Evening star., 1942-06-07
Spo1smen Find
Exciting Game in
Southwest's WiIds
Mountain Lion, Wildcat
And Coyotes Legitimate
Prey at All Seasons

SANTA FE, N. Mex, June 6.-For
| the sportsman who seeks a safari
into virgin wilderness where wild
life abounds as 1t did In the days
when only the Indian hunted, New
Mexico offers an answer. according
to the New Mexico State Tourist
Bureau.
In the State the nimrod will find
three varieties Of deer, two species
of bear. wild turkeys and squirrels,
on which there is a regular open
season. in addition to limited permit
seasons on elk and antelope.
But in varieties of non-game ami
mals-the mountain lion. wildcat
and coyote-the hunter Is in for
probably greater thrills than those
afforded in regular season. for there
are no license requirements nor
closed seasons on this trio Of
predators.
Guide Service Available.
Between rs and 100 mountain
lions, nearly 500 wildcats and nearly
1000 coyotes are taken in New
Mexico each year. Many ranchers
and professional guides have trained
dog packs for hunting Of these nom
game species which are available to
visitors.
THE sportsman who has not en-
gagged in a mountain lion or bear
hunt behind pack of well-trained
dogs has missed one of the most
thrilling experiences available to
him in the out-of doors today" says
Elliott S. Barker, New Mexico State
game warden.
I'VE encourage the maintenance Of
good packs of dogs for the control
of mountain lions through sport
hunting"
As for choice Of hunting terrain.
the hunter will find New Mexico
as one OF the few places left in
| the Nation where wild nature still
rules supreme over areas covering
millions of acres of timbered lands.
More than IL per cent of New
| Mexico's total area is embraced in
seven national forests. More than
a million acres of national forest
| lands have been SET aside as wilder
ness and primitive areas, accessible
only by trail. or horseback or by
foot travel.
Responsible guides are available
| to take the sportsman away from
civilization and into mountain and
forest Businesses that possesses
nearly all Of natures original al
lurement. Here is a preserved pic
ture of the land the pioneers knew.
New Mexico's dude ranches, most
Of which lie adjacent to the big
game country, are well fitted to
serve as bases for junkets into high
country. Horses, pack equipment,
wranglers and guides are available
for the guest who would get on
the beaten path and back to nature.
Six Natural Preserves.
New Mexico has six areas which
have been specifically set aside as
natural preserves. Largest OF these
is on the headwaters of the Gila
River in the MOgollon Mountains
in the southwestern section OF the
State.
other areas are in the Black
Range. adjacent to the Gila wilder
ness area: on the headwaters OF the
Pecos River in Northern New Mex
leo. where elevations range to $4,000
feet; in the White Mountains OF
Lincoln County in Southern New
Mexico; In the San Pedro Parks
country Of Sandoval County, and
in the blue area Of Catron County.
Although most sections of these
areas are accessible by trail, there
are places where man seldom sets
foot, and where the woodsman's ak
has never felled q tree. No roads
have ever been built, nor is perma-
nent human occupancy permitted.