240 ANIMAL LIFE IN THE YOSEMITE 



Occasional purely fortuitous accidents happen to deer. One of the 

 Park rangers found a deer held fast by one of its forefeet in the crotch of 

 a young black oak. The animal had twisted its leg nearly off in its attempt 

 to free itself. 



Within the boundaries of the Yosemite National Park the Mule Deer 

 receive every possible protection. The rangers are careful of the interests 

 of the deer and little if any poaching takes place. But in the area lying 

 immediately to the west little regard seems to be paid to the game laws. 

 Some residents of this region believe that they have a vested right to kill 

 deer "whenever and wherever they please." When confronted with the 

 statement that there is a State law protecting the animals, they ask, "Can 

 you blame a man for going after a deer [despite the law] when meat is 

 scarce?" To this we answer, "We most certainly do." The doctrine that 

 our wild game belongs to all the people (to be conserved in the interests 

 of all) and not just to those residing in the immediate vicinity seems not 

 to have reached them as yet. A resident of El Portal openly boasted to 

 one of our field party that he had been on a deer hunt during the first 

 week in December, nearly two months after the close of the legal season 

 for killing deer. 



Certain residents stated that deer are not now more than 50 per cent 

 as numerous as in earlier years. When pressed for the reasons why deer 

 have decreased the replies were: 



1. The deer have moved back. 



2. Mountain Lions and other "varmints" have of recent years made 

 disproportionate inroads on them. 



3. The closed season on deer has favored the increase of "varmints." 



4. "Of course a lot have been shot" (but little stress was laid on this). 



Despite all statements to the contrary the most relentless enemy of the 

 Mule Deer is man. The persistence or elimination of the animals in the 

 Yosemite region rests entirely with him. Since many of the deer in the 

 Park proper move out into unpatrolled territory in winter it would seem 

 that complete protection ought to be provided throughout this adjacent 

 territory, at least until there is a sufficient natural increase to warrant 

 reopening a hunting season there. At the present time, so far as the 

 Yosemite National Park is concerned, the greatest potential value of the 

 deer lies in their esthetic appeal; in observing them the visitor is thrilled 

 with delight, and his mind and senses are acutely stimulated. 



