Adirondack Game Report for ifye 



^ear ljol 



Hox. D. C. Middletox, Forest, Fish and Game Commissioner: 



SIR. — In presenting the compilation showing the condition of the more 

 important wild animals of the woods, it is a satisfaction to note 

 again the fact that, under the prevailing laws, there is a continuation 

 of conditions satisfactory to the great mass of sportsmen. Recent evidence 

 to this effect was given at the annual meeting of the Black River Fish and 

 Game Protective Association, in December, when the Secretary, Mr. W. E. 

 Wolcott, said in his report: 



"Men who are familiar with the Adirondack region, and have had 

 long experience in deer hunting agree that since jacking and hounding were 

 abolished there has been a marked increase in the number of cervine animals ; 

 and that, notwithstanding the fact that the ranks of the hunters have been 

 receiving large accessions annually, there are more deer in the woods now 

 than there were twenty years ago." 



There is, however, no question but that the hunters had a poor season 



in the Adirondacks as well as in the Maine woods in 1904. The leaves were 



late in falling, there was little rain or snow to wet them down or cover them 



after the trees and brush were bare, and, altogether, natural conditions did 



not favor good shooting. It is also a fact that many sportsmen were detained 



from their annual pastime by their interest in the political work of the 



campaign, and did not spend the usual number of days in the deer forest. 



Nevertheless the reports of shipments made from various Adirondack 



points by the American and National Express Companies show that the 



hunters had fairly good luck in spite of unusual disadvantages. The 



returns for the past five seasons are as follows : 



245 



