THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 195 



away with it. Fortunately, their tribe is decreasing, and none will 

 mourn their loss if they become totally extinct. 



During the winter months it is natural for deer to leave the high 

 mountain areas and come down into the foothills and river bottoms. 

 The feed is better, they escape the deep snows and wild animals of the 

 higher country, and conditions generally are better for getting through 

 the winter. But during the years when little attention was paid to 

 game laws, they were killed and harrassed so much by hunters when 

 they did venture down, that they have changed their habits somewhat, 

 and seldom venture below certain limits. This has been a detriment to 

 the deer aside from the numbers killed. When they are allowed to 

 come down into the river bottoms and foothills unmolested during 

 winter, escaping many adverse conditions, they will raise more young 

 and thrive better generally. If the animals that prey on them venture 

 down it gives settlers a chance to kill them without going miles back 

 into the mountains. By correcting such evils there is no reason why 

 the deer, and elk, too, need not become nearly as numerous in these 

 rough regions as they were in the early days. Legal hunting alone will 

 not deplete the deer in such a region, at least until there is far more 

 done than at present. 



There are two or three small bands of elk in this territory. They 

 were about reduced to the point of extermination at one time, but are 

 now showing an increase. Within a few more years there will be quite 

 a band if nothing happens to them. The number of pieces of elk horns 

 that have been found are a mute testimony to the hundreds that once 

 roamed over this region. 



WILD GAME IN BENTON COUNTY 



By Warden C. C. Bryan. 



The deer season opened with a rush in Benton county. Hunting 

 parties could be seen on their way toward the mountains with nearly 

 every mode of conveyance except ox-team. The greatest rush appeared 

 to be for the Alder Creek section, this being considered one of the 

 favorite hunting grounds of the county, as it is easy of access and is 

 generally known to be inhabited by a goodly number of fine bucks. 

 The Alder Creek Camp is reached by way of Philomath, following the 

 Alsea road and passing over the mountains to the Coast side. Imme- 

 diately at the foot of the mountain flows the little stream known as 

 Alder Creek. Here you will find a beautiful camping ground and by 

 following the creek north for a short distance you will find yourself in 

 the happy hunting grounds. This section is timbered with dense un- 

 derbrush, affording excellent protection for the deer. It was in this 

 locality some years ago where Frederick Layton, of North Albany, 

 was killed by accidental shooting. At the time of the accident there 

 was a large number of hunters reported to have been within almost 

 talking distance of the unfortunate man. It is evident that there was 

 a great deal of wild shooting from the number of shots reported as 

 having been fired, but only one deer was taken out of that locality 

 on that day. It was shot by Albert Woods, of Pleasant Valley. This 

 accident was such a shock to the hunters that this locality was prac- 

 tically # abandoned up to the present time. 



No great number of deer have been bagged this season owing to 

 the dry hot weather. The largest number reported killed by any one 

 party is six. These were killed in the Siuslaw country by Prof. A. B. 

 Cordley, Prof. George W. Peary and W. A. Jenson, who were accom- 



