The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-02-04
ANTELOPE SENT
INTO OKLAHOMA
Government Seeks TO Preserve
Pronghorned Species On
Game Refuge

RuEh, OF the Wlcnlta game IeiuBe III
the State of Oklahoma, has informed
the Department of Agriculture Of the
receipt in good condition of eight
head of antelope, which came from the
National herd in the Yellowstone Park.
Through the generosity of members
ofthe Bone and Crockett club Of
New York, funds were furnished for
capturing and transporting these ami
mails from Wyoming to oklahoma
lope at their destination has been ue-
ceived with satisfaction by the Depart
ment officials, who are much interest.
ed in the atemtpt to preserve this in
teresting game animal.
The pronghorned antelope is unlike
any other antelope on the face of
the earth, and has so many peculiar
tiles that naturalists class 1t in a
family by itself. Formerly existing by
thousands on our open western plains,
it has now been so reduced in numbers
that its absolute extinction is certain
in the very near future unless protec-
ton is given to the few remaining. IL
does not do well east of the Misss-
sippi river, and can not be success
fully bread in captivity; but 1t thrives
if allowed to roam practically free
within large enclosures and under
conditions closely approaching the
natural ones.
In 1908 the Biological survey esti.
mated that the total number of ante.
lope in the United States had been
reduced to 10000 OF these about TO-.
600 were in Montana, Wyoming and
the Yellowstone National Park, and
the remaining 1000 were distributed
in ~ other states.
On the Wichita game refuge, it is
hoped that the antelope will find
themselves in surroundings suited to
their increase. The Wichita is really
National forest, and Game Warden
Rush acts as its supervisor and at.
tends to all the business involved in
its administration. But on the Wichita
which was set aside by act of Con.
gress as national game refuge be-
cause of its especial suitability to act
as breeding place for the wild crea
lures of the plains and lower Rocky
Mountain regions, the Importance of
the game work has oyershadowed the
ordinary uses of a National forest
There are over 80 national forests,
but only two national game refugees.
This does not mean that outside of
those refugees the game on the ma
tional forests is not protected for the
national forest officers are uniformly !
instructed to see that the game laws
Of the various states are observed on |
their forests, in so far as they can do |
this in justice to their other duties. |
Many Of the forest officers are regu-
larry appointed deputy state game
= wardens, and 1t is the policy of the |
Department of Agriculture 20 encour-
age their acting in this capacity when
they can do so without prejudice to
their work as forest officers. They
are not, however, expected to go off
the forests in order to enforce the
game laws Of the states, nor can they
make enforcement Of game laws their
principal occupation. The work of n
forest officer in looking after Uncle
Sans affairs generally insures his
being a pretty busy man, and what
he does in enforcing game laws can
only be incidentally to selling timber.
protecting the forests from fires. look !
ing after grazing matters, and respond |
ing TO the various other calls which |
use Of the forests by the public in.
wolves.
Ordinarily game matters pertain to
the states, and not to the national !
government The state prescribes
When and under what conditions game
'naE ne killed. III II desires to prohibit
the killing of game in certain parts
OF the state, in order that the game
may breed there, and these parts of
the states are within the national for
ests, the government co.operates with
the state to carry out the law. Such
cooperation may require the closing
OF fixed areas of the National forests
to grazing, for when big game be.
comes plentiful 1t must have a suffi-
cient food supply left on the range
TO carry 1t through the winter. or II
will succumb for lack OF sustenance.
II the range is fully utilized by cattle
and sheep during the summer, elks
and deer viii fare hardly in the win.
ter.