The midland journal., 1945-04-06
Upland Game
Restoration
Essential
Destruction OF Native
Habitat Responsible
For Game Decrease

All sportsmen agree that destruc-
ton of natrve habitat is largely re-
sponsible for the decrease in game
birds and animals noted in so many
sections of our country
Where this reduction of natural
range occurs, there is a natural con-
centration of the remaining wild life.
Then come disease, an abundance OF
predators, over shooting and the
abundance of game disappears, never
to return.
Ever since we adopted America
from the Indians, we have been mis-
using aud mismanaging our natural
resources. Timber destruction with
out proper replacement has played
havoc with our timber loving species
of birds and animals. Since our for
ests have been opened to campers
and tourists, uncounted areas Eave
been destroyed by fire.
The plow has taken it's toll of wild
life habitat and affected every spe-
cies of wild life along with the axe,
saw and fire. As the pioneer plowed
his way westward and the timber
dweller hacked and sawed through
the wooded wilderness of America,
the bird and animal life had to give
away in proportion to the extent that
their habitat and homes were de-
stroyed. Tke numerous bevies OF
quail, great flocks of prairie chicken
and sharp tail grouse, the herds of
antelope, bison and elk moved furth
er and further back until they were
surrounded on all sides by civiliza-
ton. Their members were concentra-
ted into a smaller and smaller area.
They could not maintain their num-
bers under these conditions.
Our game has had to face: First,
more intensive cultivation which has,
and is yet, destroying the little re-
manning cover. Second, our grazing
of livestock, especially cattle and
sheep. Third, spring burning of nest
ing cover-roadsides fence lines, ra-
vines, sloughs and similar waste
hooks and corners. Fourth, our wa
terfowl and shore birds asayas@b been
exploited by commercial interests,
who told the farmer that his lake
and slough bottoms were worth more
under the plow than under water.
Fifth, our streams and rivers have,
in many instances, been turned into
open sewers by the wastes from large
cities and factories. These waters
have been polluted so badly they
can't produce fish life, or aquatic
food for waterfowl Sixth, intensive
and extensive power cultivation on
farms continues to decrease and fur
tier concentrate what little upland
game cover there is left Seventh,
speeding automobiles, fires, waste
oil, moving and other farm ma
chimes, house cats and other preda-
tors, kill and destroy as much of our
small game today as was taken by all
who hunted fifty years ago. This ex-
cellent meat is lost to game pockets
and to tables as food
When sportsmen as individuals or
in clubs align themselves with farm
ers to take an active interest in
game and its environment with
helping hand on the hunting, ground,
then and then only, will there be a
supply of game free from most of
these harmful Influences.
The word restoration" is used
instead of conservation. It's i'm
possible to conserve something that
you don't have, it can be restored.
Had our fOrefathers fully understood
the word conservation" and had
practiced it in its true meaning, they
could have passed it on down. To me
it passed out of the picture with the
passing of the bulk of our wild life
and their natural resources from our
land.
1t should be the ambition of every
sportsman, to do everything he pos
sibly can toward maintaining and
increasing the wildlife which forms
the incentive for his happy days
Rfield.