Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-12-25
BOUNTIES ON WILD
ANIMALS ARE WANTED
The Next Legislature VIII be Asked
To Authorize State to
Pay for Scalps.

VIM. r. Mealey, of Foster, Ore, rel
ative to a movement to secure new
law relative to the killing of game
destroying animals, is self explain
atory:
Mr.. Taxpayer and Sportsman:
Your attention is respectfully call
ed to the petition following this ar
ticle.
To the Western man there Is moth
ing as attractive as the desire to go
on a hunting trip, the mighty noun
tains, the mysterious forest, the
camp by the clear running creek or
river, the fat venison in the frying
pan, these are the influences that ap-
peal to us, the call to the primative
as it were, out of the misty past,
calling to us to once more draw
near to nature and partake of her
bounties.
The knowledge that we can go
when opportunity offers us a respite
from our labors, enjoy ourselves, and
satisfy our desire for sport and rec
reaction for a season; or that the
ranchman can supply himself with
the choicest of meat through a por-
ton of the year, is a privilege that
is dear to us; and it is the aim of
the petition to perpetuate these OPP
portunities we so much prize, to
preserve our heritage for future
years, before 1t is too late, for with
out the gamey black-tail or mule
buck the mountains would lose their
chief attractiveness for the sports
man; and the valley lands without
the beautiful imported pheasants,
the piping native quails and bob
whites and the foot hills without
the bush pheasant and blue grouse,
would be a dreary country indeed,
especially for true Oregonian.
We fully believe that the figures
relative to the destruction OF deer
by varmints, as given in the petition
are none too large. This is about
what 1t figures up to: $4,000 deer
detroyed by wild beasts, averaging
56 pounds of dressed meat each,
makes 100000 pounds Of meat.
Put this at the low figure of s cents
per pound, we have $135,000 worth
of meat; $4,000 hides at so cents
each foots up to $4,000, bringing
the entire account up to $14S,7OO
In this state for one year. How
does that read? Don't you think II
Is time something was being done to
stop this slaughter? You may think
the proposed bounty which we are
endeavoring to have the state offer
for the scalps for the different ami
mails, as enumerated in the petition
too high. In answer to this objec-
tion we will ask you to figure up
what 1t costs to feed wolf or cou-
gar for a year. You will find that,
| uBullu6 ilOui Jul ioi niSl SotiihdIS,
1t will cost S296.40. How does that
suit you? Do you think we can af-
ford to pay $25 each for their de-
struction? And as for the rest of
the deer-destroying animals, we feel
assured the proposed bounties which
we ask the state to offer, are none
too high.
Now as the bounty which we ask
the state to pay for the scalps of
coon, skunks, digger squirrels and
crows. To those who are not ac-
quainted with the habits OF these
pests, the same may seem excessive;
.ut to those who have had an oppor-
tunity of studyin their modes Of
obtaining living, 1t is very moder-
ate indeed. for these bird-killing,
egg-sucking vermin are so numer-
Gus It is wonder any young birds
are hatched out or reach maturity.
Taking all things into consideration,
although we have nothing to figure
from. still We judge II the truth of
the matter were fully known, the
loss caused by these depredators
would be surprise to all.
We have not touched on the coy
ote problem for 1t is a question that
intimately concerns only one class
OF people, notably those who are in
terested in the sheep industry, II
would probably be a hard matter to
pass a law that would suit all con-
ditions IN different parts of the
state and besides this. our one aim is
to preserve Oregon's game, which
concerns all citizens equally.
Now, to sum up our argument to
you, in order to obtain your sigma
ture TO the petition, We will say that
all the statements made in this let
ter or in the petition are deducted
from 20 years OF observing exper-
ience as hunter and woodsman in
different parts of the state, and from