28 OUR BIG GAME 



have not proved desirable for Eastern parks or shoot- 

 ing-preserves. 



Judge Caton, who for many years kept up a splendid 

 deer park in Illinois, and carefully studied the animals 

 of this family, came to the conclusion that he was too 

 far East for the antelope. These same animals, how- 

 ever, are reported as doing well in the Yellowstone 

 Park and in other places where they are indigenous. 



The fact that an animal is not now present in a wild 

 state in any locality is not to be considered in making a 

 selection for a preserve. The bison and the elk have 

 long been extinct in New York, but there is evidence 

 that they formerly lived there. They have been found 

 to do fairly well, even in the small spaces which can 

 be given them in zoological parks. They, of course, do 

 better in such vast parks as that of the Blue Mountain 

 Club, or the late Mr. Whitney's October Mountain. 



In the big game preserves there are lakes and 

 streams where game-fish abound, and, in a former vol- 

 ume,* I have referred to the game-birds and their 

 preservation and protection by clubs and individuals. 



The big-game preserve should be a large one. It 

 should be measured by miles, not acres; should contain 

 mountain forests and valleys, well watered by streams, 

 and open glades and pastures where the animals may 

 live as they did before the days of preserves. When 

 the preserve is a small one and under fence there is but 

 little sport to be had. The mere thought that the ani- 

 mal has no chance to escape but must turn back from 

 a wire fence, proves too much for a first-rate sports- 

 man. 



* "Our Feathered Game." 



