New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-11
HOW TO PROTECT THE DEER.

AN ADIRONDACK SPORTSMAN cRITIcTsEs THE
PENDING BILLS AND GIVES SUGGESTIONS.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: number of bills have been introduced this
year claiming to protect the deer which VIII not
only prevent the visitors to the Adirondacks from
getting many deer. but will also tend TO increase
the killing of the deer by the guides. because the
law drives the city sportsman TO other sections ana
leaves the guides no other means Of getting liv-
ing than by killing the deer and selling the meat
and hides for what they will bring.
A frst-class hide in the woods Is not worth over
81 50 TO the hunter. and the meat seldom brings
over 10 cents a pound. The guides. a rule, are
honest, Woodworking men, who will respect the ~
II you will give them q reasonable ore under vnseo
they can make a living; but many Of them have
families to support. and If law is passed which
prevents their being employed by the visitors, they
must take 10 the woods and make a living In spite
OF the law.
In the year when bounding was prohibited there
were more deer killed by the guides In their lail
hunts than by all the summer visitors ana none OF
the game protectors could catch them breaking the
law as whenever the protector came In the Sec
ton where they were the scouts carried informa-
tcn 10 the camp the dogs were carried OF TO re-
mote part OF the woods. and by the time the game
protector found the camp everything was as quiet
and orderly possible
Every one who is familiar with the Adirondacks
is we'll Of the fact that no guide VIII WORK
for himself when he can get any one to hire him
at guides prices; and the problem is no" 10 keep
him so busy that he is driven to hunting on his
own account
The city visitors make up parties, go TO camp
with a ntSber Of guides and kill very few deer but
return home improved In health and confident that
they have had a very good time while the guides
were satisfied with the result, 20 long as they got
| their pay.
! The trouble in the Adirondacks began when the
game clubs undertook to make laws for that region
the same as were desirable for Long Island and the
southern part OF the State without taxing INTO con-
sdera,ion the climatic difference in the two local.
ties and made the law respecting trout nshing tho
same for both localities. The superintendent OF the
| hatcheries at Little Clear Pond was unable last
| fall to get any amount OF brook trout that were
ready for spawning until after October !. and then
| had TO 20 some twenty miles from the hatchery. 70
| Meacham Lake outlet to get them; and yet the
| law prohibits catching them after September l.
Is II likely that any one In the woods VIII nave
much respect for law like this, or will feel very
wicked In violating this law, when he can 90 80
safely? Formerly brook trout could be caught uhu'
September l5 and the visitors kept the guides pusy
until that time but since the law has been changed
large proportion Of these visitors leave the WOODS
as soon as possible after September ann s ac
count, unless he can get employed by the lie" 'hA'
II the people in the Adirondacks were petm,ted
70 catch such brook trout as they needed ler ,ns
use dsTns a ,ne m0n selling or sending them
away then the visitors would remain durnS t tnas
keep them from hunting deer The damage to the
would be slight while the aaysn to the TO s ss
Sesd T be- easily Ffsmedie from hatchery but
"" haSe had an experience OF thiryye year:
In the Adrondacks and my hs most cruel and
wastefnl method Of hunting. Any one win =
guide. who is an expert with the paddle can &c,
w WIN n,o m but the number Of that escape to
die in hs woods saSe D
", 'iacking TO get thirteen shots In one season.
claimed have hit eleye ,bs on the the DOES are
more apt to come to the water man the WAT" ,hiys
large proportion Sho0 Ot "s are that fawn is
| left in the woods. too young al tnat season 20
take care of itself and consequently doomed 70
o The next most destructive method Is SUI nnnt.
hSrd Work for any excepting the expert
enced sportsmen and the guides ana a,eSs
and 40 in October the made in walking on The dry
so great that aenr Is TO I set sho In the
a of iss4 there early fan OF snST and In
nrsS SSys guides and than had been
Hilisa during the entire summer The only way to
S,m , tn 6s Is 10 to prepare
the h Ss ss srss pa much sn can Ss done
protect deer by law 1rs the IN e nTs
q does sr for 9Ss 'f ass fear
viii such good results that the small deer have
INCREASED a to v ths, the wealthy aadhoers and
clubs Is should try TO influence LEGISLATION; but II
must pe .rs belongs to the State for the benefit
Of the people Of the STATE wnS are taxed fq Sars
su aprpEjng men and the invads who frequent thar
.g,on are entitled to the protection OF the Les,s
market men 49,, ,.,,,. % ,a.. s,o,,,a ha con-
ensd 10 The months OF September and October; me
n nins ~ OF does prohibited for three years ana
s'wns not to be killed at all Allow bounding our
i nav ths month OF October with a heavy penalty
against the OF any dog found running ae 81
aSt of season. And, last and most mportan. -
ali keen the guides contented and busy by ALLOW ALLOW
Ing the people in the Adirondack TO eaten w ItS
trout for their own during September w"
heavy penalty against selling or sending snnyNNv
Ncw-York. April .. 1897.