The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-12-18
MORE ANTELOPE ~ TENS.
&. ame Law Has Led TO a Great Increase
leo THEIR Number

CuEvTTAs. Tex. Dec. IL Under tn"
game law Of Texas antelores ar. multi
plying rapidly IN this remote part 81 the
State. The other day forty -nin. were
counted in one herd or the San Antonio
yiejo ranch. a few miles northeast nr here.
IL is known that another herd Of more
than forty antelopes maze their habitat
on the Houghton ranch in the upper part
of this county. Smaller herds Of the ami
mails are scattered all through Starr and
Zapata counties. They are NOR" pleuti-
full than for several wears This ranch
territory is 50 far removed from railroads
that deer hunters and other sportSmsn
seldom penetrate IN. mesquite wilder
ness where the antelope are
The population IL almost exclusively
Mexican. In "A days ride from Cuevitas
there are not tn he found more than half "a
dozen Americans. The average Mexican
s not much of a hunter. In this section
the Mexican families obtain practically
all Of their meat supply from iocks Of
goats. Occasionally "A deer in killed. and
should the fresh meat supply run short
and an antelope come within range Of a
gun in the hands Of Mexican he will kill
the animal Notwithstanding the game
law.
The section around the little Mexican
town OF Cuevitas il mlrably suited for
antelope and other wild game. Between
here and the Rio Grande. thirty miles
none Of the land is fenced. and the AMI
mails roam at will over the country. Even
upon the ranches hat ara fenced the few
strands Of wire hat separate the different
pastures are no barrier TO antelope and
deer. The ranches are still held in great
bodies. each ranging in size from 20 ~
to 100. OoO acres. Scattered about among
thee large ranches are smaller tracts
OF Land which are owned by the poorer
class Of Mexican-.
In some localities Of 1his region tn.
ranches are literally overrun with deer
Complaint is made by ranchmen that IN.
deer ar q 80 numerous that they eat more
grass than the cattle. The deer are # the
Virginia white tail variety. Where at
tempTs have been made To rai-. IsIt Chc-
Of corn and other farm products deer
have wrought r,Iintoth- crops.
There are not many running streams in
this section. however small. but where
they exist plenty Of wild turkeys are
found along their courses. The water
holes OF the ranches are visited 10y count
less numbers ~ wild ducks and geese
during the WlnIff. Dtlt tD.'NN lows are
very rarely disturbed by the sound 81 a
gun.
la the wilderness OF cha parril roam lObO
wolves and coyotes IN great number
These animals are "A constant m.nac.
to the goats. particularly the young and
tender kids H.rd.rS remain con
stantly with the foCk- during IN. day and
at pight the animals are placed IN corralS
Many Of thu Mexican goat rais"r- turn
the care Of their focks over 10 well trained
dogs during the day. TIL" Int"lI g.-nC"
of these dogs ~ remarkable. They lIN"
constantly with ali. goats from puppy
hood until they die AZ soon ~ - goat
herding dog ~ born II - placed IA the
corral with tn. goats. 4 nanny Rnat -
selected tor ItS adopted mother and the
pup IL kept confined In tn" corral with her
until IL ~ old and strong enough tO run
with tn. remainder ~ the flock Tn"
Mexican- ar. adopts in training the dogs
to herd and protect the hock- H. the
morning the dog drive IT, chnrgs- to
ths grazing grounds ana stays with them
all day. keeping constantly employed
rounding up tn" stTay- and NarGIng IN
any pu~-ible attack 10y wolves aud c"v-
ot.-,. When dusk comes IN" dog brings
the. flock back la th. corral and sleeps
with the ANIMAL
There j. one dcpredniIug wild animal
thar il found IN som" parts II tins wild
rrn"-- with which 'h" Rplt h"rdIng cog
~ unabl.. To- cope. and that - III" panther
or Mexican jag'IHr. Ihe-" dangerous
beasts are frequently 81 enormous -il.
They pOunce upon a Kid Or iull grown
goat from tn" low ovsrhanging limbs 0f
mesquite trees and carry TN" victims DN
before the 'iDg can interfere.