270 The Wilderness Hunter 



years' hunting I have killed but five one by a mis- 

 chance, and the other four for the table. 



From its very nature, the life of the hunter is in 

 most places evanescent; and when it has vanished 

 there can be no real substitute in old settled coun- 

 tries. Shooting in a private game preserve is but 

 a dismal parody ; the manliest and healthiest features 

 of the sport are lost with the change of conditions. 

 We need, in the interest of the community at large, 

 a rigid system of game laws rigidly enforced, and 

 it is not only admissible, but one may almost say 

 necessary, to establish, under the control of the State, 

 great national forest reserves, which shall also be 

 breeding grounds and nurseries for wild game; but 

 I should much regret to see grow up in this country 

 a system of large private game preserves, kept for 

 the enjoyment of the very rich. One of the chief 

 attractions of the life of the wilderness is its rugged 

 and stalwart democracy ; there every man stands for 

 what he actually is, and can show himself to be. 



There are, in different parts of our country, 

 chances to try so many various kinds of hunting, 

 with rifle or with horse and hound, that it is nearly 

 impossible for one man to have experience of them 

 all. There are many hunts I long hoped to take, 

 but never did and never shall ; they must be left for 

 men with more time, or for those whose homes are 

 nearer to the hunting grounds. I have never seen 



