The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1916-11-08
Official County and Village Paper.
MORE PROTECTION FOR DEER

MORE PROTECIuOF0 fUN O6GN
While there may be no immediate
danger of serious depletion of the
stock of wild deer in Minnesota, the
time is not far distant when serious
consideration must be given to plans
for the better protection of this no
BILE game animal. The number of
hunters annually taking to the for
ests of northern Minnesota is rapid
ly increasing. There were $4,000 IL
censed big game hunters in the
north woods of the state last year
and at least 5000 deer were killed
by them. The construction of high
ways and railways is constantly
bringing the more remote districts
within easy reach. Settlement is
encroaching more and more on
the wilderness. Population is in
creasing rapidly.
Deer may easily be maintained as
an abundant game animal with or
binary care and foresight. It re-
spends more readily to the protec-
tion and encouragement than any
other game animals. A number of
proven methods present themselves
and should be adopted as they are
required.
We already have the refuge or
sanctuary method which has been so
fully indicated in Itasca Park. This
is being extended in other sections
of the state and, where practicable,
may prove to solve the problem. It
should be more rapidly extended in
regions where already badly needed
some of our best deer country now
being pretty we'll hunted out.
Better protection from the rava-
ges of wolves can be provided by
providing funds to pay the wolf
bounties. The wolf bounties might
proftably be increased in some To-
calities. The bounty on large tim
Der wolf should surely be greater
than on the brush wolf and coyote.
He is elusive and hard to capture,
and does incalculable damages in GER
tain localities in the more remote
districts. Trappers report finding
carcasses of deer last winter, partly
devoured, all killed by the big tim
Der wolf.
Seventeen states of the American
Union and four Canadian Provinces
now limit the killing of deer to
males. Most of the southern states
are included among those who afford
this protection to the female of the
species. In fact, the states having
deer hunting, and permit does to be
shot are in a small minority. Wise
consin was one of the last to put
the ban on the slaughter of female
deer.
The consideration of reason, SCI
ence and common sense, tend to sup
port the so-called "buck law. The
farmer, rearing domestic cattle or
other animals, keeps the females
and sells off the males, thus provid-
ing against depletion Of his herds.
There can be no doubt that the same
system applied to deer tends to as
sist materially in the perpetuation
of the species. Another effective
argument for this discrimination in
killing deer is that it requires the
hunter to exercise more care.and cir
cumspection in shooting in the for
est and prevents accidents. 1t has
been shown in states that have a.
dopted the "buck law that shoot
ing accidents have been reduced to
minimum.
Fawn are protected by such re.
gulation, bucks as we'll as does, as
they have no antlers, and can be
distinguished as to sex in the forest
1t has been shown, where tried, that
this regulation actually does increase
the stock of deer.
Abuses undoubtedly occur in the
use of hunting licenses in shipment
of deer which are extremely diff.
cult of detection. Many deer have
undoubtedly been shipped by men
who secured their game by othe,
than the legal method Ii.
censes are used-and licenses are
even secured for fictitious persons.
Such offenses merit the severest
penalties and should be made more
unpopular by good sportsmen.-Twc
Harbors Journal News.
Nels sandQuist, car repalrer, wal
crushed to death between freight carr
IN the Omaha yards at Mankato.
Mrs. Catherine G. Lofstdt, q pioneer