Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-07-05
ORGANIZED HUNT
FOR PREDATORY
ANIMALS IN N. NJ.
Four Mountain Lions and
Nine Bear Killed BY BIZ
illogical Survey Expedi-
ton in Black Range.

The most thoroughly organized
hunt for mountain lions, stock
killing bears and bobcats that has
yet been undertaken by the BIZ
illogical survey is now in progress
in the Black Range of western
New Mexico. .u
Six of the best hunters of the
& overnment and state force, and
their trained hounds numbering
more than thirty, are pursuing the
hunt. Several of the best trained
dogs to be found in the country
are among the different packs. A
cook and a horse 'wranglers' have
been provided, to look after camp
duties, so that the hunters may
devote their entire time to the
work. Some of the hunters hunt
on horse, while others spend the
greater part of their time on foot,
tracking carefully those more de-
structive animals inhabiting local
tiles where the rider dares noI
lIN " BO ull dtNOullN VI NttiiS 'f'Ai
cliffs and thick forest
Although the hunt is but just
getting under way the most en-
couraging results have been had,
and four mountain lions and nine
bear have been killed. The com
ing of the rainy season and the
heavy rainfall in the mountains
during the past two weeks, are IN
terfering somewhat with results
Rain is the only thing which keeps
these trained dogs from the new
made track, and from the lion or
bear that made 1t.
Ben Lilly, the most noted hon
and bear hunter in the country
who is with the party, had mar
row escape from a wounded anu
diving bear in Black canyon, as the
bear was threatening his dogs lie
had given the animal a fatal shot
but the dogs closed in upon
bruin and were in danger of beng
torn to pieces when the hunter
rushed in and stabbed the bear IN
heart with his knife.
AS it fell it struck him a heavy
blow on the shoulder THAT lett
an ugly wound. But the dogs were
saved in this case, when as a few
DAYS later they did not fare so
well. While following a big bear
that is vet at large, Tip, perhaps
as good a dog as the veteran hunt
er has owned. was killed when the
bear hemmed him In in marrow
goxge. Lilly has sworn vengeance
ana says that he will yet get the
bear that killed his dog.
It is not the policy of the gov
eminent and state officials to XIII
all hears. They point out that IL
is very important that the indiViu-
nal old stockholders must be con-
trolled. 1T has been well salo'
saws Mr.. Lilly, that those VINO
insist that bear do not XII STOCK
at certain seasons and when their
natural food is scarce, are those
who do not run cattle on the bear
inhabited national forests, ana
pay grazing fees fer the priVil-
edge"
The present hunt Is the second
one to be carried out in TINS re-
gion where game and i've STOCK
have suffered greatest from pre-
datory species. on a limited sca'e
a similar hunt, which was an eN-
neriment, was conducted last Au-
pust in this district. AT TINS urile
nine lion and nine bear were Kill
cd The present drive is to De
much more extensive in scope ana
will include the entire mountain
systems of the Black Range Mo-
COLON and Frisco Range In the
western part Of the state ana VIII
extend over a period Oh '"o
months or more.
Ranchmen are taking a great
interest in the hunt since IN the
past their profits in the s.oeN
business have been almost TAKEN
in this region, by the various pre-
datory species and where noun
tain lions congregated deer nave
been almost exterminated by these
pests.
1t is anticipated that such an
organized system Of hunting Will
be widely used to rid the ranges
of the pests If the plan proves
to be entirely satisfactorS-whlch
now seems certain.