82 WILD LIFE PROTECTION FUND 



state laws, of all the big game of the Big Horn mountains. 

 Once that range was a grand hunting ground, well stocked 

 with elk, sheep, deer and bear. About three years ago the 

 Sheridan Sportsmen Club subscribed a sum of money to 

 haul in a lot of elk from the Yellowstone Park, to stock those 

 desolate mountains anew. 



The Shoshone Mountains were well stocked with game in 

 1889-90, but by 1903 they were so desolate and lifeless that, 

 because there was in it practically nothing more to kill, 

 Wyoming called the country between the forks of the Sho- 

 shone River a "game preserve." Elk are found in winter 

 south of the Yellowstone Park solely because of the protec- 

 tion they receive during their breeding season, and for six 

 months of each year, in the Yellowstone Park. 



The mountain sheep of Wyoming have been shot down 

 to about 100 head (as estimated by Frost and Richards) ; 

 but Wyoming WILL NOT give those remnant sheep a long 

 close season. When all of them are gone, the Wyoming 

 legislature will generously rush forward to accord a five- 

 year close season — to a lot of sheep skeletons! 



In 1917 the Wyoming legislature turned back to the elk- 

 hunters the eastern half of the Teton Game Preserve, lying 

 south of the Park, — the first instance on record of the de- 

 consecrating of a game sanctuary. That was the only item 

 of game protective (?) legislation enacted in that state in 

 1917. 



In 1912, with all her state rights ideas, Wyoming did not 

 hesitate to memorialize the national government for federal 

 cash with which to buy hay to feed her starving elk. She 

 asked the President to help her to secure cash from Con- 

 gress. In 1916, the federal government's men killed 1900 

 predatory animals in Wyoming, while the state's agents 

 accounted for only 627. 



In 1917, the Wyoming legislature sullenly refused to pass 

 Mr. Wm. L. Simpson's bills to give long protection to sage 

 grouse and sheep. 



