16 



AMERICAN FORKSTRY 



niimerous states have since followed his excellent example 

 for the same purpose. But there are far too few of these 

 ha\-ens to ha\-e much general effect upon the game of the 

 country. Every township should have its bird and 

 game refuge or what is \-cry well termed a "community 

 sanctuary." 



Several adjoining farms including more or less waste 

 land should be selected, if possible covering from 1000 to 

 5000 acres. ha\'ing suitable cover and food-bearing plants. 



Photo by Courtesy oj the American Game Protective Association. 



SOME HAND-REARED RUFFED GROUSE 



These are on the farm of the American Game Protective Association. Although 

 extremely wild when hunted, the ruffed grouse in captivity shows a very friendly, 

 confiding nature. The breeding of grouse in captivity is still in the experimental 

 stage. 



This land should be posted and no shooting whatsoever 

 should be allowed within its boundaries. Local gun clubs 

 and bird clubs should endeavor to increase the available 

 food supply by planting shrubs or even strips of grain, 

 and should make consistent efforts toward trapping the 

 vennin which will naturally be attracted to such spots by 

 the increase of the game and other birds. Great horned 

 owls, Cooper's, sharp-shinned, and gos-hawks, weasels, 

 minks, skunks and foxes, while having their place in a 

 "wild Hfe sanctuary" are incompatible with a "game 

 refuge." The stray cat is everywhere a menace. 



It may seem strange to ally gun clubs and bird clubs, 

 giving them a common purpose, when their interests are 

 superficially so at variance with each other. But the 

 sanctuary fulfils the ambitions of both, so they can well 

 work side by side. The bird club will be repaid by the 

 increase of all species of birds and the gun club by the 

 fact that while the available hunting area will be restricted, 

 the sanctuary will act as a great game reservoir and 

 irrigate all the surrounding country. It is far better sport 



to hunt a limited countr\- where game is plentiful than 

 twice the area where it is scarce. 



The sanctuary, moreover, has proved a more practical 

 method of increasing most game than long closed seasons, 

 because the closed season takes the reputable sportsman, 

 who is, at the same time, more or less of a policeman, 

 from the field, and gives the poacher full sway. Where 

 the closed season alone has been tried out, it has been 

 found that even after five-year periods the species pro- 

 tected has not increased materially, because of the work 

 of unprincipled gunners and the difficulty of detecting 

 them. As long as any shooting is allowed in an area, the 

 protected species will go down with the unprotected be- 

 cause there is such a spirit of competition among hunters. 

 " If I don't shoot it, the other fellow will, " is reasoning to 

 which even the best, at times, descend. 



The question then arises, would it be better to pro- 

 hibit all hunting for a term of years until every species 

 could recuperate? Illegitimate shooting could then be 

 more easily detected and more efficient protection be 

 brought about. On the contrary, it has been found the 

 least efficient method. First, the funds for warden 

 service, derived at present from hunting licenses, and the 



Photo by Courtesy of the American Game Protective Association. 



SOME HAND-REARED MALLARD DUCKS 



These ducks, on the farm of W. S. McCrea are returning to the home pond. 

 The mallard is very easy to raise and is very prolific. 



thousands of dollars which are annuallj' contributed to 

 game protection by the gun and ammunition companies, 

 would be removed. Secondly, the interest of reputable 

 sportsmen would be directed into other channels; they 

 would not be in the field and protection would be entirely 

 in the hands of a few wardens who would be utterly unable 

 to cope with the large number of poachers and law- 

 breakers who would result from the prohibiting of all 

 hunting. Thirdly, the various species of rabbits would 

 multiply so rapidly, and with them the predaceous hawks 

 and owls, that great damage would be done, for it would 



