THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 



that if there were two or three males placed with them this spring it would 

 insure the establishment of this colony. Large flocks of mountain and 

 valley quail are scattered about over the ranch and during the heavy snow& 

 in the early part of the winter were fed by Mr. F. H. Clerf, owner of the 

 ranch. We found about two thousand mallard ducks and a few Canada 

 geese wintering along the lower end of the Alvord ranch, bordering the 

 Alvord desert, where there are a number of large, open ponds. 



Two cow elk, remnant of the Devine herd, were seen on the foothills 

 back of the ranch. They are in excellent condition and were a male 

 put with them I see no reason why a herd could not be built up at this 

 place. The range is ideal and Mr. Clerf offers them protection. 



Some six or eight miles to the east of Mann Lake is a group of hills 

 upon which but little, if any, snow lies during the winter. At their eastern 

 base are a number of hot springs and it is claimed this was once the winter 

 range of the mountain sheep. We were unable to locate any of these 

 animals, but did find a few deer and antelope on the western slope. We 

 were informed that about ten head of mountain sheep were seen two or 

 three years ago on Sheephead mountain, ten or fifteen miles to the northeast, 

 but our time being limited, we could not extend our search to that region. 



Along the foothills of the Steens, near Wild Horse, we found the feed 

 good and many deer wintering. From this point, we climbed to the tops 

 of several high peaks still in the hope of finding mountain sheep, but were 

 unable to sight any, though I feel confident a few still inhabit this portion 

 of the Steens. 



At the W. D. Huffman ranch and at other places in the Wild Horse 

 section, quail are often fed during severe weather. 



In the valley near Serrano Point are hundreds of acres of land 

 covered more or less with a dense growth of buck brush, a shrub resembling 

 somewhat the wild mahogany, which is laden with berries during late 

 summer and fall, some of which were still clinging to the bushes at the 

 time of our visit; furnishing an abundance of food for the quail and other 

 birds that abound there. These berries are tart and make an excellent 

 jelly. In these thickets the deer rear their young, but at this season of 

 the year no deer are to be found there. 



Many persons contend that deer from the Steens mountains cross the 

 Alvord desert and winter in the low hills to the east of the White Horse 

 ranch, but we were unable to locate any considerable number there. While 

 riding that range we noted a few wolf tracks. 



Quantities of grain are now being raised in the vicinity of Trout creek, 

 and I believe that to be a suitable place for the planting of the Chinese 

 pheasant and bobwhite quail. Quite a few California quail and a few 

 deer are to be found on the Trout creek ranch. Trout creek itself, once 

 noted for being one of the best trout streams of southeastern Oregon, was 

 visited by a waterspout last summer and, like the Blitzen river, was gutted 

 the entire length and the majority of the fish destroyed. 



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