The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-08-04
DRIVE 10000 ELK
ACROSS A STATE
Wyoming Herds to Be Moved
to Big Horn Mountains.
GIGANTIC TASK IS CUT OUT.

FaTN OF Stdte nat DofnSstiC Sdteie
Are Robbed Of Forase-Two Thou
sand Mounted Men Will Take Part
In Great Drive.
Ten thousand head of wild elk trek
king across the state of Wyoming and
guarded and guided by United States
cavalry and many cowboys, ranchmen
and sheepherders rs the unique spec
tacle which will be seen some time
between now and winter II the plans
of the officials who have the project in
charge are carried out
The elk are at present in the Jack.
son Hole country, in the extreme west
ern part of the state. 1t is the inten.
ton of the officials to remove them to
the Big Horn mountains just west Of
Sheridan and In the extreme northern
portion of the state.
75,000 Head In the "hoIe."
The animals have increased 80 rapid.
~ that the Jackson Hole country is
fairly oveFrun with them. It is estt.
mated that fully $4,000 head Of elk
winter every year in the Hole, and
they simply eat the ranchmen out Of
house and home. They are protected
by the state and except for a few days
in the fall the killing Of an elk is a
serious ofTense. AS a result the elk
herd has now become menace, and its
numbers are increasing by leaps and
bounds. The elk have seemed to real
ize that they are safe and have become
so tame that they are not frightened
at the presence of a man.
In the winter, when the range is
covered with snow, the elk invade the
ranchers' haystacks and eat every
straw. Fences are not of the least
protection against them, as they go
over an obstruction of that kind as
though they were birds.
Proved Menace to Ranchers.
The elk herd has finally become so
great menace that the entire western
portion of the state took up arms in
an effort to save the ranches and
farms as well as the sheep and cattle,
as the elk threatened to simply strip
the range of forage and leave the do
mesticated animals to die Of starvation.
The national government was ap
pealed to and at the last session of
congress appropriated $4,000 for the
care and preservation of the elk in
Wyoming. But this amount is simply
a drop in the bucket, and it is realized
by the state officials that the great
herd must be made self supporting If
it is to remain in existence.
In northern Wyoming are the Big
Horn mountains, stretching 100 miles
or more from north to south. The
Big Horns are the most mountain
Gus" mountains in the northwest-a
succession of high peaks and deep
ravines, and all heavily wooded. 1t is
an ideal country for elk and other big
game. The great elk herd from Jack
son Hole would scatter and lose itself
once 1t were transplanted to the Big
Horn mountains. And there would be
sufficient provender to furnish food
throughout the winter without the
least assistance from the state or 9TH
ers.
viii Move Elk to Big Horn.
Under these conditions the state of.
fcialS have determined 30 move q big
portion of the herd from the Hole over
to the Big Horn country. But to make
the transfer by railroad is out of the
question because Of the tremendous ex.
pense, so 1t was determined to drive
the elk as though they We're cattle.
The United States government will
be asked to permit 1000 cavalrymen
from Fort Russell, at Cheyenne, and
Fort Mckenzie, at Sheridan, to take
part in the great drive, and to this
large force will be added 1000 COW.
boys, ranchmen, sheep herders and 9th.
ers, a total force of 1000 mounted
men. The great trek" viii not take
place until late fall or early winter.
Elk Do Not Fear Mounted Men.
The elk have become 50 accustomed
to mounted men that they no longer
fear man on a horse, and this fact
will be taken advantage of during the
drive. The animals will be handled as
is herd Of cattle, except that instead
Of cowboy now and then the mount.
ed men around the elk will be as
thick as flies. At night they will be
herded, just as the cattle are
The expense Of the great drive will
be shared by the state and the nation
al government, the latter to the extent
of the $4,000 appropriated at the last
session Of congress.
The west has often seen a herd OF
10000 cattle streaming along over the
prairie, but probably no country ever
saw that many elk being driven clear
across big state.