The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-09-14
HOW ILLINOIS IS
PROTECTING GAME
Features Of Law Differ Greatly From
That Of Other States, But
Keeps Close to
Mature.
RESERVATIONS MADE
State Takes Care Of Wild Birds In
Various shelters and Arranaes
For Them During tho
Winter Montha.
RESERVATIONS MADE

A man who has given the subject
much time and study, member Of the
Illinois game and fish commission
writes about the game laws Of that
state as follows:
The system Of game reservations and
non-game grid sanctuaries adopted by
the state of Illinois, differs In many
essential features from the plans of
game propagation and conservation OF
other states! The Illinois plan keeps
close to nature and avoids as far as
possible expensive artifciality. In
stead of a few large tracts Of land
maintained at great cost, Illinois will
have many small tracts of land main
tanned at mere nominal cost. Accord
Ing to plans already made, 1t Is expect
ed that Illinois will have about one
hundred game bird reservations and
lnon-game bird sanctuaries that may
be maintained for about fifty dollars
|of maintaining single game farm OF
amy considerable size.
The Illinois plan is to lease trac.
OF land of about one thousand acres,
paying for each parcel that goes to
make up the tract. one dollar per yea.
On each reservation something like
barley, buckwheat or some other
grain. which grow to similar height.
In these patches there Is planted some
sorghum or other grain producing yes
citation that grows above the snow
level. This grain always planted close
to cover is left standing SO that the
birds may feed In cover. When the
short growing grain is covered with
snow, tall standing vegetation will
furnish food
Our game birds suffer and die during
short periods Of severe winter wealth
!er, when the ground and natural food
is covered with snow. By providing
lfood that may be had from the tall
growing grain during these severe
winter periods, the birds are saved.
Further Shelter Given.
The plan further contemplates the
reconstruction OF shelter in the thickets
made from brush. Into these brush
heaps the birds can 90 in severe wealth
1er and find protection. Some gravel
and sand Is placed within the brush
heaps for use when the ground Is Gov.
iered~with snow.
The price paid for planting the
grain patches Is about five dollars par
!Acre.
Suitable signs are put around the
reservation warning persons against
ltrespassing with dog or gun.
Il Is not always possible to lease q
! tract Of one thousand acres in one
body. but the commission has found
no difficulty in leasing several parcels
adjoining each other to make up the
desired tract.
Land owners have been found not
only willing to lease their lands III
the states terms, but in most cases
they are anxious to do 80.
Proceeding on the theory that game
birds will thrive and multiply If pr y
vided with suitable cover and food, 1t
Is found that 1t is only necessary to
/ give them but little attention after
these provisions have been made. The
birds live under this place in state
OF nature, except for the little artiflc-
iality Of providing food and cover.
| Naturally birds will become plenti-
full in these reservations and as they
multiply, many will leave the reserva
ton and SO stock the adjoining coun-
TRY.
|