The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-12-02

land. 1t matters are allowed TO 60
on for few years more, a. they are
now going on, all our noble elk.
moose, mule deer. mountain sheep
and goats will bs killed OF, aud i'm
mense wild territory covered by the
Bitter Root forest reserve lines now
will be a perfect wilderness, useless
for anything then because II was GER
tainly meant by providence to be the
future great game preserve OF these
United States. have travelled over its
territory and the past seven years have
seen il from the Montana side along
its eastern ridge and from the Idaho
side, along its principal streams, and
for shelter, feed and water and for
the extent Of good.big game, especial
ly moose, sheep and goat, nothing
would surpass that.
''lt has been said that one could
get to store from any point in the
reserve in one day and halt. This
is the greatest mistake. There are
dozens of points where enc cannot get
out without killing his horses in less
than six days to any kind Of store
whatever. Last fall we were obliged
10 leave behind us two Of cur largest
horses in trying to reach civilization
from a point five days from any
direction. Those who have never
travelled over this region have not the
least idea Of its extent or rOughness.
We we're in a place where ii would
have taken fivs days Of very hard
/ travelling to reach the Lolo hot
springs this side Of Missoula, and 1t
/ did take Eve days to reach little
postoftice in the edge Of the reserve
on the middle fork Of the Clear
water.
The big game has been driven in
to so small Il region that as soon ii
the trails are opened, which the gov
ernmert has under way, 1t will all
be killed OF very soon. There ii
one region not 20 miles across "a
where the elk have been driven from
the east, west, north and south, and
Just as soon as the trail Is cut into
that region they will be killed out II
one season. Indians will secure muo
of 1t aud head hunters will ruin tbs
rest. Where two and three years age
plenty Of elk could DO found, nov
not a sign can be seen. Where dv'
years ago plenty Of sheep we're seer
and goat we're plenty, now there 4
not a hOof sign there. The fact 4
the nobiest aud largest big game ter
ritory which will never be good 70
anything else, Is In danger OF beini
ruined for this purpose and cominl
20 a condition where it will be- I'm
possible 20 stock il with big game
for that will all be- gone. II il RICH
nov in this condition that If save
, there is enough big game in there 1
, restock the sutire region; u Above
to 90 on for ouly few years nor
this will be impossible. "
If there Is not made a psrmauer
big game preserve very soon the Ind
ans and pot hunters will annihilai
, all the big game In 1t. Last fall II
: diaus bad oamped in many places 1
4 early as July aud August and bi
> game remains were seen In man
= camps Pot hunters from Montar
q come over aud kill elk, moose, mu
:, deer and sheep aud goat all throus
"a July and August. We met men vii
.. horus In their possession on white
"a the velvet had ret been green WHIT
killed. Five men with nine pas
horses we're In there aud each one
ID the horses bad big elk on his ban
d. That meant five men with nine .
~ heads.
be Cow elk zero being killed Al
Il. men right near Us camped In I
ly same valley were killing elk rig
b. along after they had killed their lii
re It, They we're killing them 1
On through August, for we discover
their careasses and the meu we're )
In there that had done the KILN
Is We bad no authority TO arrest an
ty one, but ws saw parties Of seven a
o. eight without any licenses to hu
DO and hunting big game with dogs q
er killing contrary to Law, and this "
sst always be 30 until the gOvernmt
" takes hold Of 1t for ths reason Il
the region ia so large and 80 rough
TO make 1t practically impossible
Is any set of game wardens TO ever pl
mt etct big game In there. Parties y
Of are killing elk right along will
- you In August OF even in July &
Is they are waiting for the season
re-. open or they are prospecting for m
sral.
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