Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-10

Matching seasons and last winter
the heavy fall of snow with no crust
was favorable.
"Woodcock shooting has not been
as good this season as some other
wears when late flight added to
the sport and raised the average
above what was expected earlier in
the season. This interesting sport
IS enjoyed mostly in Androscoggln
and other southern counties, while
along the coast at MerrymeetinS
Bay and other places the duck are
on the increase and have more than
doubled in a few years. This is due
partly to the migratory bird law
passed by the federal government a
few years ago, but coupled with the
increased viligance of faithful state
deputy game wardens patrolling the
feeding grounds.
Deer Are Increasing
Deer are increasing, it is be-
lieVed, in nearly every part of the
state. In some sections there APP
pear to be as many deer as ever and
very many more than a few years
ago; in other words. the deer are
coming back, and although there are
more hunters than formerly, deer
are more than holding their own
This seems to be the concensuS Of
opinion among wardens. guides and
woodsmen who traverse the great
wilderness. 1t is true that deer
change feeding grounds and there
are places where they are scarce.
while in other localities, as one guide
expressed it. there were never so
MANY deer as now
Of nnorhiDU h1a hncn
checked, as people realize more the
importance of conserving the game
of the state. and game associations
working with the wardens are max
ing the illegal killing of all kinds
OF game unpopular. The wholesale
slaughter on the border that existed
for years when deer were hauled
out by the sled load into Canada has
been checked by wardens who pat
rol the border.
81 counted 229 deer in a rapid trip
down the Ailagash in July of this
wear. as against 81 counted on trip
at the same season of the year two
summers ago. One man stationed
on the AllaGash declared there were
four times as many deer on that
river than four years ago when he
went there. Another party who
went down this season counted 39o
deer in a few days, or before 1t
reached the mouth of the AllaSasl.
The same conditions exist on til"
| upper waters of the st. john and
these rivers and the lakes and
| streams connected with them form
| the great breeding grounds for the
| state, and being protected here the
| deer must drift down nearer ciViliZa
ton where they will be more &C
cessible and easier TO get out when
taken.
THE report of Roy Dudley Of
! Stacyville, a deputy warden, on duty
in the Mt. Katahdin region and East
Branch country eastcrly Of Nit.
Katahdin. under date of Sept. oSth.,
states that on n trip from Little
Spring Brook. on the Last Branch.
Co the dam on Grand Lake, along
the Old tote road in one day he
actually counted 10 cartridges. seven
deer, one bear. two moose and two
rabbits. This is mentioned as show
ing how numerous the game is in
this section.
Moose Holding Own
THE moose is still protected and
possibly holding his own, although
it will probably he many years, if
ever. before there is another open
season on moose in Name. lntfc
are. however, a few moose in nearly
every county, with the greater num-
Der in Washington and Hancock
counties.
ut is thought that tho Katahdin
Park Game Preserve. with 10000
acres, and the R2ngeley Game Pre-
serve. with $4,000 acres. will h-vc n
beneficial effect in preserving the
game. Some claim they can already
see an Improvement in Katahdin
Park which has only been establish
cd two years. The Rangcley Park
was established this past season and
the lines have not as yet been COM
pletcd. No hunting or trapping is
allowed and good results are en-
pectCd in this territory within very
few years.
Deer like other wild animals. soon
learn in what sections they are
wholly unmolcSted. Two tracts of
large extent where wild life is un-
disturbed in this state arc going 10
be of material advantage to the
natural propagation Of birds as we'll
as animals in our northern wilder
ness"