Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-05-25

with causing the increase OF game in
all parts OF the state.
1T Is marvellous" he says. what an
effect q few successful prosecutions
will have on q community which had
heretofore borne the reputation Of pay
ing no attention to the game laws. In
many cases the persons who respected
the laws the least are now assisting as
greatly in their enforcement.
Hide Hunters Driven Out
The hide, head and market hunters
have been practically driven out of the
business by the enforcement OF the
laws, and the results are very evident
at the present time. Large game has
In the 10 years last past. Deer and elk
have been found In large numbers In
places where they had not been for
years. In many instances this season
they have been killed within a few
miles Of town, and 1t Is not unusual
to hear OF them being seen while driv-
ing along the country roads and In
some cases even in gardens close to
the farm houses.
$50 numerous are they this year
that almost every hunter who went
out has returned with a good kin and
reports game plentiful everywhere.
Only short time ago Miss Jose Tai
bott, q young woman Of Columbia
Falls, killed a deer ON the river bank
in front Of her fathers residence.
The greatest large game sections
of the state are the extreme north
western and southwestern parts, but
more especially the former, as almost
every species of native North American |
game Is still to be found there. This !
section Is composed Of the whole Of /
the Flathead, portions of Teton, I
Powell, and Lewis and Clark counties. |
THE other sections are adjacent to I
and border on the national yellow
Stone) park and are made up OF por-
lions Of Gallatin, Madison, Sweet /
Grass and Carbon counties. The other
west and middle west counties have q
very liberal allowance Of big game,
while In the eastern part Of the state,
along the Missouri river, In the brakes,
IS found the finest white-tafled deer
shooting In the world. On the pratries
If this section the remnant OF antelope
i've and range.
ANTELOPE are becoming numerous IN
some sections of the state where they
we're almost extinct two years ago. We
zee already families Of beaver every
where, and in some instances they had
20 be killed to protect property. Moose
ire often seen and caribou are found
n larger numbers than IN any other
tate
"Of the game for which we have q
awful season all are plentiful and
eem to be on the increase, except the
mountain sheep, are only found Ia the !
rocky mountains, and as they are per-
nitted to be killed they are becoming
rery scarce But stu in regard TO these
re are very fortunate, as we undoubt-
dly have more than any other state.
ELK are increasing and are gradually /
working back into their old hsunts,
which are still unsettled. have been
to secure reliable reports
# the number seen the last year, so
Is to make an estimate Of the number
till existing In the state. Taking the
eport Of the superintendent Of the
rational park into consideration, as
yell as those received from scouts,
deputies and old mountaineers, think
IS 900 would be q very conservative
'stimate to place thereon.
BLACK tail deer are no doubt multi
dying, as more have been seen and
Iilled this season than for many years
,ast. They are being found quite nu-
IN sections which have been
considered hunted out. The little
deer the most beautiful and
graceful Of all wild animals, Is still
ound In large numbers along the bot
oms and brakes Of the Missouri river.
considering everything, our large
anne Is doing nicely, and with con-
inued rigid enforcement Of the laws
viii propagate and multiply"
SCOTS description of the centers of
anne hunting remains accurate TO this
ay. The northwestern portion OF the
tate Is still the habitat OF big game
Inimals In large numbers. Here may
e found various primitive areas. now
ermed wilderness areas by the United
'tates forest service, such as the South
Hork of the Flathead where hunters
'ack In with horses each year to get
heir elk and other big game. In RIA
ALI county there is still an open
eason on Rocky mountain goats.
Antelope are increasing and are
ound In increasing numbers Ia Still
7ater county and the eastern part OF
he state The caribou that Scott men
ions are apparently extinct as the
yriter has heard of no kills Of this
nimal or even reports Of any ranging
7ithin the confines Of the state IN the
ast quarter of century. Nevertheless,