The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-09
NEW roRK,s wrID DEER.
About Twsnty-nve Tbsussnd OF Them
Fairly Wen Protected.

FNon the Abanp Argus.
MANI persons have an idea that the game
laws need radical amendment 10 prevent what
is termed the annual slaughter Of deer in the
Adirondack. Residents from the northern
counties have repeatedly asserted, and continue
10 assert. that too many deer are killed during
the bounding season. Legislators have already
announced that a bill will be introduced this
winter prohibiting the bounding OF deer for a
period Of from Three to five years. To back the
bill the old story OF the great slaughter Of deer
This fail the stories Of wholesale slaughter Of
deer are more numerous than ever. Col. Will
liam +. Fox Is superintendent of the Forest
Commissions work in the Adirond acks and
Catskills. Col Fox hks been the chief active
officer of the Commission for a number of wears,
spends q large portion of each year in the woods,
studied not only the trees but the animal life in
the north woods. What Col. Fox has learned
concerning the deer question has been from per;
as frequent soiourner with guides and woods
men,. He has also superintendent the capture Of
deer for the Catskill deer park. When asked
season just closed, Col. Fox said:
There has been nothing that could be termed
a Aaughter. was In the Adirondack through
out the bounding season, and part of the time
better general knowledge Of what deer killing is
done than most fre9uenters Of me woods and
more deer in the woods last spring and more
this fall than. ever before, and the killing Of
dYer this fall has not been at all out of prouor-
ton to the number preserved by the game laws.
Pot,killing Is a thing Of the past.
II can remember when'doer could frequently
be seen. piled mp like cordwood on n sled and
shipped out OF the woods to be sold on commits
10y It's slayer. and that slayer can only take out
one of the two he is allowed to Kill. OF course,
parties OF, wealthy sportsmen sometimes take
their guides and pay three or four OF them to
go out of the woods and down to Albany or
New York, so that each may, transport a deer to
q friend, but fifty deer would be a large number
70 allow for the deer killed and taken out In
that way.
guides, mountaineers, and the people living in
all parts of the Adirondacks, together with what
f%orcsters. wardens, and game protectors. | have
been able to form a fairly accurate estimate of
the number OF deer nov IN the Adirondacks,
are about 10000 In all parts OF the Adirundacks
and wild portions of the state. and, that ] 800 "A
sportsmen and Others, either with hounds, still
hunting or lacking do not think the game
them so as to prohibit lacking or hunting the
deer at night with a light and 70 prohibit all
persons in boats or on RATS when The deer has
been driven into q pond or lake and Is helpless.
This driving Of the deer into lakes where old
men and women walt in boats to surround and
club them to death or cut their threats or
put the muzzle Of. a gun in the poor animals ear
ought to be stopped. Otherwise think the game
laws as they now stand will protect all our deer
tuUltleutly so tnaI kne blnuhl lnCTedSo Will OH
set the so-called annual slaughter.
" In dealing with the deer question II must be
borne In mind. that there is a natural limit TO
q moderate amount Of woodland and wild coun-
try that will afford pasturage for the deer, and
II they increase much beyond tho present num-
Der the pasturage will not be sufficient, and they
will die for lack of food. IL Il a fact ! have
noted that the deer are more numerous In the
woods where the lumbermen have been than
elsewhere. You do not find them in the primeval
forest, but where tho spruce has been cut out
and the raspberry bushes and the dwarf naples
have sprung up.
I'm relation 10. this matter Of deer preserva-
ton ! wonder II half the people know that the
person whose evidence convicts an Illegal killer
OF a deer gets Sl002 II is a great temptation 20
one who knows OF such n violation OF law to
reveal N, and | do not think there 10 much IL
legal killing. Another thing. From what /
have observed / am satisfied that IL costs every
who goes into the woods TO kill deer
on an average OF 500 for every deer he
kills. | know OF q party Of young men
who went deer hunting this year and
brought out one bucks head at q cost
Of $3.50 % 5000 for the trip. and the ono who
killed and had the head figures that It cost him
personally $50. You see. mos, OF the deer hunt
ing expeditions are for ten days, and whether
any game is bagged or not there is $40 for guide
hire. Then there is railroad. stage, and boat
fares. ammunition, board, and general travel
ling expenses, all OF which foot mp to an amount
that makes the one deer they may get a valuable
animal. 1t Is a good thing for the state, as all
these dollars go Into northern New York. and
many are paid In by residents Of other States
and countries."