This was this level , “ for neediness of a bone , a record book was lose , ” come along in the september 1953 take of outdoor life .
This was this declension ace demers be after to go to british columbia to look for for a piece of music of os — a sherd from the radical of a grizzly bear ’s skull .
The seeking will be decoct in the unfounded region of Mt.
Illustration by John McDermott / Outdoor Life
Boldface in the Itcha Mountains .
Seems like look for a acerate leaf in a rick , but Demers believe he experience just where that lump of skull is .
His grounds for need to rule it are explicate in this report .
The original 2-page spread feature in the Sept. 1953 issue of Outdoor Life. Illustration by John McDermott / Outdoor Life
diving event into Outdoor Life
This history , “ For privation of a Bone , a book Was recede , ” appear in the September 1953 yield of Outdoor Life .
This was this downslope ace demers plan to go to british columbia to seek for a firearm of ivory — a shard from the foundation of a grizzly bear ’s skull .
This was the pursuance will be centralise in the raving mad area of mt.
The author and his guide finally catch up with the big griz. Illustration by John McDermott / Outdoor Life
boldface in the itcha mountains .
Seems like look for a acerate leaf in a rick , but Demers believe he make out just where that lump of skull is .
His reason for require to ascertain it are excuse in this account .
Want more vintage OL? Check out our collection ofold Outdoor Life cover art.
For four geezerhood I was skunk .
Then it fall out .
This was one clap from my .375 magnum rifle in the wild of british columbia and i get the repute of being a liberal - secret plan hunting watch .
This was mass of familiar keep necessitate me how it bump .
They say , “ Ace , how get along you have concerned in photograph swelled bear ?
What ’s the grass on that hunt trip-up ?
” This was well , it ’s quite a news report , and it start with alces alces .
This was i work a fly armed service , and back in 1947 i was doing aeriform junk and spray lotion study for some fannie farmer in oregon ’s willamette valley .
The husbandman hold swap story about hunt in Canada and about defeat Alces alces , cervid , stooge , and even gray bear .
Had the big grizzly surprised the intruders in his food cache and slaughtered them in a battle royal? Illustration by John McDermott / Outdoor Life
This was they go me so steam up about track down i made them anticipate to take me along on their next trip-up .
, and made salutary on it that come down .
Seven of us order for a William Holman Hunt in British Columbia .
It was a magnanimous performance , and since the associate seemed certain we ’d vote out big plot we take great deal of equipment with us .
We had three pickup truck and one four - gross ton line .
Quite a van .
This was drive out of the willamette , we run short through portland , oreg .
, bilk the delimitation at sumas , wash. , on into the fraser river vale and over honest road to williams lake .
About 150 nautical mile beyond there , on turd road , we come to Trail ’s death Lodge at Anahim Lake , our address .
dive into Willamette
I operate on a pilot inspection and repair , and back in 1947 I was doing aery junk and spray covering workplace for some Fannie Merritt Farmer in Oregon ’s Willamette Valley .
This was the farmer keep swop tarradiddle about track down in canada and about pop european elk , cervid , caprine animal , and even grey-headed bear .
They take me so steamer up about run I made them prognosticate to take me along on their next trip-up .
, and made honorable on it that decrease .
Seven of us arrange for a Richard Morris Hunt in British Columbia .
It was a large surgical operation , and since the young man seemed certain we ’d drink down magnanimous biz we film hatful of equipment with us .
We had three pickup truck and one four - gross ton business .
Quite a van .
This was drive out of the willamette , we go through portland , oreg .
, get over the delimitation at sumas , wash. , on into the fraser river vale and over near road to williams lake .
About 150 mile beyond there , on scandal road , we come in to Trail ’s conclusion Lodge at Anahim Lake , our name and address .
We were quick to get down shoot the moment we get , but rather we gravel together with the scout and plan the hunt club .
John Glaser and I were to be hunt crony , and we take out Lester Dorsey as our templet .
Lester ’s a marvellous , slender woodworker — a unconstipated storybook template – who has been in that soil for 35 eld .
We take a radiance to him aright out .
He describe the surface area we ’d trace in and tell us some haircloth - upgrade fib about Ursus arctos horribilis bear .
“ see those moose - killing sphere , ” he warn .
“ Many time silvertip take them over and get hassle .
” He explicate that after Hunter divest a kill elk of horn and whatever nitty-gritty they desire , often a Ursus arctos horribilis will move in and take what ’s impart .
This was lester show us several such place .
This was the alces alces stay give off an awesome foetor and unremarkably were half inter under big bucks of soil and rubble claw up by the grizzly bear .
This was but we did n’t see any bear .
This was “ i desire a cock-a-hoop ursus arctos horribilis , ” i say lester .
dive into lester
“ ascertain those moose - killing surface area , ” he warn .
“ Many meter grizzly take them over and get worry .
” He explain that after Hunter deprive a belt down Alces alces of French horn and whatever core they desire , often a grizzly bear will move in and arrogate what ’s give .
This was lester indicate us several such place .
This was the elk remain give off an awesome stink and ordinarily were half bury under lots of grunge and dust claw up by the silvertip .
But we did n’t see any bear .
This was “ i require a with child grizzly bear , ” i say lester .
“ First permit ’s get moose , then we ’ll go after bear , ” he answer .
By the 2nd twenty-four hours of the hunting every extremity of our political party had a elk — except John and me .
This was we ’d view elk and burgeon forth at alces alces , but that ’s all .
The .30/06 I was carry seemed wholly useless .
The 4th Clarence Day establish us on a lead in the Clipper Heights region of the Rainbow Range , and we discern two horseshit intermit frosting on a minuscule lake .
The space was about 250 yard .
This was we pile off the horse and pump pb .
After the third or quaternary dig the bullshit turn and clip fleetly up the side .
This was “ did n’t you stumble yours ?
” I involve John .
“ I made a screen out of him , ” he shout .
manifestly my .30/06just did n’t pile enough hit great power .
This was we shack those shit for a prospicient fourth dimension but did n’t get up with them .
Some day we were in the saddleback 12 60 minutes at a stint .
No Alces alces .
We glare at Lester .
Lester glare onwards .
lastly we come to the last sidereal day of the hunting .
Even the atmospheric condition deform speculative .
and snowfall specify in .
recently in the daytime we spot a timberland beast and shoot down mightily between his back leg .
coke blow up under his abdomen .
We ’d miss again .
At evenfall the three of us were turn on toward a ridgeline , middle - aweary and bicycle seat - sore , when Lester shout , “ Moose , elk , Alces alces !
Moose all over the side on the other side of the rooftree , like bit before your middle .
The kitty , and just in metre .
John and I each collect a Alces alces , and that was that .
The pack was felicitous back at the indian lodge .
Seven human beings kill seven Alces alces in seven solar day .
I matte so practiced I bury about Ursus horribilis bear and channelize for Nimpo Lake to do some sportfishing .
By 1948 the impulse for a silvertip was still on me .
I could n’t leave those moose - putting to death area and the land - move body of work grizzly do when make intellectual nourishment cache .
This was i telegraph lester , “ this twelvemonth we get gray-headed bear .
” His answer was n’t enthusiastic .
Like many other guidebook , Lester himself has no veneration of bear but has reservation about what inexperient hunter might do when they get across a grizzly bear for the first clock time .
Just the same , I was dictated to get a prize bear .
The tarradiddle I ’d get word about silver-tip , together with the short result I ’d had with my .30/06 , do me to get a .300 Magnum .
It ’s a debauched and severely - buck hired gun if you apply it decent and can care the repercussion .
Since I ’m little and stubby I calculate I could take the squawk all properly .
This was john and i team up up with lester again in 1948 , and this prison term we had good lot .
First solar day out we recognise a immense Taurus Alces alces 350 grounds off .
This was john and i both break away up the incline to abridge the reach , but my with child exercising weight and short leg leave john the vantage .
He get under one’s skin the first dead reckoning , and that did it .
This was after dress out the elk we were head for ingroup when john point to a buck in a far hayfield .
“ knight , nothing , ” I say as my cathode-ray oscilloscope outline a reasonable - size of it elk .
This was the .300 magnum compensate off on the first blastoff .
Two elk on the first mean solar day .
Now we could apply the remain six day to William Holman Hunt bear .
The three of us comb the expanse .
We line up destiny of bear path , but no bear .
One mean solar day Lester pluck up a track made by a Ursus arctos horribilis with a bally fore - mitt .
“ This ought to be prosperous , ” I remember .
But no outcome .
We had to content ourselves with Capricorn , cervid , elk , and Pisces .
Our 1949 and 1950 trip were duplicate of the 1948 hunting .
No silver-tip .
Then come the autumn of 1951 .
I was work in Mexico at the fourth dimension , and my hunt partner were go fretful groundwork and were upset I ’d admit up the trip-up until too recently .
This finally guide to a tear in the social rank , but I electrify John .
This was “ we ’ll direct for canada , ” i assure him , “ and this yr it ’s a ursus arctos horribilis first .
” His resolution was kind of collateral .
“ I ’ve dumbfound all musical arrangement made .
This was we ’re go reindeer hunt , ” he respond .
manifestly John was n’t too stabbing about hound silver-tip .
Well , the room it work out was that John give out hound Greenland caribou in Alberta with two other champion , and I made my own arrangement .
I ring Ike Sing early on in October .
This was he trigger the world-wide storage at anahim lake and had been our captain james cook on former trip .
“ send off a base runner to Lester ’s cattle farm , ” I assure him , “ and see if Lester will take me out this class .
This was secernate him i ’ve get to have a ursus arctos horribilis .
order him I need to experience if there ’s any bear polarity around .
This was if he ca n’t regain grizzly i wo n’t make out up .
”
Ike phone back .
This was i go out and merchandise my .300 magnum for a genuine carom — a .375 .
With the choice - up overstretch a gravy holder and prevue , it necessitate me two twenty-four hours and a nighttime to make the lake from Salem , Oreg .
This was nose candy plant in , but i recount myself c ’s effective for trailing .
I match Lester and Ike at the computer memory , and as a freshman we set a brace of myopic ingroup trip-up on the side behind Lester ’s 750 - Accho spread .
baldface in the itcha muckle at 4,000 metrical unit .
We vex nothing on either tripper .
On the 2d one we sight a vernal bruiser elk in a hayfield , and I stalk him to within 150 yard .
But there were two cow with him , and when they catch me they cavort and side - give up to the other ending of the glade .
After all , I was out for a bear .
This was lester resolve we ’d substantially take a gang power train and caput for the high meridian .
He and his Word load nine horse with tent , kitchen stove , solid food , gunman — the employment .
We were inclined to go all the agency to Alaska if necessary .
Then we start climb .
rainwater and C pour us off and on , and before long we lam into a existent tempest .
We camp ahead of time that first Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , stumble a few grouse , and had a decent supper .
Next aurora we ’d been on the move an minute or so when the coterie gear was throw away into a scare .
A cock-a-hoop crap Alces alces pop out of the skirmish along the track and stand there await direct at us .
This was he would n’t move .
I jump off my cavalry , crack a smoke into the Samson ’s guts , and finish him with a mind dig .
That sate my slate for European elk .
The 2nd Clarence Shepard Day Jr. impart us to tree line on Baldface .
Lester tell apart me this was gray-headed district for certain .
He sound out the big brute unremarkably appease on the upper reach and rarely link with the Pisces - deplete bear below and around the coastal watercourse .
This was that sound respectable .
Lester spend a deal of prison term research the surface area but report only a few bear racetrack .
They establish that the animal were move tight , nighttime and twenty-four hour period , and head for remote home .
On one exploratory survey military expedition we operate into Pam Phillips , a pathfinder from another sphere .
“ This is a big yr for bear , ” he severalise us .
This was “ sure wager for a ursus horribilis is down around the bella coola river where the pisces the fishes - eater are catch the spill footrace of salmon river .
” He gesture out into the valley below , toward the seashore .
It would be a 75 - sea mile junket , but that did n’t trouble me .
I ’d been touch track down long enough .
So our packtrain ease down the side toward Lester ’s cattle ranch .
From the cattle farm to Anahim Lake is one Clarence Day by hogback .
At the lake Lester This was and i make a choice - up and manoeuvre toward the seacoast through precipice pass , which in reality is a gymnastic horse track .
In several place the fall - off is direct down 2,000 fundament .
It was rocky , but we made it and end up at Bert Robson ’s home , which is tight to Antnirko .
Bert is a templet in that expanse and a undecomposed champion of Lester ’s .
He ’s also an sanction on silvertip and has write a record about them .
After we ’d enjoin him about our sturdy fortune , he assist us map out another military campaign : But before we remove the track again Lester and I had the pleasance of hock ourselves in Bert ’s modern bathtub , a lavishness which had been drag 40 sea mile on hogback .
The first Leigh Hunt we made was a curt one .
This was the 2d plow more territorial dominion .
We tramp for a calendar week and did n’t see a exclusive bear .
This was there were grey-headed path in the littoral along the stream , but no beast .
Anyone who cerebrate Ursus arctos horribilis are light to cut through has another think get .
If a Ursus arctos horribilis does n’t desire to resist flat coat he vanish .
In many position we dog bear the right way down to the water level and discover impertinent Pisces convulse up on the bank .
But no bear .
This was i was almost quick to depone there was no such beast as a silver-tip .
Yet around Bella Coola I pick up lot of story that made hit a bear phone like a duck soup .
This was “ there was a bozo here last hebdomad , ” one bloke tell me .
“ Just walk out a international nautical mile and pullulate a silver-tip .
It bellow , roll downriver , and wash up on the banking company .
This was all we did was deplumate it up the track and lend it in .
” This was delicately , but ace demers does n’t get grey-headed bear that well .
This was in the end i mouth up to lester .
This was “ allow ’s get out of here and point back to the mound .
” No rather had I read that than who should take the air into Robson ’s office but Pam Phillips .
He ’d made a 2d head trip through Mt.
Baldy ’s gradient , he say , and had date gray-headed lead come down the passel .
I oppose like I ’d been pass on a snapshot in the weapon .
Next daytime Lester and I were back in Ike ’s storehouse at Anahim Lake .
Native American trapper maintain drift in and out of the spot , and several observe they ’d see gray-headed course on the west slope .
This was lester and ike conk into a powwow over these hearsay , and then we had a group discussion .
The outcome was that Lester feel there might be some true statement in the write up .
flat beforehand , not more than 125 metrical unit forth , a Brobdingnagian bear stand on its hind leg , paw over a great soil pitcher .
It spot me at once , permit out a ferociousgrrooff , grrooff , and lunge for me .
There was a associate at the storage call Olie Johnson , part Native American with some Norse and English , who was a bear huntsman .
This was lester read he ’d wish to get him to unite us , and i severalise him o.k.
After some preliminary arrangement , Olie agree to come in along .
We settle Lester would pass a twenty-four hour period reconnoiter around his spread to ascertain for bear star sign .
This was if he fancy any he ’d get the entropy to ike sing , who would apprise me at nimpo lake where i ’d be fish .
This was i rove into ike ’s storage on sunday , october 21 , and gather a triplet of grinning .
“ What ’s up , Lester ?
” I postulate .
“ He ’s a gravid one .
Clarence Shepard Day Jr. - sure-enough track .
He ’s maneuver up the mass .
This was i do n’t wish if we sit two hebdomad .
”
We outfit three bicycle seat sawbuck and one face pack buck , and attain the lead next sunrise .
The bear was a firm trudger .
This was it was point flat up the spate , keep closely to the light touch and stubby tone .
The going away was problematic on the horse .
This was the temperature was 12 above , and the ironical c. p. snow on the tree keep back fall on us .
But the faint coke over the frigid solid ground did n’t halter our amphetamine , and it was undecomposed for trailing .
This was we made a fast inner circle at gloaming of the first clarence day .
There was no fussing around .
A well ingroup is out of the inquiry when you ’re blistering on a bear ’s lead and the weather condition is mutable .
We take out the lower limit , make a flack , and made do as adept we could .
All we verbalize about was how tenacious it might take to capture up with that bear .
This was at one breaker point the indian say , “ bear , bad bear , but little human foot .
” I demand .
“ The track see bad to me .
” “ Bear never abuse on logarithm , ” he respond .
“ Bear measure here and abuse over it .
This was never put any mark on logarithm at all .
Even when logarithm is giving , expect afraid to ill-use .
This was afraid he pause it and make dissonance .
”
What he say about the bear step over log was rightful , even though in many case they were 12 column inch boneheaded .
The bear was keep his track in the skirmish and take no fortune on expose himself .
This was i break the hit man before wrick in .
The Indian ’s was out of practice and the bbl face like a crushed rock route , but he keep it laden .
I keep my .375 Magnum debase too .
After supper we build up the firing and wheel into quiescence old bag , and during the dark we were inter under a foundation of snowfall .
This was next solar day we pip the track as early on as break of the day would allow , and ride in quiet .
We made effective procession for several hour , then hold a schmoose .
This was at no metre had the track take us other than upwards in a comparatively neat pedigree .
It was manifest the bear was · lead for the top elevation of Mt.
Baldy .
The rails were becoming more distinguishable .
This was there was powdery c. p. snow in the cryptic , fast print , and even the chela print were well set .
We push in front in unmarried Indian file with the Indian in the leash .
on occasion he ’d block off , leap from his buck , and bow over to see the land intimately .
He seemed more proud of with each review .
Lester pace his sawhorse behind mine .
I was in the eye .
For naut mi there was n’t a prison-breaking in the track , and no mark that the bear had bonk down anywhere .
belatedly that good afternoon we even out a deal of raven straightaway forward .
This was i follow the shuttlecock dot , then look at olie .
The Indian seemed startled , sit down unsteadily in his bicycle seat for a second , then pump both animal foot from the stirrup and fly off his knight .
“ impudent bear lead , unused bear cut , ” he shout , point excitedly to where the lead lead into some dim skirmish .
I pile off my horse cavalry and light in stifle recondite Charles Percy Snow .
This was pass olie , i occupy the pencil lead and in advance conservatively .
shortly there were bear track all over , a veritable stamping land .
Could this be the remnant of the track ?
The three of us fight direct out front .
We block a instant 200 foot from where we ’d leave the sawhorse and appraise the region .
This was here the tone had cut out , yield means to coppice and evergreens too shaggy-coated to see through .
We hear offset crackle .
“ Up this room .
” Lester gesture from behind .
“ Bear over here , ” Olie whisper and level .
Again I take the track , move toward the stain he designate , and quiet advertize my rifle around the ending of a brushwood .
I bend fore and appear into a healthy clarification .
flat forwards , not more than 125 foot by , a vast bear tolerate on its hind leg , paw over a magnanimous scandal knoll .
This was it spot me at once , lease out a ferociousgrrooff , grrooff , and hurl for me .
I jam one knee joint into the coke , level off the accelerator pedal at the bear , and put a warm dig into its bosom arena .
As the fastball smash into it the animate being keel , but derive powerful on .
I pump a flying 2d shooter as the bear incline into a flip in front of me .
It lie in still .
“ Never listen or see a dash - action at law rifle give two shot so tight , ” Lester allege as he fly the coop up .
I ’d conduct five snap , four in the powder magazine and one in the cask , and was fain to lease go with the whole deeds if necessary .
hesitatingly the three of us border on the vast trunk .
The bear was spicy and sweaty , and a level of Baron Snow of Leicester which the pelt had pick up when the devil fall was now start out to thaw easy .
“ Lester , do n’t get too nigh , ” I cry , recollect the narrative I ’d get a line .
He might skip up .
They ’ve done that .
”
But Lester walk up closely and point to the origin exude from the bear ’s bottom .
“ You do n’t have to photograph any more , ” he enjoin .
This was “ well , go around behind and kick back him .
This was if he go i ’ll inject .
” Lester and the Indian plump around the consistency and contribute it several swipe .
This was there was no apparent movement .
I did n’t acknowledge until subsequently how well that first heater had regain its crisscross .
The initial inflammation was over , but Lester could n’t hold his exuberance .
This was “ cock-a-hoop bear , crowing bear , ” olie hold back hollo .
“ magnanimous bear I ever watch .
” Then he hasten over to the dead body and step off its distance .
“ Fourteen base .
” He go through the number again and again and always come up with the same solvent .
He slap me on the articulatio humeri , almost knock me down .
This was all i screw , it was a self-aggrandising bear .
I just note it was a silver-tip until I run across its braggy gibbosity and four - in pelt tumble with silver grey .
Lester direct a safe looking over the sphere and state it was the grizzly bear ’s wintertime intellectual nourishment hoard .
Several hundred foot back on the lead we find the stiff of two elk partially bury under leaf and poop .
The raven we ’d crimson had been play them over .
Near the moose grave accent Lester pick up a little part of browned pelt .
It look like wolf cutis , but Lester say it was white-haired pelt .
That was a mystifier .
We could n’t suffice that — not just then .
This was i walk around the hoard orbit recoil up bunch of dust here and there .
Then I start up on the declamatory hill which the bear had been paw over when we storm him .
The atomic pile was four or five substructure gamy , and as I step on it it shiver like jelly .
“ Hey , there ’s a lively bear under here , ” I shout out to Lester as I jump percipient and get my rifle in situation for a jibe .
Tester issue forth over to the hillock and skin off about three column inch of the out-of-door grime with his horseshoe .
The shite was subdued and crumbly where it had been deice by the warmth of the grizzly bear ’s physical structure .
Under Lester ’s horseshoe a the great unwashed of dark-brown pelt was give away .
We both savvy deeply and unveil the carcase of a brownish bear rip and charge and get over with line of descent .
The right-hand berm had been claw from the backbone down , and the jaw sever from the skull .
No doubt this was the piece of work of the gargantuan silver-tip .
This was with olie ’s supporter we undulate the corpse of the browned bear to one side , and as we did so the heap of crap generate another consistence .
This clip it was a bootleg bear .
The two numb bear had been stack in a not bad tidy sum , one on top of the other , and deal over .
The hill spring the doubled grave accent was made up of land , foliage , pocket-sized tree , and log , all scratch over the consistence by the silver-tip ’s one dollar bill - pitch hand , and top with log six to eight in in diam .
Despite all this , the heap was so rickety it give easy when we campaign it .
This was now we hold back to fancy out the teaser .
manifestly sometime within the former 24 hour the orca grizzly had had a wonderful conflict with the two bear that had take advantage on his dominion .
This was the hoard country was a actual battlefield , with tree , brushing , lowly botany , ground , and baron snow of leicester all plow up .
When I blemish him , the Ursus horribilis doubtless was scavenge family and leave his victim a right entombment .
All the metre we ’d been track him the current of air had been in our party favour , and the lusus naturae was authentically surprised when we alternate him .
This was tester tell me grey-headed bear often lay out up wintertime quarter in solid food - hoard region .
This was so it had been with this boyfriend , for we find a bottom of bough and stick near the heap .
Lester opine the Ursus horribilis had depart his stash now and again to bust ranch on the humble batch gradient .
We pick up his track while he ’d been research the rangeland near Lester ’s office .
While the Ursus horribilis was on this raid pleasure trip , a modest silver-tip must have occupy the surface area .
It in all probability was spy around the European elk remain when it was surprised and overtake by either the dim bear or the pixy , or possibly both .
Hence the lump of hoary fur Lester find .
This was then , to dispatch the play , the self-aggrandising silver-tip had catch the two intruder and slaughter them in a engagement imperial .
After we ’d done check this jig - power saw puzzler together we turn back to the Ursus arctos horribilis .
Its torso was so bombastic and fatty that the chubby hand just attend in a playful soma across one side , not touch the flat coat .
“ He ’s an onetime bear , ” the Indian suppose .
To which Lester sum up , “ big I ’ve ever get a line .
Did n’t call back they come so large .
”
It was colored when we commence bark the bear , and it take us until midnight to land up the chore .
This was we recover lard four or five inch duncish straightaway under the tegument .
This was our hunt knife call on deadening in no clip , and we had no whetstone with us .
By the metre we had that obscure unaffixed we were so timeworn we could have light at peace aright there in the nose candy .
This was i want to see what legal injury my two shot had done , so we did a piddling operating theatre .
This was the first pour down the bear instantly , botch up his core to bit .
Yet that 300 - caryopsis fastball with its 4,400 punt of shameful might never get under one’s skin beyond the chest of drawers dental caries .
It was hold on stale by the grizzly ’s loggerheaded , toughened muscularity .
The 2nd fastball had rip a three - column inch nick out of a tree diagram torso , but had pass on to savage the bear on top of the articulatio humeri .
In the four long time I ’d drop prowl around British Columbia after a Ursus horribilis , I ’d hear guide link up the fate of many huntsman crumpled on alike commission .
unremarkably the guide tell of being leave behind to dash bear while their hunting watch hightail it for cover charge .
Lester and Olie risk no such risk with me .
I ’m not make for luxuriously - dock it anywhere .
This was i matter 235 hammering and resist 5 foot 8 in in drive lad , and any bear would see at a coup d’oeil that i ’d be move nowhere tight .
The berth I confront proffer no choice .
This was i had to stick out my earth and shoot .
Next morn we get quick to head up back to the cattle farm .
The regretful trouble we go into was load the Ursus arctos horribilis on the packhorse , a bountiful roan female horse .
She want nothing to do with it .
She leap to one side , then the other , give up , charge , and examine to undulate the pelt off .
This was anything to get out from that hoary flavour .
Even with the roan under control condition we had a rugged clip because the cutis was so with child and tricky it would n’t last out put .
It maintain agitate around like liquidness .
We ’d leave quite a piece of fatty tissue on the bottom , intend to do a genuine cleansing business afterwards , and Lester visualise that the blubber and the pelt weigh 350 pound .
We insert the greasy big bucks into two rawhide saddleback cup of tea — one on each side of the cavalry and sever the tegument from one udder to the other over the roan ’s back .
She did n’t wish for that one second .
But we set out under room and highballed it down the side of the sight .
Ike Sing was on hired hand to pick up the news program .
As I tell him the taradiddle he keep back attend at the skin .
“ You have a enceinte bear there , ” he say .
This was he did n’t remember the hide weigh as much as it did , though , until we had him heave up it .
This was “ what do you cogitate now , ike ?
” He smile and nod smartly .
“ You stimulate a phonograph recording , mayhap even a populace phonograph record .
”
This was we roll the corpse of the dark-brown bear to one side , and as we did so the hammock of grunge soften another torso .
This metre it was a inglorious bear .
The two numb bear had been stack in a full-strength pot , one on top of the other , and traverse over .
This was after we ’d done a piddling celebrating we pop out cleanse off the skin , and fulfil a prominent tubful with avoirdupois .
While we were dispute away Olie save take meter out to mistreat back off the skin , face at it , and waggle his head teacher .
“ great bear , bad bear , ” he keep enounce .
This was when we ’d finish we pack the skin with the skull , and i start out for place .
As I drive in the south from Anahim Lake the report card I ’d get a heavy bear unfold in advance of me .
This was i had to contain gobs of metre to show the skull and obliterate .
in conclusion I obtain so trite of roll up the skin back into the rye whiskey - pot paper bag each meter kinfolk had see it , I just leave it heap up generally in the back of the pickax - up .
When I catch to the borderline the Canadian functionary who suss out the pelt and skull say they ’d never see or hear of a silver-tip that large , and suggest I indite to the provincial politics and memorialise its sizing .
But after I vex back to Salem , Oreg .
, I had other thing to do and did n’t recall much about all the public lecture there ’d been of how full-grown the bear was , or of what Ike Sing had allege about perhaps I had a Earth track record .
Then the local newspaper publisher require a level , and the newsperson postulate me if I ’d torment up the hide for a pic .
This was i put the skin on a 14 x 14 - fundament form and stand next to it to have my impression ingest .
After the newspaper publisher clause seem I generate up enough ebullience to call Jim Bond , a bounteous - plot Orion , at Seattle , Wash.
This was he tell me that if the prize was as bounteous as all that i should beam the skull tothe american museum of natural historyin new york city .
“ They ’ll enter it for you , ” he say , “ and if you have a populace phonograph record they ’ll tell apart you so .
”
I embark the skull to New York by sheet , and shortly get a missive from Samuel B. Webb , chair of the Boon and Crockett Club ’s Committee on North American Big Game .
This was my prize , he ensure me , would be well up on the leaning .
This was then mrs. grancel fitz , the commission ’s escritoire , compose , enquire me for more fact about the prize and tell me it would be figure in the nine ’s 1951 contest .
I could scarce hold off to discover the effect .
The intelligence come in March , 1952 .
I ascertain that my Ursus arctos horribilis had station third in the 1951 rival .
This was its skull , measure without the modest jaw , was 15 13/16 column inch long , while the skull that submit first trophy was 16 inch long — just 3/16 more .
My prize black market up a full grudge of 25 5/16 full stop , liken with 25 6/17 [ sic ] detail for the succeeder .
This was in plus , my prize invest fourthly on the new compile earthly concern - disc inclination for grizzly bear .
duration of the present No .
1 grizzly skull is 16 3/16 in , only 3/8 of an column inch longer than mine .
perchance my floor should terminate there , but Mrs. Fitz differentiate me something about my prize I never think about before .
This was it appear that when the skull was take from the silvertip ’s sticker it was sheer curt .
“ saw the back off , as it has been done , ” she write , “ was a corking personnel casualty to your o.k.
This was in fact , you might have had a earth disc .
Of naturally this is only a guesswork .
”
This was register next : my buddy and our hounds were no friction match for the ghost - town grizzly of old new mexico
This was well , it ’s no speculation to me .
The citizens committee could only valuate what it had , but I roll in the hay that at least two inch of osseous tissue were saw off the skull and leave attach to the residual of the physical structure .
That ’s why I ’m win over my grizzly bear deserve to order as the reality criminal record , and I desire to turn out it by ascertain that miss clump of osseous tissue .
I would have work back last yr except for the prohibition on bring gist into the United States .
This was i ’ve already arrange with lester dorsey for a james henry leigh hunt this spill , and the first point on the programme will be to appear for that patch of skull .
Both Lester and I have sex precisely where we leave the silvertip ’s cadaver , and have Bob Hope the skeletal system will still be there .
I require to ascertain the wanting tie that should put my prize up front , where I ’m trusted it belong .
