The sun., 1919-04-06
DEER DECREASING,
DRAIN DISASTROUS
Only Ray Of Hope Is Effective
Enforcement of Game Laws
on Biological Basis.
BUCK LAW ESSENTIAL
NJ WARWICK s. CARPENTER.


Tho Whitehall deer 10 the last big game
animal remaining in New York State in
large numbers. and tho only large game
that we have any reasonable expectation
OF being able to maintain IN compare
tive abundance for this and succeeding
generations.
From the drst settlement of the State
the rapidly increasing population has
encroached relertiessly upon the haunts
Of wild life. until once familiar species
have disappeared entirely or have been
driven back into the Businesses Of such
wilderness as still remains.
Signs Of the, disappearance were very
early made manifest. As long ago as
1909 the Governor and Council Of the
Province OF New York placed a close
season on deer in the county Of Suf-
folk, and in 1888 a close season over
the entire State was enacted, ami It was
made Illegal to hound deer anywhere in
the State.
1t Is common knowledge that more
than two hundred years OF legislation
regarding deer in New York State have
been ineffective in stopping the back
ward march of the Whitehall For
nearly all OF that time the laws were
unenforced. and dead letter laws are
just as good as none.
Except for the deer in the Catskills
and a few that can be maintained in
some Of the semi-agricultural sections
of the State. the deer Of New York
have found their last stand in the Adj
rondacks.
One Ray OF Hope for Deer.
But 1t Is a stand that is already be-
coming gridironed with a network OF
State roads that make even the remote
recesses accessible to hunters from a
surrounding population Of more than ten
million people II the experience Of the
last 200 years Is a safe criterion, we
can draw but one conclusion. The
Whitehall must disappear.
There Is but one ray of hope. II Is
found In the effective enforcement OF
game laws that have a sound biolog-
ical basis.
The farmer or stockman who admin
listers his herds OF sheep and cattle in
accordance with correct biological prin-
ciples is able to take a large annual toll
from them, and at the same time main
tain the herds undiminished, or even in
crease them.
The owners OF large enclosed deer
preserves. where the deer are living un
der entirely natural conditions, have
found that they must apply tho same
scientific principles that the farmer en-
ploys with sheep and cattle.
Tho problem. OF maintaining Now
York's herd OF Whitehall deer at the
maximum possible level Of numbers is
In its nature precisely the same sort of
problem that every scientific farmer,
stockman and deer park owner faces In
endeavoring to maintain and build up
his herds.
The Importance of complete scientific
information regarding live stock, as a
basis for proper management Of the
herds. Is thoroughly appreciated. The
same need for dependable information
exists in the case OF wild deer.
Even though deer are wild animals,
they are nevertheless capable OF being
accurately studied. II specially devised
methods are used. The mere fact that
they cannot all be driven into a corral
and looked over like cattle or sheep, does
not mean that we must abandon any at
tempt to get specific information about
them.
How Deer May He Increased.
Realizing that definite information is
needed for the proper conduct of New
York's deer herd. the Conservation Com
regarding deer for more than three and
half years. which has resulted in the
collection of a mass of data based upon
actual observation and known facts.
The number of deer now annually
killed In proportion to the total deer
population makes 1t advisable TO amend
the deer law by providing that only
one buck may be shot by single
hunter in a season. 1t Is further advis-
able to shorten the season by cutting
out the first two weeks in October. This
Is the time when the leaves are thickest
on the trees. making II unusually dlf1-
cult for hunters TO see the horns on
the bucks. If the sea son is shortened
In this way, IL each hunter Is allowed
only one deer. instead OF two as at
present. and IL the rigorous enforce
ment of the law is continued as it has
been during the last two years, the
deer should actually increase in numbers
Buck Law Preserves Animal.
Out OF thirty-fve States and terri
tories In which deer hunting Is per-
mitted. sixteen have adopted the buck
law as the only effective means OF
preserving their deer. In large num-
Der OF the remaining nineteen States.
for the passage of such a law.
Two OF the States. California and
Colorado, where hunting is very intense.
have even gone step further than any
others, and have prohibited the shoot
ing of spike horned bucks
This is in recognition of the fact that
when hunting has become too extensive,
the remedy for that situation is not to
permit the killing of more deer by re-
moving the protection from does, but
rather TO kill less deer by taking only
the older fully antlered bucks.
It may be necessary for New York
ultimately to come to such a law, It
seems TO be a matter Of elemental logic
that II the State at any time is kill
ing too many deer. it should stop the
drair by killing less, not by letting down
the bars for the killing of more.
While the Investigations of the Con-
servation Commission have shown that
the number OF deer now legally killed
annually in no way endangers mainte-
nance of the supply. 1t Is nevertheless
true that the number of hunters Is
rapidly increasing. so that II has become
desirable to reduce the bag limit and
to close that portion OF the season when
II ia hardest tn soc the horpa IN the