The Glenwood post., 1907-11-02
.FAWNS PERISH
OF STARVATION

upon the game law in general was re-
ceived today bv the Post:
"The season legalizing the slaughter
of does and fawns has passed, and once
more the innocent creatures will be
privileged to remain on earth and en-
joy life without being hunted and
bounded by their most relentless foe,
man, who by an unwise act of the legis-
lature of 1907, has been authorized to
by law to satisfy his lust for the
killing of animals which have become
almost domesticated on account of the
protection afforded during the years
l9O3,6.
But only one short year will elapse
and the work of determination will
again commence, and will be most com.
plete unless by call for an extra ses,
sion of the legislature the cause shuod
be taken up and the present law re
pealed.
'There are numerous cases this sea
son of hunters sighting a band Of loes
their long range and high pressure guns
as long as they were within the range
of vision. and unless one should fall
dead and in plain sight they would not
deem it worth while to ascertain what
effect their shooting had upon the ami
mails; consequently numerous deer are
left where killed and the wounded are
not pursued, but left to perish miser
ably on account of their wounds.
'There is yet another class TO be
mentioned and We must not lose sight
of him. He is the man who, through
a disregard of the law and lack of
common decency, will kill a doe or
fawn and later, if the opportunity is
favorable, will kill buck and leave
the former victim of his greed to rot
where it hangs.
81 have examined a great many does
which have been killed and brought in
by hunters, which were yet in milk,
which is proof that they were being
followed by sucking fawns, which Wi!
either perish from starvation or sue
cumb to the attack of wolves and coy
otes.
"The present law which licenses The
killing of does and fawns is lamcntable
and is made only for pot hunters, game
hogs aud the amateur hunter who
should be taught to bag his game by
true hunting instead of sitting by the
side of trail and shooting defense
less fawn which does not suspect dan
ger.
During the years of the long and
late open season for the killing ol
deer, and up to the end of the op.n
season of the year 1902, there was a
diminution of our herds which if con
tinued for a few years would have com.
pletely annihilated the species.
Fortunately our people realized the
necessity for greater protection of our
game, and were enabled in the year
1903 to have enacted a law which gave
the game fighting chance to exist.
The law was as rigidly enforced as pos
Iible with the limited force of officers
allowed the state game commissioner.
and with the assistance of very few
citizens who felt kindly disposed t.
ward the law and the officers, the game
increased rapidly. I can safely say
that during the four years of reas on
able open season, the deer increased at
least sixfold in numbers.
1.-The figures which ] give below viii
show the damaging effect of bad game
laws and the beneficial effect of good
ones when properly enforced
During the past six years it was
within my province to gather statistics
showing the number of deer which have
been shipped by express in my dis
trict each year from the following sta
tions: Rifle, New Castle, Glenwood,
Shoshone, Gypsum. Eagle and Wolcott.
"There were expressed from these
stations in the open season of 1902, 6l4
deer; 1908, 80; 1904, 1872; 1905, 1871;
1906, 292; 1907, 7s7.
81 can safely estimate that there
have been killed during the open sea
son just passed, and only in the game
district north of the Grand river, at
least 5000 deer.
1.-The hunting of deer should be cen
fined to the killing OF bucks only, and
the open season should be from the 25th
of September TO the 10th of October.
''There is no more noble or exciting
sport that the hunting of the wary and
elusive buck when he is at home III The
mountain peaks and in the dense for
ests, where, when disturbed by the
hunter he has an almost equal chance
to match cunning with cunning AMI
nffnr tho ;a IL.