BULLETIN NUMBER FIVE 189 



10. The development of dry farming. 



11. Killing at all seasons by sheep-herders. 



12. Continuous destruction by wolves and coyotes. 



I call upon the men and boys of the Real West to read 

 the above catalogue of deadliness, carefully, and then say 

 frankly whether they believe it is POSSIBLE for the sage 

 grouse, and other grouse, and quail, to continue to exist on 

 their present status. And let them say what else than 

 strong, quick measures, manfully conceived and resolutely 

 executed, can save the grouse on a continuing basis. Tell 

 me tvhat else than 6-year close seasons can stop the down- 

 ward rush, in time to avert a quick plunge into Oblivion. 



In my opinion, a 6-year close season in each sage grouse 

 state (except possibly Nevada and Oregon?) is the only an- 

 swer to the situation just now for that species. Do not stop 

 to haggle and split hairs and argle-bargle about "seasons" 

 and "bag-limits," and finally produce no results worth hav- 

 ing. Strike now for REAL protection, and enact it into 

 law! Then, while that is on, there will be plenty of time 

 to watch results, calculate chances for the future, and IF 

 the grouse increase abundantly, plan a reopening of shoot- 

 ing six years hence on a thoroughly reformed basis. That 

 basis will (if at all justifiable) probably need to be two 

 weeks only of an open season, in September, and a bag limit 

 of THREE birds only. 



I do not wish to see grouse shooting become an extinct 

 pastime. It is a glorious holiday diversion for the right- 

 minded sportsman who carries a double-barreled shotgun 

 and who thinks more of a fine day in the open, in a wild 

 spot, than of the number of bloody carcasses in the game- 

 bag. Today, no one needs the sage grouse for food, to keep 

 the hunger wolf from the door. It is time to cut out the 

 "food" and "meat" idea, entirely, from the list of factors 

 to be considered. 



Men of the West, do not rob your little sons and grand- 

 sons of the pleasure of seeing the Cock-of-the-Plains on his 



