The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1941-01-16

early parties saw much more game
than the average visitor to the park
would probably have seen in any
subsequent years. l have person
ally made four trips through yell
lDwstone Park. On the first trip
in 1894 we spent full month in the
park, and in 1897 crossed the park
with a pack outfit, from Crandall
Greek via Mount Washburn apd the
canyon to the Gallatin. On neither
trip did we see any elk or buffalo,
and no considerable quantity OF
game except antelope on the Lamar
River.
More Plentiful in Plains Country
The general statement is correct
that elk and buffalo were primarily
plains animals in the sense that
they occurred in vastly greater num-
bers in the plains country, with
some timber or mountain shelter,
than they did in the higher noun
tadn country, and likewise mountain
sheep were far more abundant in
the breaks OF the Missouri River,
or in steep, cliffy country low down
along the Clark Fork River than
they ever were in the high timber
line country. But there is ample ev-
idence that these animals also
ranged the high mountain country
in probably considerably greater
quantities than they have occurred
at any time since the valleys were
settled. In other words, the plains
animals were killed off, not driven
back in the mountains, and the
rough mountain country continued
to give Some refuge to the animals
that already were there.
The early fur trappers recognized
q mountain buffalo as distinct from
the plains variety. There were
doubtless small bands which stayed
| in the higher mountain valleys the
year round. Buffalo were seen in
considerable numbers in the Biz
Hole Basin in early March 1924 By
Alexander Ross, and in December
1853 by Captain Mullan, so without
doubt they wintered in the high
snow covered valley. Captain Ray,
nolds saw a band in June in ths
high Madison Basin.
Doubtless the elk from thu
mountains, and also the mule ane
Whitehall deer, usually winteret
lower down than they are forced
to do at present by the restriction
of settlements; and an adequat,
winter range is the great problem il
the present perpetuation OF tn,
game herds.
More Game Now
1t is probable that the perio.
through the nineties and earl.
nineteen hundreds witnessed tn
lowest point in game number
/ through most of Montana. | wa
brought up in the Gallatin Vale.
in Montana and usually spent mos
OF the summer in the hills throug
the nineties, yet at that time gam
| was so scarce that the sight of
single deer, elk or sheep was
most unusual event. / often trs
veled for weeks with a pack Out
tit through the high mountai
country without sight of any bi
game whatever.
The South Fork OF the Flathea
and the Sun River country is toda
considered an excellent game cour
try. Deer, elk, and goats are rels
/ lively abundant, yet in the fall {
1905 and again in 1905 | rode for
month with pack outfit through tn
widest part Of that country with
rifle on my saddle, and, with tn
exception of one goat, never sa,
or got shot at single big gam
animal, though grouse were fairl
abundant.
With the creation Of the nation;
forests and the cooperation give
the State by forest officers in er
forcement OF game laws, bette
general sentiment toward gam
laws, and the establishment of nj
merous game refugees, there hs
been a very considerable increas
in game animals in most parts (
the state. There Is much to be dor
in the way OF more scientific mar
agement of game resources, bl
conditions are distinctly better tina
! they were, and there is now lit
probability OF game becoming G,
tinct in this state.