The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1905-08-11
TO SAVE LARGE GAME
A Question That Has Not Received
Sufficient Consideration.
Starvation In Winter IL More De-
structive Than the Guns of Hunt-
ers-Many Large Animals
Perish of Hunger.

During the last few years many pub
lic-spirited men have realized the
necessity for the preservation of big
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: ~ the protection of win
Ter and summer ranges for game; and
(2) the regulation of the slaughter
and sale of game. The importance o.
the preservation of natural game
I~nges has usually been underestimate
ed; but several attempts have been
made to restrict the sale of game by
hunters and to limit the number of ami
mails which may be killed by the hunt
er during a 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 animals,
says E. V. Wilcox in the Forum.
Statistics cannot be obtained for ex-
actly determining the number of game
killed by hunters as,compared with the
number dying of starvation on account
of range. Death by starvation, how
ever, 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 convincing. 1t is only
necessary to travel for few days
through any region in the western
states where such animals are plenti-
full to find carcasses in considerable
numbers. Some of the animals have
evidently been killed for their tusks,
but it is practically certain that
much larger number have died of
starvation.
All hunters know how frequently
elk and deer are found in half
rtarved condition in the midst of
winter, especially when the snow
is deep. 1t is easy for INSCRIPTIONS
persons to slaughter them in such
circumstances. They may then take
from the slaughtered animals such
portions as they wish, leaving the
rest upon the ground. 1t is impos-
sible, however, for any large proper
tion of the game suffering in winter
to be observed by hunters or set
tiers. Travel is not possible during
that hu ~
snowshoes; and sportsmen from the
eastern states are not, as 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
extent of the loss of large game
by starvation, it may be we'll to cite
a few instances which occurred at
Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The num-
Der of starved elk which are actu-
ally found by settlers in that neigh
borhood 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 small por-
tion 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 do,
mesticated animals, and where. in
consequence, the game has been
driven down to lower attitudes early
IN the fall. Whenever, as is fire.
quently the case carcasses are found
hnddled together in sheltered spot
where the available food material
such as bark, twigs of trees and tall
dead weeds-has been completely de-
ypured. the evidence is overwhelming
that the animals died of starvation.
Where game are caught in deep
fall OF snow and crust is subse-
quently formed, it is evident that
the difficulties of obtaining enough
forage to maintain life are almost
insuperable.