THE MULE-DEER 253 



bereft of all the forms of higher animal life. Such an 

 argument can only be made from the standpoint of those 

 big game dealers in the cities who care nothing for the 

 future, and desire to make money at the present day by 

 a slaughter which in the last analysis only benefits the 

 wealthy people who are able to pay for the game; for 

 once the game has been destroyed, the livelihood of the 

 professional gunner will be taken away. Most emphati- 

 cally wild game not on private property does belong to 

 the people, and the only way in which the people can 

 secure their ownership is by protecting it in the interest 

 of all against the vandal few. As we grow older I think 

 most of us become less keen about that part of the hunt 

 which consists in the killing. I know that as far as I 

 am concerned I have long gone past the stage when the 

 chief end of a hunting trip was the bag. One or two 

 bucks, or enough grouse and trout to keep the camp sup- 

 plied, will furnish all the sport necessary to give zest 

 and point to a trip in the wilderness. When hunters 

 proceed on such a plan they do practically no damage 

 to the game. Those who are not willing to act along these 

 lines of their own free will, should be made to by the 

 State. The people of Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado, 

 and of the States near by, can do a real service, primarily 

 to themselves, but secondarily to others also, by framing 

 and executing laws which will keep these noble deer as 

 permanent denizens of their lofty mountains and beauti- 

 ful valleys. There are other things much more impor- 

 tant than game laws; but it will be a great mistake to 

 imagine, because until recently in Europe game laws have 



