The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1925-01-08
WILL RAISE 100000
TO SAVE ELK HERD
Red Lodge Sportsmen Will Assist.
Matter Now Being Considered by
Beartooth Chapter, Izaak Walton
League of America.

A national movement which is be-
ing fostered by members of the Izaak
Walton League of America TO raise
100000 to save the elk which are lit
terally starving blythe thousand in
the Jackson Hole country Of Wyoming
is engaging the attention Of local
sportsmen and especially the atten-
ton of the members of Beartooth
Chapter |. w. L. of A.
''The Nations Elk-They Shall not
Starve" is the slogan that is being
used in the movement, fifteen of
Americas greatest writers have con-
tributed articles to such publications
as Outdoor America lauding the
movement and only instant and Wig
orous action on the part of sport low
ers will save tens Of thousands Of that
noble animal from starvation.
The purpose is to raise sufficient
money and ship hay into the Jackson
Hole country Immediately. During
the winter of 1920 there were H.
900 elk in the Jackson Hole, scanty
forage resulted in the death of 1000
of them, and since then there has been
small increase but the whole herd is
doomed should this laudable move
ment fail.
The federal government in 1915
mainly by purchase, established this
t'winter elk refuge" containing 276l
acres, as winter feeding ground fol
elk when they were forced down from
the mountains by weather conditions
or lack Of forage. It has been in
charge Of the Biological Survey anc
each year all the way from 300 to SOC
tons Of hay have been fed to the elk
to keep them from starving. The
trouble now is that the country there.
abouts has been homesteaded and
stocked with domestic animals thus
gradually lessening the range there
tofore available to the elk. 1t is be-
lieved that the expenditure Of 100000
to add lands to the Federal Winter
Elk Refuge will solve the present
problem and be sufficient for the pur-
pose Of saving that great herd from
starvation and determination and that
without such additional lands the elk
herds that range there are doomed tC
perish miserably, either by decrease
through a period Of years or by .
great catastrophe, that may befal
them during a single calamitous win
ter season.
The Izaac Walton League Of Amer
lea under whose auspices the move
ment to save the Jackson Hole elk
is being urged is national organiza.
ton. Its primary purpose is to de-
fend woods, waters and wild life. II
has local chapters in every progress
sive city, town or community in
America where there are enough rec
blooded sportsmen-like citizens wht
are interested in saving part of the
old America and its wild life for tn,
coming generation.
In that connection, be it said, tina
it is notable that the first local chap
ter of that organization instituted il
the State of Montana was organized
and still exists right here in Rel
Lodge. ]. P. Plunkett is its presiden
and Miles Chamberlain its Secretary
1t is known as Beartooth Chapter AM
it is understood that there will be
meeting of its members held within
few days at which time there will b
an effort made to increase its mem
bership and also to take steps to as
sist in some measure those who ar
spending their time and their none,
in q sportsman-like effort--in spiri
of real altruism and charity and com
mon sense to save some of the las
survivors Of our great America
wilderness from starving in a land o
plenty.