Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-12-26
Feed The Game.

Due to the unusual drought which has
occurred throughout Maryland during 1929
and 1880, it is very essential that the gen.
eral public cooperate with US in the winter
feeding of our wildlife and we solicit the
cooperation Of sportSmens organizations,
teachers and pupils of the public schools,
rural mail carriers, boy scouts aud individ-
uals. who, during the past winter have
heartily cooperated in carrying out this
very necessary program.
During the past year, this department
has furnished to the public feed to the
amount of $5,541.09, which undoubtedly
saved thousands of pieces of wildlife dur
ing the winter season of 1880, when natural
feed was at its lowest ebb and aided our
wildlife in their struggle during period
when they need human assistance the
most.
The drought of this past summer evil
IDENTIFY has played havoc with our wildlife
supply for the hunting season of 1880.
Reports were to the effect throughout the
State early in the season that game birds
and game animals were plentiful in the
covers, but the hunting season has not
proved this to be fact.
There are numbers of methods of bird
feeding which can be employed very effec-
lZaak Walton League, during the winter
season of 1880. established on farms fifty
four feeding stations at small expense.
These stations consisted of tressle bench
at each side of which was set corn stalks,
affording shelter, each end open to allow
entrance and exit in case of attack. AL
legany and Frederick counties did very
effective work along the same lines and
the method used proved conclusively that
large numbers of brood stock was carried
over for the propagating season following.
A very good method which has been
used is to suspend from a limb or post,
barrel with both ends knocked out. with
the feed placed therein; the birds will soon
use this as a dinner table and cannot be
attacked by vermin.
Another very effective method is to tie
around the bottom of trees, corn stalks from
which the corn has not been husked, the
ears suspended downward so that wildlife
can reach it from the ground.
Many fine specimens of game. song and
insectivorous birds will die of starvation
during this winter unless they are provided
with feed and every bird that dies means
less assistance to the agriculturists of our
State to help them in growing crops this
coming year, as it cannot be denied that
the majority of species of song and in
sectivorous birds and the great game bird /.
the bob-white, are very necessary for the
growing of crops and timber.
Wehave found that grain, such as scratch
feed, corn, wheat and rye, are the best
feed for wildlife, furnishing more nutri-
ment, and a well-fed bird or animal can
stand bitter cold weather. whereas when
they are underfed. they die very quickly
from exposure.
Shocks of corn left in the field furnish
excellent dinner tables for our wildlife and
are readily visited in all sections where
found. These shocks can be opened at
the bottom, furnishing cover. and the birds
and animals soon find the shelter and feed
greatly to their advantage.
The hunters of our State need not expect
a bountiful supply of game when they 60
afield during the season of 1881. unless
they make some efforts to assist in carry
ing over brood stock for the coming propa-
cation season. 1t is best to locate where
the birds have been freQuentine and place
the feed there. 1t is not good policy to
try to entice game birds to poultry yard
as they are easily victims of poultry dis
eases. Of course. if the birds come to
your poultry yards, do not hesitate to feed
them.
The Game Division of the Conservation
Department of Maryland, through the Dis
trct Deputy Game Wardens of the twenty
three counties. will furnish feed to those
interested. who are not able or willing to
provide it.
E. LEE LECOMPTE.
State Game Warden of Maryland.