The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-04-16
Big GAME CENSUS
SHOWS INCREASE
Plenty of Deer, Elk and
Mountain Goats
Says Jones

TeueTdl lOTeSl SoTNlCc OluCidiS
! , submitting to Otto M. Jones, state
game warden, their 1919 game Gen.
sus for southern Idaho, Thursday re-
ported rapid increase in big game in
the state.
, Here are the present totals re-
ported by forest supervisors of game
in the Boise, Cache, Caribou, Idaho
Lemhi, Minidoka, Payette, Salmon
Sawtooth, Targhee and Weiser ma.
tional forests: Deerfi 1875; elk
1900; mountain goats, 1861; mount
ain ssheep, 1884; moose, 70; ante
lope, 2S4.
In the same territory there were
killed during the year 1890 deer. 80
elk and 80 mountain goats.
Nearly all the supervisors report
an increase in big game" said R. c.
Gerry, acting district forester at
Ogden. This is generally attributed
to the game preserves, to destruction
of predatory animals and better en-
forcement Of laws.
A continuous closed season for
mountain sheep is recommended,
however. Mr.. Gerry said: I'm spite
of the closed season, the mountain
sheep do not seem to be more than
holding their own. The total num-
Der of sheep is very small consider
ing the area involved and it is evil
dent that continuous closed season
is necessary"
Other excerpts from the report are
here given:
There is an increase of moose on
the Targhee forest and it is hoped
that a more rapid spread of this ex-
Icellent game animal will result. 1t
it apparent that it will survive more
adverse winter conditions of snow
and forage than either deer or elk.
ION several forests, September Is
is believed to be. too early for the
deer season to open and one is re-
commended opening October Is. If
the number of hunters continues to
increase, shortening of the season
will be necessary, and in that case,
it could begin October 1 and extend
to November Is.
1.-THE present season for elk in the
counties adjoining Wyoming was ap-
parently based on the former season
in Wyoming and is too long. The
supervisor of the Targhee forest re-
commends season from October Is
or November l to November IS
September Is is too early for it to
open, since it is the running season
and too warm for the meat to be
utilized.
1T is apparently desirable to
make an adjustment of the game
preserve in Twin Falls and Cassia
counties. The deer range in Ne
vada, Utah and Idaho, the greater
number of them being in Idaho dur
+ ing the summer season. These two
counties in Idaho are closed to deer
hunting, but there is an open season
of ten days in Utah and thirty days
in Nevada. Local sentiment will not
support protection under these con-
ditions. The law is weakened where
residents of Idaho are prohibited
from killing deer which may cross
the state lines and be killed in
Nevada or Utah. 1t is very probable
that a smaller area designated as
game preserve in Idaho would allow
Idaho residents an enqual opportun-
ity with th0s of Nevada and Utah to
hunt and still obtain the objects of
the game preserve.
"The condition of game birds is
not nearly as satisfactory as that of
big game. There is practically I'M
animous report that the three grouse
|-dusky, ruffled and Franklin's, are
decreasing, in most cases rapidly.
Wherever protected the sage hens
have increased and there is a gen.
eral belief that the supply can be
maintained with a short season and
small bag limit.
The destruction of predatory ami
mails is of particular Importance in
connection with game production
since there is far greater loss from
this source than by poaching, even
under very lax enforcement of the
laws. On several of the game pre-
serves, the losses of game from pre-
datory animals or eagles is prevent
ing a proper increase. Encourage
ment should be given to trapping by
responsible parties within game pre-
serves.
"In view of the exceptionally high
prices of furs, it is probable that the
supply Of fur bearing animals will be
reduced to point where the produc-
tion and value of furs obtainable
will be much lower than it should be.
In the case of predatory animals,
this will be beneficial, but it appears
that it will be necessary to designate
game preserves in order to maintain
a supply of fur bearing animals not
excessively destructive to game. All
the forests report decrease in fur
bearing animals except those gen.
orally considered predatory.
There is reported a very general
and decided decrease in the fish
supply from all waters except those
- L.. IL u l.