Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-02-19
Mr.. HlkSnAW'S GAME FARMS.

! Mr.. Hinshaw, the Iowa game warden,
! objects to objection against establish
! ment OF state game farms. He says
| I'VE have operated a game farm for
| three years and raised 10000 birds"
Also that 'as high as 1000 birds can
be found in one locality That lead
ing game conseryationists are all in
favor Of game farms. And inquiries
why do men who have no knowledge
OF the subject on which they write,
continually write articles in opposi-
tion?" He says he does not expect to
make Iowa a hunters paradise but to
do the best he can to provide a small
amount of hunting for the man whose
dog and gun are his best friends. Also
he assures that he IS going ahead with
the game farm projects, providing Of
course that the executive council per-
mits him.
1t Is not question OF the possibility
of raising 10000 game birds in three
years. That can be done readily If
som ebody is willing to pay the cost.
Let us take so much for granted. 1t
doesn't require any marvellous know
ledge and aptitude to understand SO
much. The question isn't of the tech
meal knowledge necessary to hatch
foreign birds in a game hatchery. The
real question Is whether there is any
md iV
to furnish few gunners with game 2.
the cost. AS is to be gathered from
Mr.. Hinshaw's assertion that Iowa is
not 10 be made a game state. the sport
is to be confined to few. The ques-
ton is. IS it worth the money, it is
practicable to raise game birds so all
gunners who choose to buy a license
and who favor dogs and guns may have
a small amount Of hunting?"
Mr.. Hinshaw falls into the common
error OF imagining that criticism and
objection to plan necessarily means
objection to himself. No doubt he is
Matching high-priced eggs as we'll as
any other would in his place. That
isn't the point. The point is whether
Iowa wishes to attempt the impossible
and raise game for general shooting.
Taking Mr.. Hinshaw's own words the
question isn't whether a small amount
of hunting may be provided at great
cost but whether Iowa desires to fur
ntsh the Small amount in remote To-
| calities at the price.
This editor has hunted ali his life
for all kinds Of game None loves dogs
and guns better than he and he can
throw stone far enough to hit dozen
men who are as infatuated with the
pursuit Of game as he. Those men
knew the Iowa game fields and took
their toll OF the birds. They have seen
the native game disappear under con-
! ditions which have caused it to pass
in every agricultural state like ours,
they know that even a Small amount"
! of good shooting can never return to
Iowa They understand fully the i'm
possibility OF Matching game for the
guns Of the state. That a few locali-
ties might be made fairly good game
| preserves for a very wealthy club
is understood. But that Iowa can
ever furnish sport Tor the guns on
game birds is as fully understood.
AS a public question, it becomes a
general question, not the furnishing OF
a few hours sport annually TO tine fe~
who have time and inclination to seek
out the particular and usually remote
localities where game can exist against
pursuit In number sufficient to make
even a small amount of hunting.
Mr.. Hinshaw points out that a fish
hatchery Is to bio established at Spirit
Lake which will hatch 100000 wal
eyes pike. It is likely that the 50,00O,.
900 pike can be he,tched as easily ant
cheaply as could even a small flock O
pheasants. That is in line with TIL
Times Republicans suggestion. VIII.
not start more fsh hatcheries in diff
ferent parts Of the state? why not a
Clear Lake and other available points
Locality would not matter SO mucl
then. Every stream and lake and mil
dam in qowa could he stocked with DIFF
ferent varieties and everybody coul
60 fishing with hope Of small amour
OF sport for everyone. In short, wl1
not do the things we can do practi
cally and forget the iridescent dream
OF restocking Iowa with game birds i
. the face of facts and under tn
} muzzles of q thousand or more shot
gums to the oountry7