The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1916-05-05
cept by breaking them.
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cept by breaking them.
Moose are unlike the big game
animals of the western country in
that they stay and feed in the
same territory summer and winter.
During the hot weather of the
summer months they stay around
the lakes and streams and are
commonly seen in the water, where
they feed on grasses, lily roots and
wild rice. The flies bother them
considerably and they are able to
keep them away while in the water.
In the fall they are found in the
more open country. In winter,
during stormy weather, they stay
in the heavy timber for protection.
During the winter months they
browse on aspen. willow, birch,
maple and hazel brush.
The big game animal of the
Minnesota pineries is the moose.
Approximately two million acres
of land has been set aside, in
northern St. Louis, Lake and Cook
counties, right in the heart of the
moose country, as the Superior
State Game Refuge. This refuge
includes a part of the Superior
National Forest. Through a CO.
operative agreement between the
State Game and Fish Commission
er and the Federal Forest Service
the administrative officers of the
Superior Forest are appointed
State Game Wardens. They
assist the state in patrolling the
area within the boundaries of the
National Forest. A study of the
habitat of the different game and
fur bearing animals is part of the
work done by the Rangers. 1t is
the unanimous opinion of these
men that the moose are decreasing
quite rapidly. The cause is doubt
less due to several reasons. For
convenience, they are classified as
follows:
1. illegally killed.
2. Killed and left in the woods
by nonresident hunters.
8. Killed by wolves.
4. Migrating further north.
That there are many moose
illegally killed goes without say
ing. Probably very few have any
idea of the actual number killed
in this manner. 1t is only few
years ago that ten carcasses OF
moose were seen in Bald Eagle
Lake and seven more were seen in
a bay of Birch Lake during the
same season. Each year the
Forest Officers find carcasses lying
in the water. In practically every
case it was found that apparently
not a pound Of neat had beer
taken. 1t is Pretty generally
known that city sports" in the
country for an outing like to boast
upon their return Of having killed
a moose. They are blamed for
much of the promiscuous killing in
the summer time. There is nc
craftsmanship or glory in killing
these animals during the fly season.
There would be just as much sport
in going out in the back yard and
killing the family COW. Trappers
often kill moose in the winter
time for meat to bait traps and
poison for wolves. Settlers and
others kill them at all times to
obtain meat for personal use.
The law at present allows nom
resident hunters to kill moose but
does not allow them to take any
meat out of the state. However,
they can have the head mounted
and it then may be taken out.
These hunters are known as head
hunters and unless detected may
kill several moose before getting
the head they want. The Law
should be changed so as to require
the hunter to bring the carcass out
of the woods so that some use car
be made of the meat. Many
people are of the opinion thai
wolves do not kill moose. Il
seems, however, from observation.
made this winter on the Kawishiw
river, east of Ely, that severa
moose have been killed by thes'
animals. This statement will b.
vouched for by a Forest Office
who was engaged on timber sal,
work in that vicinity and by log
ging operators. Many wolve
have been seen in that territor,
this winter and wolf signs wer
plentiful. 1t is generally conced
ed that when country settles up
the moose move on further into tn
wilderness. In this respect the,
are very much unlike the deer
which like to hang around tn
settlements, apparently to kee
away from the wolves.
We believe that unless the moos
are given better protection in tn
future than in the past, they Wi
go the route of the great gam
Il