The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-05-05

State Highway Commissioner travel
ing over the State, finds that the
large number of roads that are being
built in all the counties is going to
make it so that automobiles, ana
other vehicles, can easily and quickly
go into all parts of all of the counties,
and it is only a question Of a very
short time until all our wild game
will be practically killed off over the
entire State, unless some steps are
taken to conserve and propagate
game.
There are now no wild turkeys
north of the Missouri river, except
possibly very few in the southern
edge of one or two counties, next TO
the Missouri river, and the wild tur-
keys are being rapidly killed OIL south
of the Missouri river.
Deer, which were plentiful only a
few years ago over many OF the coun-
ties in the southern part of the State
land seventy-five years ago even IN
many of the northern countles) have
practically all been killed off, in most
of the counties of the State. The
few remaining deer in the south and
southeastern part of this State will
very soon be all killed by hunters if
not protected, and propagation farms
started.
Our native quail in some counties
are now nearly a thing of the past;
native pheasants already are prac-
tically gone, but possibly enough left
to propagate; prairie chickens are on
Nv to be found scattered here and there
over the State, mostly in the northern
counties, where formerly there were
large coveys of them, but by reason
of being protected under present laws
are commencing to become quite
numerous in some counties, and are
commencing to migrate into adjoining
counties, which generally are killing
none themselves and are watching
very carefully to see that none are
killed by hunters.
The object of this letter is to call
attention to the necessity Of there be-
ing established in every county in the
State of Missouri a game preserve
and propagation farm.
In nearly every county there are
large tracts of land held by farmers,
by non-residents, or lands held for
Investment and by people who, if this
matter was called to their attention
would be very perfectly willing to do
no hunting themselves, and to allow
no hunting done on their premises
whatever, even by their friends, and
a game preserve thus made Of their
property and probably a place located
in said enclosure for propagation, and
still not interfere with land being
used for agricultural purposes.
Under a properly worded lease and
for a sufficient length of time to war
rant the outlay, public spirited men
in every county can probably be
found who will organize regular le-
gal association to see that some Of
these tracts of ground are fenced witt
game proof fence, or at least on very
large tracts permit no hunting on the
premises by anyone, not even by the
owner or his friends, because as soor
as the game would become plentiful
the owner would soon have more
friends than he ever knew existed.
Then at some location in the inter
Tor of these large tracts, there should
be made absolutely bird and game.
proof enclosures Of proper size, fol
the propagation of game and where
the small birds could be trapped, anC
their wings clipped so that they coulC
not get out of the enclosures, and be-
ing fenced, the different classes of en-
emies Of the birds, such as fox and
other animals which destroy such
game, could be killed off.
1t should also be the plan of every
farmer in the State of Missouri tc
plant at the proper season each year
on his farm adjacent to creeks anc
brush, the natural shelter of game
birds, some kaffir corn, buckwheat
rye, sunfowers and sorghum, and al
low it to remain there, and as il
breaks over in the fall, will furnish 9
cover and food for game, much OF
which now dies from starvation, dur
ing the heavy SHOWS and long, cold
winters, and which is claimed by
many to cause as gerat loss of game
as the hunter. The expense and la
Dor of doing this planting would be
nominal, but it generally is overlook.
ed and forgotten by farmers unit
too late, who would be only too glac
to do this if their attention was call
ed to the same, like in this manner.
The hunters of the State, even ir
sections that heretofore have oppos'
ed all kinds of game laws as affect
ing their rights, are now becoming
satisfied that game laws must be
strictly enforced and protection giver
for their benefit, and this plan is fol-
their special interest as it removes
but small amount Of area of hunt
ing territory, and later game so pro
pagated can be turned loose or ship
ped to counties where game is scarce
and a start made of getting game il
that locality.
Properly protected, there arr
enough deer now in the southern por
ton of the State to make propagation
a suecess and sufficient to make tn