Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-02-02

I Editors Note-The following article
by Glen A. Smith, wellknown sports
man and former Libby resident, VIII
be of interest to every citizen through
out this district because in it MIR. Smith
advances an entirely new idea regard
| ing how best to conserve the rapidly
dwindling supply of wild game.)
In the administration of the National
Forests by the u. S. Forest Service,
there came into recognition early IN
the history of that organization the
| fact that game was an important re-
source to be fully considered in the
management of these vast, fores4ed
areas.
The thought that wild life, In the
present stage of our country's social,
economic, and industrial development,
may be allowed to shift for itself was
discarded at the outset.
We dropped from consideration, too,
the balance of nature theory under
which, in more primitive times, wiki
life could and did shift for itself and
maintained its footing by species and
numbers according to environments
the earth has been SO greatly modified
by human action. that the so-calied
balance of nature" has been very DEF
initely and permanently disturbed The
approach. therefore. has been on the
basis of checkmating these elements
that nature once provided for.
The problem has been and is recog-
nixed as one of human thought and
study, to be organized and administered
as a part. and with the same earnest
consideration as the growing and har-
vesting of trees, grass, and other prod
ucts Of forest or wild land.
There has been kept in mind, how
ever, that the development of wild
life program must take cognizance OF
the many other pursuits Of man.
There is ample justification for the
thought that there may be localities
where it would be unwise to urge the
introduction or propagation OF certain
species of wild life and where, be-
cause OF local conditions, it would Be
part of wisdom to drop them from con-
sideration For instance, it Is obvious
that serious consideration should not
I be given to the thought Of returning
the buffalo to his former range and In
his former numbers and likewise, be-
cause Of the migratory habits Of elk
and their destructiveness to agriculture
al crops, great care should be exercised
in the introduction of this species q
wild life into areas where the CONF
munity life Is dependent on agriculture
and such allied interests as domestic
| livestock. horticulture. etc.
studysof the problems Of big game N
Region One of the u. s. Forest Serv-
ice (which includes the National For
ests of Montana and those north OF
the Salmon River in Idahol has de-
veloped the fact that winter range Is
the one main problem of paramount
Importance The former winter range
Of the elk, antelope, deer, and, yes,
the mountain sheep was in the valleys,
plains, and bad lands. The advance of
settlement now very largely has taken
over these feeding grounds and has
forced these species of game to oc-
cupy areas not entirely their natural
habitat. Furthermore, much Of the Ma
| tional Forest area lies at relatively high
elevations where winter conditions are
severe, where deep SHOWS are COM
mon, and where winter is limited to
those areas or slopes blown bare or.
/ SO situated as to get thes full effect
of the sun. 4ss~ $50
Summer range is abundant through
out the mountains, and considerable
thought and study of the winter prob
lens have led the Forest Service to
set aside and dedicate to winter use
by game large number Of areas, ag-
gregating more than one and a hall
million acres Of the best and choicest
winter ranges available within the con-
Y fines Of the National Forests
! These studies have also brought out
the fact that a considerable portion OF
the best and most important winter
game ranges are located outside but
adjacent to the National Forests in the
foothills bordering the various valleys
[ and that-by and large these ranges
are in private ownership. Also, if these
i important winter ranges are to be made
i available for game and property pro-
/ tected, serious consideration should be
given to public ownership of them. lr
/ general, these lands are of low COM
: mercial value and the owners thereo
G would be glad to be relieved OF the
Y tax burden, and in many cases woult
1 be willing to donate their holdings t.
: the State if they were assured that thu
lands would be dedicated to game.
Elk and deer in both Montana ant
Il Idaho have increased on the Nationa
!, Forests during the past six years, l92
G to 1881. The following estimates ar
e based on carefully made studies by tn
l60-odd rangers of their respective dis
8 tricts and while they must be consid
y cred as estimates, only, they are be
n lieved to be fairly accurate.
Deer Elk Moos
Montana .. So, 1870 1880 LOO
Idaho 1.... 81 900 $500 ~
10 $3.50 ooo-o o.