Page:All Over Oregon and Washington.djvu/311

Rh antlers. The immense size of their antlers would appear to be an obstacle to their escape, when running in the forest; but by throwing back their heads they drop them over their shoulders, so well out of the way as to enable them to pass through the thick woods without difficulty. There are still immense herds of them in the mountains near the mouth of the Columbia, and may be hunted in summer by parties sufficiently hardy for overcoming the obstacles of the forest. But autumn and winter are better seasons for hunting elk, as they then come down to more open ground. Elk-steaks are no rarity in Astoria; and occasionally they are to be met with in the Portland markets. It is estimated that not less than one thousand elks were killed last year in Coos County alone, for the skins only.

Three species of deer are found in Oregon and Washington: the white-tailed, black-tailed, and mule deer. The two first-named species inhabit the country west of the Cascades, the black-tailed being most common. They also inhabit east of the mountains, but have been greatly decimated by the Indians, who kill them wantonly in snowy winters when they can not run. In the mountains along the Lower Columbia and Lower Wallamet they are still very plentiful. Game-laws exist in Oregon for protecting them during a certain season; and still lawless persons are found who kill them without regard to their condition. The mule deer is found only east of the Cascades, and is not common. It seems to be a hybrid between the antelope and black-tailed deer.

The antelope is an inhabitant of Eastern Oregon, and is hunted by the Indians by a "surround"—for though curious enough to stop to look at the hunter, it is very fleet, and soon distances pursuit. Hence the