Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-01-22

was created predatory animals have
t been given exactly the same protection
| that the game animals have been given
A wolf has about 10 pups year, the,
never lack food, no other animals prey
on them and none are winter killed
SO the increase in wolves rs many pei
cent greater than in the less hardy elk
| Coyotes have held their own in ever
| thickly settled regions of the countr,
and persistent efforts must be made II
! keep them down Hunting. trapping
and poisoning should be carried on Wig
orously and extensively against all Of
these pests by salaried hunters pait
by the federal or state governments.
The Reason for Game Laws
Game laws should attempt to con-
serve and keep up the supply of game
with maximum amount of hunting
Except in parks and geological gardens
where game is preserved for educational
and esthetic purposes it is of value
only as it permits hunting. The in
trinsic value of the meat itself is be-
coming less of an incentive to hunting
each year. the larger incentive of the
recreation attending hunt being the
real objective sought by the hunter.
The principal value of a large
amount Of game to community lies in
its attraction to outside hunters who
in employing local guides. purchasing
subsistence supplies and other items
necessary TO a hunting party.
1t is evident, then, that the game
supply must be conserved and the game
laws so made as to attract a maximum
number of hunters year after year in
order for the game to be of lasting
benefit to the community. Maximum
breeding. ample summer and winter
forage, minimum losses from predatory
animals and Il closed season on the
game which will not allow more than
the total increase killed by the hunters
will accomplish the desired results.
assuming. of course, that there is a
sufficient amount of game to start
with. For increasing the present sup
ply of game the closed season should
be shortened or some other restrictive
measure taken.
Some of the problems to solve in
connection with scientific games laws
are:
"a To find out the number of each
species of game at present:
(2) And the number that the sum-
mer and winter range win support:
81 To learn the breeding season
of each species;
"a To learn the losses from pred
atory animals and other sources;
f5) To learn the length of an
open season necessary to kill off the
increase.
Buck Law" Is Practical
The open season and bag limit can
be so adjusted as to bring in the max
h,,, h., lo,.
est return financially to the commu-
nifty. Provision to build up to the
carrying capacity of the range should
be made where the range is under
stocked either by Il closed season of
several years or shorter open sea-
son, preferably the latter. unless the
species is near the vanishing point
An open season during the time that
game is breeding is manifestly illogical
as anything tending to disturb animals
while breeding initiates against an in
crease in the species. Hunting i'm
mediately before the breeding season
has Il tendency to scatter the animals
and interfere with mating. so it fol-
lows that open season should always
be after the breeding season.
The buck law is practicable re-
striction for deer and elk as long as
the ratio of one buck to five or six
does is maintained If the number of
does to each buck is increased, such a
condition will be detrimental to the
species and some other restrictions
will be necessary. A shorter season
until the game range is stocked would
seem the logical remedy in such case
At present the buck law is very de-
sirable in all but one or two spots in
the United States for deer in New
Mexico and elk in Yellowstone National
park. The phenomenal success secured
from the operation of the buck law"
in other states is sufficient proof of its
in Montana.
Restrictions on the caliber of rifles
for big game would be extremely i'm
for Il number of reasons
and although this means of conserving
biz game is often discussed it is
rarely favored by any one with ex-
perience in hunting.
Closing the season alternate years is
harmful to the game in that they be-
come somewhat tame during the year
they are not hunted and fall an easy
prey to the hunters the years they are
not protected.
Shorten Open Seasons
A shorter season in which all game
can be hunted rather than longer
season for each different species at
different times of the year is advisable
for the following reasons:
(1) The game is not disturbed
long period.
(2) The game laws are easier en-
forced as the violations from killing