Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-02-24
FEDERAL WARDEN
MEETS WITH STATE
GAME OFFICIALS
Plans Cooperation in Enforce
ment of Laws for Protection
of Wild Life.
Special TO The Tribune


Helena, Feb. 23.-Gcorgc A. Lawyer
from Washington, u. C.. chief United
States game warden. accompanied by
George Mushback of Billings, deputy
federal game warden for Montana and
Wyoming, was in Helena on Thursday
in conference with G. A. Jakways. state
fish and game warden. Chief Warden
Lawyer is on an extended inspection
and supervision trip through the west
ern states comforting with game war
dens and deputy game wardens con
corning plans for enforcement of fed
eral laws and cooperating with state
officials. Accompanied by Warden
Jakways and Deputy Mushback. he will
go to Missoula for a meeting Of the
state fish and game commission for
Saturday when he will explain the pub
lie shooting grounds and game refuge
measure now before congress.
Conditions Good
II find the game conditions in Mon
tana to be very good Warden Lawyer
stated. "The game situation all over
the country has improved noticeably in
assistance afforded the states by the
federal laws for the state protection
of migratory birds. which have increasd
greatly There are more wild ducks
and geese at present than there has
been for the last 20 or 30 years.
The drainage of water and marsh
areas has driven the wild fowl from
many of their old breeding and feeding
places, with the result that many
sportsmen have been deprived of hunt
ing opportunities.
1.-The government would remedy this
throls,h the enactment of the bill in
PRODUCED by Senator New and Con-
gresham Anthony. known as the pub
lie shooting ground and game refuge
bill. under which persons hunting MI
gratory birds would be required to take
out federal hunting license costing
ST and the revenue would GO into
separate fund. One half of the money
would be used to acquire water and
marsh areas to be perpetuated as pub
lie shooting grounds and bird refugees.
The remainder of the fund would be
used for law enforcement and in CO.
operation with the states for the pres
ervation of game. This bill is one OF
the most constructive conservation
measures that has ever been proposed.
The perpetuation of the supply of wild
fowl and hunting would be assured if
the bill becomes law. 1t would not
encroach on the prerogatiyes of the
states in any way, but would aid the
states in their efforts to conserve the
game supply. No water or marsh area
could be acquired under the bill with
out the states ceding their rights to
the federal government. 1t would be
necessary for the states to cede their
rights in order that the government
NAV obtain police power over the areas
purchased.
Acquisition of areas of this kind by
the government would mean that
sportsmen of different sections would
always have places to hunt and it
would also provide breeding. feeding
and resting places of the birds. The
bill has been reported favorably by the
senate committee and a hearing was
held on it last week before the house
committee.
To Conserve Elk
THE biological survey is now in
communication with the game depart
ment of several northwestern states
with a view to determining upon some
mutual course to pursue in the con-
servation of the remaining elk herds
Warden Lawyer stated in talking of
the few elk herds left in the country.
"'The conflicting interests have made
this a very vexing problem. but the
government hopes that an amicable So
luton may be reached that will be sat
isfactory to the states and to the cattle
and sheep interests. The governments
sole desire is to cooperate with and
assist the states in conservation of
game and it aims to offer only such
and render such service as
will accomplish the results desired by
ALL
Following the week spent in Mon
tana, Mr.. Lawyer will go to Idaho.
Washington and Oregon and south to
California.