Teddy Roosevelt goes hunting

by Doug Crowe
Tuesday, September 4, 2007 12:58 PM MDT

There is a story about our 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt, I have always loved.

Roosevelt hunted a good deal in his day, much of the time in Wyoming. Teddy liked the country around Cody, where his usual companion was local guide Ned Frost.

Early in the 20th century, these two men rode out on a fine fall day to search for the wily wapiti. They tied their horses in a patch of timber and eased up on a likely looking meadow. Their intent was to sequester themselves, then watch until dark in the hope that some elk would feed out and offer a shot.

The meadow was a lovely little spot of about 10 or 12 acres. A small stream lined with willows ran through it and a rock ledge bordered one edge. Near the center was an old lightning-scarred pine tree.

Ol' Teddy and his trusty guide were drinking in the scenery when a cow elk stepped into the clearing. She was followed by several others. A bull bugled in the timber, paused, bugled again and stepped into the clearing.

Roosevelt took a dead rest, laid the bead on the bull's neck and touched off a shot. The animal went down like a pole-axed steer!

The usual war whoops and back slaps were performed and congratulations exchanged. Ned commenced to set up the bulky camera equipment, while the mighty hunter sauntered over to view his prize. When everything was ready, Teddy laid his rifle across the downed critter's antlers and struck a pose.

Just as the guide prepared to trip the shutter, the bull stood up. The rifle cartwheeled into the willows as he shook his head, then lowered it to charge full tilt at the startled cameraman.

Ned turned tail and ran, making it to the lonesome pine a split second before his pursuer. The frustrated elk raked his antlers back and fourth across the trunk.

Unable to attain his initial objective, the bull turned his attention to Roosevelt, who stood stunned in the open meadow. Seeing the animal's intentions, Teddy sprinted across the meadow with the elk in hot pursuit, barely managing to slip into a little cave at the base of the rimrocks.

As soon as Teddy disappeared, the enraged elk returned to torment Ned. Roosevelt almost immediately emerged from his refuge. Seeing him, the bull wheeled to charge and nearly skewered the man before his once again squeezed into this sanctuary.

As before, the elk returned to the visible foe, sending showers of tree bark in all directions. Again Roosevelt crawled out of the cave and once again the bull gave chase. Teddy barely escaped for a third time, as he scrambled back into the hole.

The elk returned once more to the guide's tree and Roosevelt once again emerged. Seeing this, Ned shouted, "For God's sake, Teddy, stay in that hole!"

To which his companion replied, "Dammit, Ned, there's a bear in there!"

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