228 AN AMERICAN HUNTER 



which would many times surpass in value the game they 

 actually killed; and furthermore, the preservation of the 

 game would mean that the ranchmen and grangers who 

 live near its haunts would have in perpetuity the chance 

 of following the pleasantest and healthiest of all out-of- 

 door pastimes; whereas, if through their short-sighted- 

 ness they destroy, or permit to be destroyed, the game, 

 they are themselves responsible for the fact that their 

 children and children's children will find themselves for- 

 ever debarred from a pursuit which must under such 

 circumstances become the amusement only of the very 

 rich. If we are really alive to our opportunities under 

 our democratic social and political system, we can keep 

 for ourselves and by " ourselves " I mean the enormous 

 bulk of men whose means range from moderate to very 

 small ample opportunity for the enjoyment of hunting 

 and shooting, of vigorous and blood-stirring out-of-doors 

 sport. If we fail to take advantage of our possibilities, 

 if we fail to pass, in the interest of all, wise game laws, 

 and to see that these game laws are properly enforced, 

 we shall then have to thank ourselves if in the future the 

 game is only found in the game preserves of the wealthy; 

 and under such circumstances only these same wealthy 

 people will have the chance to hunt it. 



The mule-deer differs widely from the whitetail in 

 its habits, and especially in its gait, and in the kind of 

 country which it frequents. Although in many parts of 

 its range it is found side by side with its whitetail cousin, 

 the two do not actually associate together, and their pro- 

 pinquity is due simply to the fact, that the river bottoms 



