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M O X T A X A - 1 9 1 6 



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Mountains and Forests on Upper Middle Creek. 



Along this roadway may be seen in a state of civilization far beyond what the 

 average tourist expects, the remnants of tribes of the aboriginal inhabitants of the 

 western hemisphere. The Indians who formerly roved the plains and hunted buffalo 

 and white men's scalps have been tamed and, yielding to the influence of the white 

 men's way have turned to raising cattle and growing grain, in which more than one 

 Indian has found the way to success which measures large even by the white man's 

 standard. 



The mountains and prairies of Montana are prolific in game. In fact, after cen- 

 turies of relentless hunting by Indians and white men, elk, moose, deer, antelope, 

 Rocky Mountain sheep. Rocky Mountain goats and bear abound. On account of the 

 ruthless slaughter of moose by the Indians and antelope by both races, it has been 

 found necessary to perpetually protect these beautiful animals. Big game hunting 

 vvhich in most parts of the world, is a princely pastime, capable of indulgence only 

 by the very wealthy, may be had in Montana by even the humblest. Despite the 

 slaughter of bison and other large animals by early settlers of the state and relentless 

 hunting by Indians ages before the white man's advent, all game in Montana, with 

 the exception of the American bison, is now increasing under the protection afforded 

 by the game laws and constant patrolling by the members of the state game depart- 

 ment. Twenty-five years ago the elk on the northern boundary of the Yellowstone 

 National park did not number one-half as many as they do today and in the north- 

 western part of the state where these animals have never had the protection afforded 

 by the federal authorities, they have more than held their own and are numerically 

 stronger now than twelve years ago. 



Unlike some of the eastern states and Canadian provinces the game and fish dis- 

 tricts of Montana are not subject to private lease by native or foreign citizens and 

 all of the vast territory of the state, covered by almost 150,000 square miles of prairies, 



