STATE GAME AND FISH WARDEN. g 



that are presented in Montana, where at present there are 

 no restrictions except upon beaver and certain sections abound 

 in bear, martin, lynx, the highest priced fur at present, otter 

 and other fur bearing animals as well as the mountain lions, 

 wolves and coyotes upon which bounties are paid by the 

 state. I do not favor placing a price upon a trapper's permit 

 for resident trappers of the state, but do believe that non- 

 resident trappers should pay for the privilege of taking 

 our fur bearing animals and that all trappers should have a 

 free or purchased permit granted by this department upon 

 proper application and that such permit should confine them 

 to certain territory selected by themselves so that the trapping 

 field may be visited at any time by game wardens and the 

 traps inspected to ascertain if protected game is used as bait. 

 Then the shipment of furs should be subject to inspection 

 to prevent the sl^ipment of furs taken illegally, as beaver 

 for instance. The practice of shipping a few contraband beaver 

 skins in a bale of non-protected furs has been a custom among 

 some trappers during the past few years. 



BEAVER. 

 I believe the present law upon beaver is generally satis- 

 factory. While it affords protection to these animals, it does 

 away with the obnoxious red tape necessary in securing a 

 permit to destroy beaver that are actually damaging the 

 trees, ditches or meadows of a bona fide owner and tax- 

 payer upon land. 



GROUSE. 

 There has been some criticism upon the present "one month" 

 limit upon grouse, prairie chicken, etc., during the month of 

 October. The claim is made that the young birds are too old 

 at that season to be as palatable as they would be earlier. 

 Upon due consideration and after watching the efifect of 

 the present law, I believe it well to let the same stand as 

 it is for at least two more years. It must be remembered 

 that when this law was passed, there was a dearth of grouse 

 and prairie chicken in Montana. A bill was introduced in 

 the Assembly protecting them at all seasons and the present 

 law was a compromise offered by residents of the northern 

 part of the state. In October the grouse are on the high 

 mountain ridges and the other members of the pheasant 

 family may not be as palatable as in September so there is 



