Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-04-14
PRESERVATION OF LARGE GAME.
Thousands of Elk Die Yearly OF
Starvation.

During the last few years many pub
lic-spirited men have realized the
necessity for the preservation of Zig
game, and numerous state and federal
laws have consequently been passed
with this object. In general this pur-
pose may be accomplished by two
methods: Cd the protection of win
ter and summer ranges for game; and
(2) the regulation of the slaughter
and sale of game. The Importance OF
the preservation of natural game
ranges has usually been underesti-
mated; but several attempts have
been made to restrict the sale of game
by hunters and to limit the number of
animals which may be killed by one
hunter during given season. The
large prices which are to be obtained
for the meat OF big game, as well as
for the skins, heads, antlers, and tusks
have made hunting very profitable to
men who are thoroughly acquainted
with the natural habitat of these ami
mails.
Statistics cannot be obtained for
exactly determining the number of
game killed by hunters as compared
with the number dying of starvation
on account of lack of range. Death by
starvation however, is apparently
more serious problem than slaughter
by hunters, whether legal or illegal.
The evidence which can be obtained
regarding the starvation of big game
during winter is extensive and con-
vincing. 1t is only necessary to travel
for a few days through any region in
the western states where such animals
are plentiful to find carcasses in con-
siderable numbers. Some of the ami
mails have evidently been killed for
their tusks, but it is practically certain
that a much larger number have died
of starvation.
All hunters know how frequently elk
and deer are found in half-starVed
condition in the midst Of winter, es-
pecially when the snow is deep. 1t
is easy for INSCRIPTIONS persons to
slaughter them in such circumstances
They may then take from the slaugh-
tered animals such portions as they
wish, leaving the rest upon the ground
It is impossible, however, for any
large proportion of the game suffering
in winter to be observed by hunters
or settlers. Travel is not possible
during that season except by means OF
snow-shoes and sportsmen from the
eastern states are not, as a rule, de-
sirous of undergoing the expense and
hardship Incidental to life in the
woods at such times.
In order to call attention to the ex-
tent of the loss of large game by star
walton, it may be we'll to cite a few
instances which occurred at Jackson
Hole, Wyoming. The number OF
starved elk which are actually found
/ by settlers in that neighborhood may
! be from 500 to 1000 in single season.
Large numbers of elk come down into
! the valley in Jackson Hole during the
winter; but that district is only a
| small portion of the winter range for
game. Hundreds of men have testified
| that they have seen elk during the win
ter in the last stages of starvation;
and these men know, from personal
| observation, that large number of
elk die every winter, especially where
| the summer range of game has been
| too closely grazed by dOmesticated ami
mails, and where in consequence, the
game has been driven down to lower
! attitudes early in the fall. Whenever
| as is frequently the case, carcasses are
| found huddled together in a sheltered
spot where the available food material
such as bark, twigs of trees, and
| tall dead weeds-has been complete
ly devoured, the evidence is over
whelming that the animals died OF
starvation. Where game are caught
in a deep fall of snow and a crust is