The Mule-deer 63 



think most of us become less keen about that 

 part of the hunt which consists in the killing. 

 I know that as far as I am concerned I have 

 long gone past the stage when the chief end of 

 a hunting trip was the bag. One or two bucks, 

 or enough grouse and trout to keep the camp 

 supplied, will furnish all the sport necessary to 

 give zest and point to a trip in the wilderness. 

 When hunters proceed on such a plan they do 

 practically no damage to the game. Those who 

 are not willing to act along these lines of their 

 own free will, should be made to by the state. 

 The people of Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado, 

 and of the states near by, can do a real service, 

 primarily to themselves, but secondarily to others 

 also, by framing and executing laws which will 

 keep these noble deer as permanent denizens of 

 their lofty mountains and beautiful valleys. There 

 are other things much more important than game 

 laws ; but it will be a great mistake to imagine 

 because until recently in Europe game laws have 

 been administered in the selfish interest of one 

 class and against the interest of the people as a 

 whole, that here in this country, and under our 

 institutions, they would not be beneficial to all 

 our people. So far from game laws being in the 

 interest of the few, they are emphatically in the 

 interest of the many. The very rich man can 

 stock a private game preserve, or journey afar off 



