The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-04
FOLLOWING THE BUFFALO
Big Game in Wyoming Is Threatened
With Entire Extinction
Before Long.
An Alarm Sounded That Ie Ring
ing In the Ears Of Log
~islators.
Migratory Reds XIII Many Thousands of
Deer, Eik and Antelope Each Year
Pot Hunters.

The Laramie Republican has sounded Al
alarm that should ring and reverberat'
through Wyoming's legislative halls unit
action IL taken on the enforcement OF the
laws governing the auestion in hand whief
now stand upon her statute books - x
many dead letters.
l have reference to the systematic anni-
hilation OF the big game that Ia being law
lsssly and fearlessly carried on in hel
mountains and on her plains by the Indians
and white market hunters. says a western
paper.
This war of determination, for II can be
called nothing less. is now at its height. and
has been ruthlessly prosecuted for years.
halt must be called, or good-by to those
royal denizens, the six. deer and antelope.
Lik the buffalo. their absolute oxtirp alton
il inevitable, unless action IL taken speedily
to check the onslaughs OF these maraudine
aborieines and conscienoeless market
hunters.
Tor a long time the righteous citizens
within the boundaries of this young state
have been demanding the exclusion OF for
eign hunters within her confines, and that
the residents themselves should be restricted
TO the killing OF only sufficient game to
supply their necessities for animal food.
This ia all very pretty and sounds we'll to
tho average ear. says the Republican. but
falls far 9hort Of tho actual needs of the
case. 1t Is not the gentlemen sportsmen
from abroad nor the legitimate settlers Of
the state who threaten TO %dspopulats her
wilds OF its big game. but the sources above
maukiouad ma tho fOlloWiDO AYtYaCk ami.
stantialIy attests:
1.-The Indians in Fremont and Uinta
counties. for at least three months in each
year, have been in the habit Of leaving
their reservations and seeking new fields or
hunting grounds and when they have
the deer. elk and antelope that simply beg
CARS description in the way of extermina-
ton.
Thousands of animals are annually
killed for the hides alone. the meat. with
very few exceptions. being left untouched.
1.-The white man has received severe CEN
sure at times for killing game, aud no
doubt has often deserved 1t, but the few
head SO slaughtered will form but an insig-
nifcant atom in the vast number that are
destroyed eaoa year by these wards of the
government"
Owen. of this city, who has lately returned
from the country lying south of tho Yellow
stone park, reports that whom he reached
that vicinity there we're not less than 200
Indians in and around Jackson's Hole and
the Gros Ventrs mountains engaged in this
bonds had left their reservation without a
semblance Of permission from the govern
ment, and without let or hindrance we're
slaughtering the game by scores.
MI. Owen reports that in one days tramp
in the execution of his surveys he counted
w~ IrMs tkaVN civ tn-.o ~
lately killed. and not a portion Of their
anatomy removed aave the hides.
No white man, save the mercenary and
nefarious market hunter, would think of
doing such a thing. and yet these red mis-
creants were doing inst such acts for two or
three months last fall, and not n word vent
up against. nor was q single step taken to
prevent it.
Mr.. Owen informs the Republican that
day after day he has seen these Indians
pass his camp with from three to ton horses
completely loaded dow with the hides of
elk, deer and antelope, and not q sign of
meat to be seen. Scarcely q days tramp
passed without the patty seeing from one
to three dead animals from which nothing
save the hides had been removed. Now it
Is quite evident that this state Of atfairs
cannot 70 on forever. and Wyoming hope
to have a deer or elk LETT within her hord-
0rs.
This is certainly a depiorable condition
of things, and something the honest oiti-
zens of the state should not submit to. In
and p1ooeed% wishou. 0'' delay 70 P Il wiIi
not to to initiate the action of many of the
eastern states and whit until after the horse
is stolen and then lock the stable. Steps,
and decisive steps. should be taken at
once. Every sportsman in the state has a
duty to perform.
lntthe first place. a petition should be
sent III to the government asking for a
proper restriction of these led and rasoally
white butchers. In the second place, every
gun club in the state. and there is q goodly
number OF them. should call a meeting for
work. The lave should BIZ care.
fully inspected, defects remedied and the
who 9 matter laid before the legislature at
is next session and urged vigorously until
the subject is under complete control.
Make examples of every Indian or white
man caught fractutinR the game law in
the slightest particular; see that the limi-
tations of the open seasons are such as will
In no wise prove inimical to the preserva-
ton and fecundity OF game birds, nsh and
1t IS the only hope. A few moro seasons
will be all sufficient to depopu.nte Monta-
na's wilds of its iordly monarchs. Thirty.
live years ago who would hnve been SO bold
70 to say that by 1892 the buffalo, which
over this fair state in countless
or the wild pigeon, which in their
morning and evening flights otscured the
'ntlre armament. would be things Of the
incontinently extinct outside the fos.
'erinR care OF metropolitan parks and ZOO
o2ical gardens?
But such is the truth. and so IL NAV be
'aiu OF the deer and elk in Montana, unless
.his warming cry 10 needed.
Enrv H.. rr..