2?v CONDITION OF ELK IN JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING. 



took both food and water and were given as much of both as they 

 wanted. 



A delay of a few days would have necessitated making the first lap 

 of the journey on wheels, then changing to sleds, and again to wheels. 

 Fortunately, however, enough snow remained in the valley to allow 

 the use of runners, and but one change was necessary. Racks cov- 

 ering the entire wagon bed were constructed, and from three to five 

 elk were placed in each load. A decided lowering of temperature, 

 accompanied by a snowstorm, made traveling over the Teton Pass 

 unpleasant and arduous, but was of distinct assistance in the suc- 

 cessful accomplishment of a task always dreaded at this season. In 

 our case the normal difficulties were magnified by the nature of our 

 loads, which, though not of excessive weight, were bulky and top- 

 heavy. Similar attempts in the past have almost invariably been 

 attended with some loss; but by constant vigilance and the hearty 

 cooperation of our assistants the mountains were crossed without 

 mishap. Near Victor, Idaho, close to the western base of the range, 

 bare ground was reached, and our loads were changed from runners 

 to wheels. This was done by lifting the wagon bed and racks by 

 means of a derrick, without removing the animals. The roads from 

 this point were in excellent condition, and the completion of the trip 

 was merely a matter of time. 



Upon our arrival at St. Anthony, arrangements were made at once 

 for shipping the animals. The National Bison Range at Ravalli, 

 Mont., and the Wichita Game Preserve in Oklahoma had been 

 selected as the places to be supplied, and the lot was divided between 

 them. It is gratifying to report that the animals in both shipments 

 reached their destinations in excellent condition and that the project 

 of reestablishing the species in these depleted localities has been 

 successfully inaugurated. 



WINTER REFUGE FOR ELK. 



The establishment of a winter refuge, where the feed can be pre- 

 served by excluding stock during the summer, is essential for the 

 proper protection of the elk. Such a refuge should be of considerable 

 size, should be situated in a valley which the elk naturally seek, and 

 should comprise pasture lands, as well as meadows which will produce 

 hay for feeding the animals after they have exhausted the available 

 forage. An ideal situation would include also a tract of somewhat 

 elevated land, to which the animals could retire for rest. 



In 1906, when increasing settlement and the attendant grazing of 

 the mountain parks began to affect the welfare of the wintering herds 

 of elk, Mr. D. C. Nowiin, then State game warden, suggested the 

 setting aside of an area including a large part of the valley of the 

 Gros Ventre River for the exclusive use of the elk and other game. 

 Later, in his annual report for 1908, he outlined the proposed area, 



