THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 155 
deer hunter and had killed lots of deer in Southern Oregon. He 
knew the season was closed on deer, but was in such a hurry to get 
a shot at it that he failed to notice the difference in the markings of 
a Japanese deer and the Oregon deer. 
After the hard time our game has had getting through the winter 
it is up to every sportsman to do everything he can to protect them 
himself and also do everything he can to induce others to protect them 
as well. 
WHY ARE MOUNTAIN QUAIL GETTING 
SCARCE? 
Why are the Mountain Quail getting scarce in the foothills of 
Southern Oregon? I have been a resident of Roseburg for the past 
30 years and have noticed the Mountain Quail are getting scarcer 
every year, and I do not think that it is on account of the hunters. 
I will give a few views of my own in regard to the extermination 
of these birds. I have found quail in the hills dead that were covered 
with little red mites that could have been the cause of their death. 
Not only the old birds, but also a young brood just hatched. I also 
think that the woodrat and skunk (which are very plentiful in this 
section) destroy the nests and catch the young at night. 
The Blue Jays are very plentiful and will rob and destroy the 
nests and should be shot whenever found. I believe this to be a 
question that if given a study will lead to good results, and I would 
like to have the sportsmen give this matter a thought and would 
like to hear from them in the next issue of The Sportsman. 
J. H. SYKES, 
Deputy Game Warden. 
BOUNTIES PAID IN HARNEY COUNTY 
FOR PREDATORY ANIMALS 
It might be of some interest to the readers of The Oregon Sports- 
man to learn something about the bounties paid out in this county for 
the past year. Since the rabbit bounty went into effect January 1, 
1915, there has been brought to the Harney County court house 
1,029,182 rabbit scalps for bounty collection amounting to $51,459.10. 
This amount was paid out to the homesteaders of this county. Many 
of the rabbit hunters made good wages. The cheapest way of killing 
the rabbits is by snares made of* pliable copper wire set on rabbit 
trails. The majority of the hunters use .22 rifles, the average shot 
gets about 30 per cent of rabbits to 100 shots. 
Predatory animals presented and bounty paid in Harney County 
from March 1, 1915, to March 1, 1916, as follows: Coyotes, 5,635, bob- 
cats, 1,087; cougars, 2; a total of 6,724. Amount paid out on above 
