The Ronan pioneer., 1917-02-02
ABANDONMENT OF
BOUNTY FAVORED
BIOLOGICAL SURVEYS PLANS
RECEIVE ENDORSEMENT OF
LIVESTOCK ASSOCIATION.
Employment of Trained Hunters on
Salary Basis to Run Down Most
Destructive of Predatory Animals
Proposed; Precautions Urged
Against Introduction of Rabies.

Abandonment by the states of the
predatory wild animal bounty sys-
tenn and the passage of appropria-
tions by the various states for the use
of the federal biological survey in the
work of exterminating predatory ami
mails was urged by the National Live
stock association at It's annual con-
vention at Cheyenne January 1920.
A resolution to this effect was passed
by the convention after DR.. A. K
Fisher of the United States biological
survey had outlined the plan by
which the bureau hoped to extermin-
ate predatory wild animals in the
western states.
bounty system has proved a failure
because the hunters working for
bounties always plan to leave some
animals for "seed" and never really
exterminate them in any locality.
Moreover, bounty hunters pay little
attention to the protection of stock,
hunting frequently in districts where
there is no stock because wild ami
mails are plentiful, and neglecting
the serious depredat1ons of the fewer
and more crafty animals in the
stock-raising districts.
Trained Hunters to Be Employed.
The plan followed by the bureau
with great success Tor the last few
years is to employ trained hunters on
salary basis. These men are we'll
paid, receiving from $75 to $125 a
month in addition to maintenance in
the field. They are not allowed to
receive any bounties but must ship
all skins direct to Washington, where
they are sold from central market.
The sale of skins from this source has
amounted to more than $4,000 in
three years. The hunters are sent to
districts where losses of livestock are
heavy and the first efforts are direct
ed in running down individual preda-
tory animals that have become heavy
killers. This has proved to be a
much more effective method than
simply going out and making a gem
eral killing as it frequently happens
that some old wise and crafty bear
or wolf is doing the greater part of
the livestock killing in the district
and until he is run to earth the des-
truction will continue no matter how
many of his less crafty mates are
trapped or shot.
Introduction of Rabies Feared.
Dr. Fisher said that Montana in
particular should make determined
effort to eXterminate coyotes in Or
der to prevent the Introduction of ra-
bies into the state. Montana is at
present the only northwestern state
free from this disease and unless i'm
mediate steps are taken this dreaded
disease is almost sure to come in
from the surrounding states. DR..
Fisher stated that there are 81 cases
of rabies in Reno, Nevada, at the
present time, all due to the bites of
coyotes. In many places school chill
dren are sent to and from school un-
der guard and no one travels at night
without lantern and gun.
The biological survey hunters have
been highly successful in poisoning
coyotes and DR.. Fisher states that
they can be practically exterminated
in any locality provided funds are
available for carrying out the cam
paign.
During the last four years Mon
tana has paid out about 100000 in
bounties. This money has been
raised almost wholly by direct tax
upon the stock owners, and while it
has been paid willingly, there has
been a growing feeling that it was
not an adequate no: an entirely eff
fective method of protecting the
stock industry from the ravages of
these animals.