THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 139 
FARMERS INTERESTED IN GAME 
PROTECTION 
LaGrande, Oregon, March 7, 1916. 
Editor Sportsman: Thinking that a few words to say in praise 
of the farmers of our county for the interest they took in protecting 
the game birds of this county the past winter, I will say that they 
liberally furnished wheat and fed the birds over this valley, and 
through their kindness we lost very few Chinese pheasants. As to 
quails, we have lost a great many, for they will not leave the brush 
along the creeks the same as the pheasants. 
I know of farmers who took wheat and placed it in small piles 
along the creek, and saved a great many in so doing. I have telephoned 
different farmers and asked them how the birds were geiting along. 
This is the answer I received in many cases: “All right, John; we are 
looking after them, and feeding from seventy-five to one hundred 
every day.” That sounded good to me. 
The farmers have willingly fed the birds this winter, but have 
complained of the would-be sportsman coming out a few days before the 
season opens and killing them off, thereby lessening the opportunity 
of those who are observant of the law. I see where they are right, 
and am frank in saying that I do not believe there is a drop of sports- 
man’s blood in the man who will disregard the law intentionally. 
I believe the farmers are with us, as they have shown it this winter 
by protecting the birds the way they have. If our hunters and fisher- 
_ men would ask permission to hunt or fish upon the premises instead of 
climbing over the fences and tramping over their crops, there would 
be less dissatisfaction among the farmers. 
I have heard a number of farmers express themselves in that way, 
and no honest sportsman would dispute the fact, inasmuch as they 
would not contend with it themselves. 
I believe in educating the people and being lenient with all, but 
I do not believe in letting sympathy overcome good judgment; mean- 
ing by this, that should a person willingly violate the game laws, I 
believe that they should be prosecuted, but should it be done unknow- 
ingly, then I would recommend leniency, provided I am satisfied they 
are telling the truth. It is not prosecution or the number of arrests 
I can make, but the protection of the fish and game in my county that 
I desire. Every person regulates his own treatment by his observance 
of the fish and game laws. Should he insist on violating the law he is 
to blame and not the officer making the arrest. 
I believe when an officer makes an arrest he should turn both the 
defendant and evidence over to the Court and let them handle the case. 
I believe that an officer should do his duty regardless of friend or foe. 
I hope there will be no game law violated in my district this com- 
ing year. I do not care for notoriety, but simply to do my duty. 
We have about seventy-five elk in my county. Mr. Tuttle, of Sum- 
merville, reported that he saw 35 in one band in on the Minam east of 
the Cove a few days ago, and they looked like they were in good shape. 
There is a nice bunch on the head of Beaver creek. 
I think we are going to have good fishing this season, as we are 
going to have lots of water. There is much snow in the mountains. 
