliat took oven longer, folly 
Oiled up. However, Hod also was toon picked up mill the column put 
In inoilou, and under the stirring Influence of hickory, In due time pass- 
ing through the village of Kempsvlllo, and over roads of no super excel- 
lence, reached Its destination, 
Dam Neck Is simply a causeway and short bridge over the stream, or 
rather ditch, connecting the upper nnd extreme northurruost water of 
Muck Buy with the lower pond, wide li In turn runs Into Mack Buy itself 
at Sand Bridge, also a causeway and bridge as at Dam Nock, from which 
It Is some three miles, Back liny being the head waters In this direction 
of Currituck Sound, aud tho North Carolina line being only about four 
toon miles south of Sand Bridge. These waters are ull fresh und run 
nearly parallel with tho ocean, at distances varying from four hundred 
yards tooue mile, the high sand hills preventing the ludux of the Atlan- 
tic, except during extraordinary storms. Tho shores are extensive! 
marshes, much of them of a character unlit for snipe, hut all a free 
range, especially for hogs, which by rooting up llm ground expose soil 
otherwise beyond I tin reach of Mr. Ncolopax, though very attractlva to 
him; yet, be It understood, a large part of the marshes Is flnii-rau> snipe 
ground without any assistance) from art, 
A troop of hungry friends is, at times, Inopportune, but our hosts, un- 
dismayed by such u formidable party of lolal strangers— three men, two 
dogs uud two burse*— gave us a hearty welcome, and treated iis as only 
those can who have humanity, and I may say ( :lirl . tlanlty , fully devel- 
oped, nnd never was old Virginia hospitality butter exemplified, nor 
more fully appreciated. 
After a proper Interval to contemplate old ocean, the sport com- 
menced, nnd twenty-four snipe nnd one sorn were secured Hint afternoon. 
The next day- the Idtli — nfu-r some experimenting, the inar-b wins 
struck quite near Hand Bridge, and the ammunition exhausted by three 
P. M,. with a result of seventy- -nine snipe, one sorn, one Virginia rail 
and one sparrow, Ibis last by Pip, who bad a narrow escape from Im- 
mortality In (he annals of the club, as the HparrowM, In consrf) nance of 
the sparrow being In range und the snipe hard to llnd, iliough It is but 
Justice to Pip to say that with his last round of UM.be also killed a 
snipe, nnd It is believed fairly, though It took place round a liusb some 
distance off. On our return to the bouse we bad Itvo o'clock tea, vary 
hot aud strong, and It was folly agreed that It wss as good nnd refreshing 
ns stronger malarial had proved earlier In the day. On the ll/tli, It being 
necessary to return to town, after heartfelt adieus, the purty drove to the 
neighborhood of Hand Bridge, going over the ground of the previous day, 
und some before untried. Increasing the bag to a iota! of 166 Scoto H'il 
sonlt. 1 OrtyijonirUa CaroUntu, I I tall us Vlrginlanui, and 1 Fung ilia 
soeta/ts. 
Billy secured W snipe and tho rail; Pip, M snipe, the 3 son and the 
Other bird, nnd lb.il tho remaining 00 snipe, so ending a trip most enjoy- 
able, and ll Is thought successful Of cour»o die "cockles of the hearts'* 
of many friends were rejoiced, and other gunners were moved to a dc - Ira 
to become members of the "Muoot,” and to prove tho pudding by chew- 
ing the bug. 
It Is about twenty-six miles to Sand Bridge, which Is near the centre 
of the snipe marshes, and Mr. Porks, who lives there, accommodates a 
few dockers, and doubtless would receive ' snipers" also, though wo did 
not know that he consented to entertain when the trip wss projected. 
The snipe ore said to he abundant until May; no assistance Is needed to 
Hud the ground, nor Is a dog at all a necessity. The gunner must pro- 
vide transportation, as there Is no public conveyance to that neighbor- 
hood. Gut. 
—One* objection which an "old fogy" ha* to the modern 
breech lending gun is, that it is so easily loaded that one is 
tempted to shoot at everything that conics in sight, (hereby 
-curing awuy multitudes ot migratory birds that would re- 
rnuin longer with us, if they were not shot ul no iucesaantly. 
There is some force in the argument. 
