The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1947-10-16
Will Watch
Working Out of
Plan With Interest
By Charles d. Rove


and other vfldiife Of this district
are considered one of its most en-
ioyable and valuable resources. 1t
was for that reason that the large
audience of sportsmen listened Sat
urday night to the announcement
by Fred Johnson, assistant regional
forester, Missoula, that his depart
ment is about to inaugurate in Lin
coin county an extensive deer man
agement plan that may continue for
10 years. Mr.. johnson explained
the workings of the plan that will
be tried out here, which will fol-
low lines that have proven success
full in other parts of the West. He
was speaking at the excellent an
nual dinner and program given by
the fish and game committee of the
Libby Chamber of Commerce, E.
NJ Boyes, chairman.
The management of the deer re-
sources of this district contemplates
a control of the hunting season,
a study of deer diseases, breeding
habits and results, effects of the
buck law, and many other factors
affecting the deer herds of Lincoln
county Mr.. Johnson said they eX-
pect to make the work here a model
for all of western Montana.
There are those who will look
on this management plan with more
or less skepticism They insist a.
bout all man can do for the control
of the deer populations is through
management of the hunting season.
AS one man stated to me, anything
else is a waste of good money. But
that man, who is an ardent hunter,
will run into plenty of argument
if he ever expresses those con-
victions in the presence of men who
have given game matters a lifetime
of study They will insist that re-
markable results can be obtained
through proper management prac-
tees, and will produce volumes of
statistics in support of their side
of the argument
Unless something is done to per-
petuate the deer herds of Lincoln
county this section is probably "a
bout to experience the same thing as
has happened in many other dis
tricts. That is a heavy depletion of
game resources There has been
an alarming increase in the drain
on Montanas wildlife. Prosperous
times, more tourist travel and more
leisure all have contributed to that
heavy toll. Perhaps it is time to
undertake a managing of wildlife
resources.
Because it had knowledge of this
heavy toll on our wildlife was one
reason why the last Montana legis-
lature raised the cost of non-resi-
dent big game licenses to 500. The
last figures available at the time
the legislature was in session showed
an increase in nonresident big game
licenses of from something over
400 to about 100, an increase of
approximately 700 big game hunters
in one year. There has been some
criticism of that legislation by those
who would like to have the bust
ness that the big game hunters
bring into the state. However, the
legislature thought it time to hault
the growing and heavy toll on the
deer herds, and try to save them
for our own people, as well as to
perpetuate this wildlife resource.
Another interesting part of that
fine Saturday night program was
the explanation by Archie O'Claire,
state game warden, of his depart
ment's plans for control of preda-
tory animals and the figures he gave
of what is being done here in coyote