Post by: pacyew on June 30, 2007, 05:53:31 AM
I've only spoken with one person that knew him. Hazel was a little girl growing up in N. Bend back in the '20's. When I brought up his name, she exclaimed "Cougar Pete! Sure, I remember him well! Yes, whenever he came to visit us he always insisted in bringing his dogs in the house, and he always smelled like whiskey!"
Post by: boneaddict on June 30, 2007, 06:04:46 AM
Post by: pacyew on June 30, 2007, 06:17:39 AM
Post by: boneaddict on June 30, 2007, 06:54:01 AM
Methow Valley Journal
Vol. 12 No. 09 September 20, 1923 Thursday
Only Grizzly Bear Ever Killed in the State
It now develops that the big grizzly bear killed by Government Hunter Pete Peterson is the only true grizzly bear ever killed in Washington.
There have been many big bears killed that were supposed to be grizzly, but the true grizzly has a peculiar ridge of bone on the skull that distinctly marks him.
The following is an account of the bear’s depredations in the range above Winthrop.
Cattle have been killed in the Yellow Jacket and Goat Creek and Lost River Ranges which were attributed to cougars and common bears, until one night range boss W.R. Flourney heard a commotion and bellowing of a cow in distress. He got up to investigate, and in the moonlight saw an enormous bear hugging a full grown cow and eating her alive. Mr. Flourney was armed with only a revolver, but opened fire, driving the bear away. He then killed the cow which the bear had made a meal off of her shoulders and neck.
Mr. Flourney notified the cattlemen, and through Hon. E.F. Banker, the government hunter, Peterson, and three bear dogs were obtained to run down the killer.
In the meantime the sheep camps were raided and the sheep scattered over the mountains and the herders were in a state of panic.
Upon his arrival Mr. Peterson took up the trail with the dogs, tracking him for two weeks, finding dead cattle and sheep in his wake. At last the spoor crossed the divide at Holman pass into Watcom county. At the headwaters of Ruby Creek in an almost inaccessible place the dogs succeeded in surrounding the grizzly. Mr. Peterson cautiously advanced but could see nothing on account of the thick underbrush. All at once the bear broke through the brush about thirty feet in front of Mr. Peterson. It was in an ugly temper and immediately charged the hunter. Mr. Peterson is an expert shot and pumped three bullets into the grizzly before bringing him down almost at his feet.
Mr. Peterson was well aware of his danger when the dogs surrounded the bear, for the first thing he did was to take the bridle off his horse so if anything happened to him the horse would return and searchers would start out.
The bear stood four feet seven inches to the top of his shoulder when on all four feet and weighed 1,340 pounds. The hide was more than a strong man could lift. The bear in getting away from the dogs had snagged himself, as a big splinter had torn a four-inch hole in his hide with the wood still in the wound.
The hide and bones were packed out and will be mounted by the government.
Eleven cattle are known to have been slaughtered by the killer; but the number of sheep is not known.
Post by: Ray on July 03, 2007, 03:35:23 PM
Quote
he always insisted in bringing his dogs in the house, and he always smelled like whiskey!"
8)
Cool. I love reading about old timers like that.
Post by: sisu on July 03, 2007, 07:02:58 PM
Post by: bowhuntin on July 03, 2007, 09:37:28 PM
Post by: goodfinn on January 10, 2012, 12:00:21 PM
Post by: Special T on January 10, 2012, 12:05:30 PM
Post by: blindpig on January 10, 2012, 01:10:07 PM
Post by: pianoman9701 on January 10, 2012, 01:12:12 PM
Awesome. Any idea if thats a Washington bear from back in the day?
says grizzly on the pic.
Post by: heavy hauler on January 13, 2012, 05:07:47 PM
Post by: smittyJ on January 14, 2012, 09:16:56 AM
Post by: Huntbear on January 14, 2012, 09:25:38 AM
Post by: goodfinn on January 26, 2012, 02:07:14 PM
More stories to come!!
Wild Bill
Post by: sebek556 on January 26, 2012, 02:37:07 PM
Post by: Arteman on January 26, 2012, 02:44:01 PM
Post by: C-Money on March 30, 2015, 08:38:00 AM
Post by: McComak on February 06, 2018, 12:31:19 AM
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on February 06, 2018, 01:21:44 AM
I am sure that even though this is an old thread, there are a bunch still here that would enjoy reading stories and seeing any pictures you would be willing to share.
Post by: Timberstalker on February 06, 2018, 05:24:55 AM
Post by: Rainier10 on February 06, 2018, 07:35:33 AM
Post by: Gringo31 on February 06, 2018, 08:16:42 AM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on February 06, 2018, 08:41:27 AM
Post by: idaho guy on February 06, 2018, 09:26:32 AM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on February 06, 2018, 11:48:25 AM
Post by: Jpmiller on February 06, 2018, 01:36:57 PM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on February 06, 2018, 04:43:38 PM
Awesome story, hopefully you guys can post more. Cougar Pete sounds like a one of a kind gritty outdoorsman but I am most impressed with the dogs he had. To be able to bay up a huge grizzly bear with only 3 dogs is a feat and those must have been some gritty dogs! Its hard to do that with a tiny black bear in Idaho with only 3 dogs. Anyone have pictures of his hounds or know anything about the breed etc? Thanks for postingI got luckier with a keyword search than expected, and found a photo and some text from a 1913 book by Robert Manning Palmer, All About Airedales. I'm betting he used the Airedales to hunt the griz, there was another story in there about his three Airedales grabbing an unrestrained cougar in North Bend that he finished off with a Mauser pistol.
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on February 06, 2018, 04:49:25 PM
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on February 06, 2018, 06:56:25 PM
Post by: idaho guy on February 06, 2018, 08:29:28 PM
Text from the book
:tup:thanks for posting that! I hunted once or twice with a old timer in Montana that always had an Airedale in his pack. Good stuff
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on February 07, 2018, 11:02:34 AM
:tup:Text from the book
:tup:thanks for posting that! I hunted once or twice with a old timer in Montana that always had an Airedale in his pack. Good stuff
Post by: Shrimper on February 07, 2018, 11:34:41 AM
Post by: Shrimper on February 07, 2018, 11:38:40 AM
Post by: Shrimper on February 07, 2018, 11:42:16 AM
Post by: Shrimper on February 07, 2018, 11:46:07 AM
Post by: jstone on February 07, 2018, 11:55:59 AM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on February 07, 2018, 12:19:54 PM
Post by: JakeLand on February 07, 2018, 03:37:08 PM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on February 07, 2018, 05:12:39 PM
Post by: Eric M on February 07, 2018, 06:46:47 PM
Post by: ellensburgpo on February 07, 2018, 07:26:57 PM
Post by: boneaddict on February 20, 2018, 06:30:19 AM
Welcome McComak :tup:ABSOLUTELY!
I am sure that even though this is an old thread, there are a bunch still here that would enjoy reading stories and seeing any pictures you would be willing to share.
I love hearing stories from this generation.
Post by: dc on February 20, 2018, 07:40:55 AM
Post by: Ridge Roamer on February 20, 2018, 08:36:24 AM
Post by: bigmacc on February 20, 2018, 12:38:39 PM
Post by: Kit Carson on February 24, 2018, 08:17:42 PM
Post by: Furee65 on February 28, 2019, 11:46:48 AM
Post by: rainshadow1 on February 28, 2019, 12:46:12 PM