252 CONSERVATION OF CANADIAN WILD LIFE 



Game Reserves in Alberta 



In view of the fact that the Dominion Government has 

 estabUshed national parks on a very extensive scale in Al- 

 berta, the provincial government has not undertaken the 

 establishment of game reserves on an extensive scale. 



In 1918, however, the Alberta government established as 

 game reserves two of the Dominion Forest Reserves, namely, 

 the Cooking Lake Forest Reserve and the Cypress Hills 

 Forest Reserve, 



Cooking Lake Forest and Game Reserve. — This reserve is 

 situated about twenty miles east of Edmonton. It covers 

 an area of 95.5 square miles. Immediately north of and 

 adjoining the reserve lies the Dominion Elk Island Park, so 

 that the combined area of game reserve is about 112 square 

 miles. The country included in this reserve is similar on 

 the whole to that of the Elk Island Park. The land is gently 

 rolling, the portion to the north of Tawayik Lake being a 

 little more hilly than the region to the south. North of this 

 lake there is a heavy growth of poplar, which forms excellent 

 cover for deer and moose. To the south there is a large 

 amount of open country, with occasional areas of aspen. 

 Willows grow along the creeks and around the shores of the 

 lakes, which are also bordered by considerable areas of hay 

 meadow, forming excellent pasturage. The chief lakes are 

 Tawayik Lake, Goose Lake, and Flying-shot Lake. All 

 these lakes constitute good breeding and feeding places for 

 wild fowl. 



Cypress Hills Forest and Game Reserve. — This reserve is 

 situated about fifteen miles south of Maple Creek, Sask., 

 and about twenty-five miles southeast of Medicine Hat. It 

 is composed of several separate blocks; of the total area of 

 178.5 square miles, 81 square miles lie in Alberta. It is 

 situated on a high plateau with deep river valleys and steep 

 slopes. The soil is sandy, and the reserve is partly covered 



