Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-12
Game Said to be Win
tering Well in Woods.
Supt. Smith Urges Precaution.
ary Measures in Schools.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting of Governor and Council
Thursday, April 2, at 10 A. M.

Among those who We're at the State
House Wednesday was Capt. William
r. Pollard Of Foxcroft, chief game war
den in The employ of the Commission
of Inland Fisheries and Game, and one
Of the veteran game wardenS Of the
State. Capt. Pollard has made the
woods and the deniZens thereof the
study of a lifetime and knows all thei:
secrets. The ways through the path
less solitudes of the north woods are
as familiar 10 him as are the high
ways of his native town. and the hab-
its of the wild game of thoS., woods,
and where they have their haunts. arc
to him as an open book. And he is
equally successful in hunting up the
as he is in locating game, rs many
have found to their sorrow.
In speaking Of game conditions in
the woods Capt. Pollard said that the
moose and deer as we'll as all kinds Of
game had wntereG we'll and should
come rut in the spring in good condi-
tion, the condition being due to the
open winter, Which is now drawing 10
d close and which has been the mild
est for many years. There was practi
c:tlly 10 snow on the ground until the
first of Fetruarv and the moose and
deer have during the entire winter been
able to move about wherever they
chose in search of food. Last year the
deep STOW ard extreme cold were the
cause If ii great deal OF suffering and
mortality among th-n.
Reports of other wardens AMI also Of
woodsmcn have been along the same
line as Capt. Pollard'S statement re-
g;rdirg the game. and the conccnsus
Of opinion seems to be that the moose
and deer have during the winter had
one Of the easiest times that they have
enjoyed for years. According to infor-
lnation that has been received these
animals have not yarded at all, and it
is also reported that bears have been
abroad as they We're last fall.
The snow in the woods this wint":
has not exceeded two feet in depth.
The deer have no trouble in moving
about and feeding where they please.
Til" deer ana moose never yard until
the SnoN * 50 deep that they cannot
travel easily. Then they pick out
place on d ridge whore there is plenty
Of tn" food they are fond of and make
Il yard. Here they stay all winter. or
until tie snow is melted enough to
allow them Ia travel. They browse off
the birch twigS and sprouts and off
whato yer other vegetation on the trees
suits their taste. Unlike the caribou the
deer and moose do not dig away the
SNOW t. get ut the moss or other vcg"-
tation underneath, but then, the Carl
bon feeds almost entirely on moss,
which is found on the ground, while
deer ana moose feed high.
The deer and moose are usually i'll
excellent condition after an open win
ter. There may be winters which are
called open which leave tn" deer in
vrrv bad condition. and during which
many deer perish from starvation. The
deeper the snow is in the woods the
higher upon the trees, the deer are able
To reach and browse. However. when
the snow IS deep enough to prevent
the deer from travelling much and Yet
not deep enough to help the little fell
lows reach The good browse, they must
Starvc. wnil. tn, big fellows, being able
to reach higher. get more browse and
COM" through tIIc winter in SonG con-
ditirn. With no NOR" snow thar there
has been in the Maine woods this win
ter deer and moose can travel any
where and feed at will. They are not
restricted to the limits of Il yard. rs
Il result Of this the Maine deer and
moose should cone through the winter
IN excellent condition.