New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-27

making total Of 1910 moose and ss5S deer
shipped from the region Of the Penobscot and
Moosehead IN the last nine years.
The record is kept by station agents. and is &C
curate These figures large as they may seem.
represent only one-half IL is estimated Of the
actually killed. for many deer are eaten in the
woods many not transported on the railroad,
but taken by other conveyances to the homes or
camps of native hunters who kill them, and others
vet are left to rot in the woods after the heads il
valuable have been removed Jock" Darling, who
was considered to be the king of Marie wOodsmen,
used to say that fifteen Thousand deer were killed
in the State every year. and that this number was
Just about one-tenth of the supply. but Uncle
Jock" included his estimate all that the poachers
and miscellaneous outlaws killed, and mis- figures
were somewhat high for the times in which he
lived. although Trey would probably be near the
facts to-day.
In recent years the game laws OF Maine have
been strengthened greatly. and have been enforced
with much vigor, that large force Of wardens
is required. POaChing especially along the north
ern border where the Canadian ride hunters mostly
cOngregate. is persistenty carried on. in season
ard out and not all the warders that be sent
into the woods able to prevent the unlawful
slaughter OF thousands OF deer and hundreds Of
moose every year.
It is reasonable to estimate the number of deer
in Maine at present 10000. and the number
actually killed at from 5000 10000 This esti-
mate would have been laughed at ten years ago.
when people formed their ideas Of the number OF
Killed from
brought TO town. Now that game is brought to
/ Bangor by the thousands of head every fall every
one is convinced that the deer population is some
thing immense likewise the deer slaughter: that.
I'm reality "the woods fun OF them" A good
many deer are killed in the Rangeley Lake region,
in the western part Of the State and more are
/ killed in Hancock and Washington counties, along
| the eastern coast but the great game country is
/ north and Of Bangor. and there the majority
OF the visiting spOrtsmen go. knowing that they
can shoot something in that region and that. hav-
ing reached the heart Of the wilderness In Pullman
cars. there are waiting to receive them the most
] comfortable camps and woods hotels.
one bull moose and two deer Is the legal allow
/ ance for each hunter-any one is welcome to that
amount of game il he get il. Cow moose
and calves are protected at all seasons and caribou
| are protected by "A six years close time. which
/ runs 10 1895. Formerly three deer were allowed.
/ and there a senseless slaughter. IL became
/ evident that the killing OF moose must soon
result in the utter determination OF the species.
/ and the legislature passed a law protecting the
COWS with perpetual close time. In 1899 the carl
bou were given a six years exemption from bullets
/ Then the number OF deer was reduced 10 two to
/ each hunter.
/ While the shooting Of the big game is a sport
/ and pastme for the men from the big cities. IT
/ has come TO be regarded by the Maine people
chiefly as a source OF revenue. and as such IL Is
! r grand success All sorts OF estimates are made
/ az "a the cash value annually Of the moose and
deer 10 the State and its people IL is said that
| ten thousand spOrtsmen come to Maine every sea
J son and that for every deer killed by them the
visitors spend in various ways, not less than SlV"
and for every moose from 500 TO $1,000 Probably
/ the cost OF the moose Is somewhat exaggerated
! hut really the man who gets a moose nowadays
/ must be prepared spend considerable money for
guides for transportation. for hotels and railroad
/ bills and for tsxidermy. 80 a.
! The aggregate OF the expenditures. while IN ire
/ state nv the thousands OF spOrtsmen must be
| enormous. They pay railroad fares over dis
| of
I Maine alone: they pay for baggage and game
/ TRANSPORTATION. for accommodations at hotels and
cams for guides and for various supplies and ac-
| coutrements and then II successful IN getting a
. good moose buck deer head. there is n good
4 sized bill at the taxdermists. Tor most OF the
| heads mounted here TN Bangor. Even Al the
1 low Of sl09 apiece. ten thousand sports
men would leave 81 .0ooCoo in Maine every season.
| and a good authority has placed the amount much
higher. There's sport and profit combined for you!
So the opening Of the season 10 hailed with salts