THE GAME BREEDER 



139 



state. The last figures which were re- 

 ceived from there and which were com- 

 piled after a great deal of investigation, 

 as well as painstaking observations, in- 

 dicate that there are now ranging on this 

 tract of land one hundred and fifty elk, 

 twenty-five hundred deer, a great many 

 bear and several thousand turkey. This 

 ranch is posted against all trespassers, as 

 well as being under the observation of 

 two or three paid game wardens em- 

 ployed by the Bartlett Ranch. 



Another very extensive tract is the 

 Springer Ranch, which is the refuge for 

 a large number of deer, bear, turkey, etc. 

 This concern also employs a paid man 

 to protect their game interests. 



The George Webster Ranch also con- 

 taining a very large acreage is well 

 stocked with elk, deer, bear and turkey. 



The Stern Land and Cattle Company's 

 holdings are also large and very well 

 stocked. 



Likewise the same may be said of the 

 William H. Smith Ranch near Brilliant, 

 New Mexico. 



These five large cattle ranches adjoin 

 one another and probably cover 750,000 

 acres or more, therefore it can be seen 

 that it is nothing less than an immense 

 game preserve, composed of high, rough 

 and heavily timbered mountains, low 

 rolling foot hills, and hundreds of small 

 well watered valleys. The topographical 

 arrangement is indeed excellent, and the 

 climatic conditions certainly cannot be 

 surpassed, therefore it can only be said 

 that it is an ideal game preserve. 



The Bell Ranch of San Miguel Coun- 

 ty is also another large and well pro- 

 tected game preserve. On their range 

 may be found today what is probably 

 the largest single herd of antelope in 

 this country, numbering between five an<?. 

 six hundred head. Their game reports 

 also indicate that approximately 3,500 

 deer are ranging within their fence. 



George A. Fowler of Union County 

 also controls a game preserve of 60,000 

 acres, on which a great number of deer, 

 some antelope, and other small game now 



ranges, and of which he is taking ex- 

 ceedingly good care. 



Messrs. McNary and Lee, as well as 

 Cadwallador and Harvey, owners of 

 large tracts of cattle range under fence 

 on the crest of the Sacramento moun- 

 tains, have also been recently granted 

 game preserve licenses and have taken 

 active steps to increase the game supply 

 of that section by the proper policing 

 of their large holdings from poachers. A 

 further and chief reason why these large 

 land holders and cattle owners have ta- 

 ken advantage of the game preserve law 

 is the fact that in this manner they have 

 been able to protect their cattle from be- 

 ing shot by careless hunters and. inexpe- 

 rienced guides. It has also placed them in 

 a position whereby they could protect 

 their pastures and timber from destruc- 

 tion by fire generally caused by reckless 

 campers. I believe that all fair minded 

 people will agree that these "game pro- 

 tectionists'' are entitled to this protec- 

 tion. 



A Wise Remark. 



Air. MacVicar made a wise remark 

 when he said, "Where there is free shoot- 

 ing it usually means no shooting at all." 

 It is true, however, that where game 

 farms and game shooting clubs are nu- 

 merous often there is some very good 

 free shooting in the neighborhood. Mr. 

 Rouault pointed this out in his report as 

 state game officer. We became convert- 

 ed to the "more game and fewer game 

 laws" plan when we found some free 

 shooting quite near New York. 



We know many places where the 

 sportsmen can shoot many more than one 

 quail for a dollar and they often take a 

 few ruffed grouse and rabbits for good 

 measure. This can be done in the song 

 bird states if those who wish to have 

 inexpensive quail shooting be permitted 

 to do so. It is unfortunate that state 

 officers are obliged to advise closed sea- 

 sons as they do in their annual reports. 



