THE WORST INDICTMENT OF AMERICANS 



THE worst indictment we ever have seen in print bear- 

 ing upon the game protection morals of outdoor lovers 

 is to be found in "Field and Stream" for November, 1918, 

 on page 557. It was written by a very decent "Proprietor 

 of a Sporting Camp," somewhere out West, and it tells a 

 story of a lawless and selfish spirit that is fairly astound- 

 ing. It is the figures given that make the story actually 

 gruesome. Here it is in part : 



However, this is not the worst phase of the situation. There are 

 hundreds of sportsmen who could not be induced to shoot game out of 

 season, and who brag that they never break the game laws, who, 

 nevertheless, practically force the guides or the proprietor of the 

 camp where they are staying to serve venison out of season. 



Right now we wish to acknowledge that we have, up to the last two 

 years, shot out of season whenever we needed fresh meat at the camp. 

 In 1911 very little was used, and we started the season of 1912 de- 

 termined to absolutely refuse to serve venison out of season. We 

 almost succeeded, but not quite. If we had "cut it out" entirely we 

 would have been in the poorhouse this winter, and with no prospects 

 of any guests in 1913. We kept a very careful and complete record 

 in 1912, and the results below will show the reason for our financial 

 worry. 



85% of guests asked for venison. 



57% demanded venison. 



20% gave us to understand that if they didn't get venison 



they would never come again. "They got it at Blank's, 



and knew that he was a 'sport' anyway." 

 14% tried and sometimes succeeded in getting venison for 



themselves. 

 90% brought small calibre rifles or pistols. 

 20% of these shot at anything that moved. 

 30% were noticed to shoot small birds and squirrels. 

 Six men asked for partridges before season, and two of them 



shot them out of season. 



Now this was not an unusual set of guests. In fact they were the 

 best "bunch" we have ever entertained, and a gentlemanly and lady- 

 like crowd. Their lack of veneration for the game laws seemed to 

 be the only weak spot in their behavior. 



In eight years we never have had a guest protest against a viola- 

 tion of the game laws, and several of them were members of Game 

 Protective Associations in other States. 



What is the answer? 



