MONTANA STATE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



TWENTY YEARS IN THE SERVICE 



By Peter W. Nelson 

 Deputy Game Warden at Livingston 



NOTE. — Mr. Nelson is the oldest employe of the state fish and game commission in point of 

 service. He became associated with the department in 1907 and has served continuously. 

 His interesting review of his years of effort in the conservation of Montana's wild life is a 

 cross-section from the life of a fa'thful, conscientious employe. 



"^ 



P. W. Nel.son 



'"THEN I was appointed deputy game warden by W. F. 

 ^' Scott on June 20, 1907, my district included the four 

 counties of Park, Sweetgrass, Stillwater and Carbon, 

 an area covering 10,161 square miles. In those early years 

 the average hunter had the mistaken idea that he was enti- 

 tled by the God-given right to kill game or take fish when, 

 where and in such quantities as suited him best. Some even 

 had the idea that they were entitled to commercialize their 

 efforts, with never a thought of others or the future. So it 

 was a campaign of education in the early years, and fines 

 and confiscations were administered in such a manner that 

 there would be no misunderstanding as to the why. 



Farmers and the sportsmen were the first to realize the 

 importance of the protection of fish and game, one of the 

 greatest assets of Montana. The feeling of appreciation of 

 efforts of the fish and game commission have since changed 

 from one of anger toward wardens of early days to one of 

 helpfulness. I have knowledge that the fact that we have good trout streams and 

 game grounds has had its influence in locating good farmers on agricultural land 

 adjoining. Just let me state that all those who are interested in rod and gun 

 clubs are not the inhabitants of the cities. Farmer boys are becoming members 

 of these clubs also. 



With conditions changing as we progressed, we game wardens began ^ 

 to feel that we were not such bad fellows as we were given credit with 

 early in the game. Square dealing, honesty of purpose and the tact to 

 make a point reach home wins. I can safely say that it has been a sat- 

 isfaction to be able to do my share in this locality in the good work 

 which the state commission has outlined and carried forward to 

 its present healthy condition. 



In the early days I spent a great deal of my time in the win- 

 ter months patrolling from the northern boundary line of Yel- 

 lowstone National Park down the east side of the Yellowstone 

 river as far as Dailey's basin, trying to keep "teeth" hunters 

 from killing elk just for their teeth. This comprises a distance 

 of about 20 miles. The going is rough enough in the summer 

 time but with snow and cold weather it was a task. 

 In December, 1926, in the Crevasse country, one 

 morning the sun came up on a thermometer 30 below _ 

 zero, and the snow was waist deep. 



The first time the great northern herd of elk was 



