The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1937-01-22
DISPELLING THE OLD GAME WARDEN
BUGABOO

In addressing the Federal Employees luncheon the
other day Frank Dufresne, Executive Officer OF the
Alaska Game Commission, pointed out that there IS
an illusion that because are game wardens We
must spend all our waking moments in looking for
someone to hale into court"
Since the protection and conservation OF wild
life became a national matter some years ago. great
many people picture a game warden in much the same
light as the motion picture speed cop of old who was
depicted hiding behind a sign board waiting for the
speeding motorist to come along. Some bugaboo was
attached to the game warden which maGI him a
dreaded figure He was supposed to be hiding behind
every tree ready to pounce out at the first hapess
fisherman hunter that came along. Fortunately
that impression is being dispeled in large degree as
people become enlightened the wild life con-
servation program and the game protectors them
selves make arrests secondary matter and the actual
protection of wild life their primary purpose. This IS
particularly true in Alaska where the broad policy
of the Alaska Game Commission is to credit a warden
more with the general service and information he
can give the public than upon the number of volators
he brings into court.
In this connection a 15-pont memorandum re-
Gently sem out by Executive Officer Dufresne to his
wardens is enlightening and reveals that the Com
missions policy is of game conservation and not
primarily to arrest Bill Whozit to build up a record
Prefacing the memorandum, Mr.. Dufresne wrote
Occasionally we need to remind ourselves, ano
perhaps others about US that our real work is tc
keep our ranges filled with wild life for the Of
the people Utilization of this game and fur should
then follow to the fullest degree consistent with main
tanning abundant breeding supply for future years
This is not intended hgh-soundng phrase, but
as the actual principle upon which we should base
our entire scope of operations in the Territory 1t
perforce leads into many channels other than that
of straight law enforcement"
The memorandum to wardens then read:
/ Guarding against the wanton waste of
game even though it may be taken during
the open and within the bag
limits.
g Advising trappers in the least wasteful
way of taking furbearers and the proper
method of preparing their pelts that
they may receive top market values
g. Encouraging trappers to release live and
unhurt females which they occasionally
find along their traplines.
d. Carrying out restocking programs ana
studying results of the same.
5. Feeding wild game during severe winters
and requesting others to do the same.
g. Investigating ways and means of con-
trolling predators which KILN season
and out regardless of human bag limits
for 1865 days of the year.
T. Taking inventory of wildlife in our res
pective districts.
g. Aiding fur farmers by understanding their
problems and by acting as liaison officer
between them and other fur ranchers
9 Making annual recommendations for nee
essary changes in the regulations
10 Boosting good craftsmanship.
IL Disseminating literature containing re-
suits of the Bureau of Biological Surveys
broad facilities for scientific research.
r. Encouraging wildlife photography. realz-
ms that il takes a better hunter to kill