XXV111 



RECREATION. 



SHEEP CURSE IN JACKSON'S HOLE. 



Grovont, Wyo. 

 Editor Recreation: 



It is really discouraging work to have 

 charge of the game of Wyoming. The funds 

 are insufficient, and at present utterly 

 exhausted. There is nothing to warrant me 

 in putting a sufficient force in the field to 

 prevent all violations of the law, especially 

 as we receive no assistance from our county 

 attorneys or justices of the peace. We 

 have made several arrests with sufficient 

 evidence to commit offenders. The result 

 in some cases has been a conviction and a 

 fine; this latter remitted and defendant 

 turned loose. In other cases, a jury trial, 

 when offender invariably has been found 

 not guilty. Our county officers are not 

 in favor of the present system of the dis- 

 posal of the license proceeds, and hinder 

 in every way the enforcement of the law, 

 even forbidding the county attorney to 

 give advice or to prosecute. 



I frequently receive communications 

 censuring the administration of this office, 

 but they come invariably from persons who 

 lack nerve and manhood to swear out com- 

 plaints in cases of which they claim knowl- 

 edge. I wish you would come here and 

 judge conditions for yourself. You would 

 find we are doing all that is possible with 

 the limited means at our command. 



The most serious thing that at present 

 confronts us regarding the preservation of 

 our game and forests, is the sheep ques- 

 tion. Sheep have, for several years past, 

 gradually approached this part of the 

 State, until this summer has actually seen 

 these pests within the boundaries of Jack- 

 son's Hole. The forests are burning in the 

 wake of the herds, and in some instances 

 the herders are setting fire to the timber 

 ahead of the bands, so as to obtain good 

 grazing next summer. It is a fact that all 

 kinds of game will shun a locality infested 

 with sheep. If we can not stop sheep from 

 pasturing on the timbered mountain ranges 

 in the West, we will soon need neither 

 game wardens nor game laws. The Indians 

 with their wanton killing for hides and the 

 white market and head hunters have never 

 done our game' the damage that the sheep 

 will do. The residents of this locality are 

 assuming the same attitude toward sheep 

 men, as they did in the past toward the 

 Indians ; with what success time will tell. 



I think, if all timber land could be set 

 aside as forest reserves, properly patrolled 

 by men in the federal employ, and sheep 

 positively denied the privilege of grazing 

 on such reserves, an important problem 

 regarding game preservation would be 

 solved. I will write our senators regard- 

 ing this subject. Recreation can do an 

 immense amount of good by bringing this 

 matter before the public. 



Albert Nelson. 



CHANGES IN OREGON'S GAME 



LAWS. 



After tinkering with Oregon's game laws 

 for nearly the entire session of 40 <Jay$. the 

 Legislature made some changes whicli, it 

 is believed, will result in good. The wis- 

 dom of some amendments, however, is 

 doubtful, and only time can determine 

 whether or not grave mistakes have been 

 made. These doubtful changes were made 

 to appease certain interests that threatened 

 to block game legislation entirely unless 

 their demands were acceded to. 



The sale of game is again permitted, but 

 only during the last 15 days of the open 

 season. This amendment was a response 

 to the clamor of the farmers, who have an 

 idea that they are feeding game animals 

 and birds for the sole benefit of the city 

 chaps. With the restrictions placed on the 

 sale of game, and the limit placed on 

 bags, it is not believed this concession to 

 farmers and market hunters will result in 

 any great destruction of game birds. The 

 market can only be supplied during the 

 last 15 days of the open season, when the 

 birds have learned to keep out of the way 

 of the gun. Dealers are required to keep 

 a record of all game they buy, open to the 

 inspection of the wardens. This record 

 must give date of purchase, name of the 

 seller and number of birds bought. 



The old law protected elk until 1910. 

 This was amended so as to make 1904 the 

 first open year. The amendment was 

 urged on the ground that white hunters 

 would prove the most effective check on the 

 Indians, who now are about the only vio- 

 lators of the law. 



The law in reference to deer was changed 

 by limiting the number that may be killed 

 by a hunter to 5 a year, and provision was 

 made for the tagging of hides by county 

 clerks to enable the owner to have them 

 tanned. The old law permitted the killing 

 of deer but not the tanning of deer hides. 



The new law limits the killing of ducks 

 to 100 a week and 50 a day, and in some 

 counties also prohibits their sale. Fifteen 

 days were chopped off the open season in 

 the spring. The provision of the old law 

 establishing a closed season for jack snipe 

 was cut out altogether. No changes were 

 made in the open season for other upland 

 birds. 



The new law puts trout and other game 

 fishes under the care of the game warden. 

 The minimum size is fixed at 5 inches and 

 the maximum catch at 125 a day. Salmon 

 trout, believed to be the chief destroyer of 

 salmon eggs and young salmon, are not 

 protected. 



The new law provides for a $10 non- 

 resident market hunter's tax. No change 

 is made in the salary of the game warden, 

 but his deputy allowance is increased from 

 $500 a vear to $2,500. 



Max M. Shillock, Sea Side, Ore. 



