Oct. 24, 1896.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
^27 
several feeding at the shore. The deer must have known 
that some one of their number must be sacrificed that 
night, for we had been out on the lake only about twenty 
minutes when by the shore we saw our game, and one 
shot from my gun won me my first deer. Upon investi- 
gation we found a small doe, and concluded that the 
smallest one of the herd had been given simply to appease 
my wrath. We returned to camp at once and informed 
the sleepy occupants that now honors were to be divided. 
The remainder of our stay was spent in looking for a 
buck; but we as well as about fifty other sportsmen were 
disappointed, though one was seen near the station in 
daylight. 
We broke camp on the 17 th and reluctantly started for 
home, well satisfied that Big Moose Lake is an ideal place 
for entire rest and comfort. As for game, one could not 
ask for better luck at shooting deer, as there were only 
five deer shot by people on or near our lake, and we had 
the honor of capturing two of them. We all returned 
feeling thoroughly rested, and found our good clothes 
(which we had left at home) entirely too small for us. 
B. V. Covert. 
LOCKPOET, N. Y. 
QUAIL NETTING IN INDIAN TERRITORY. 
Loco, I. T., Oct. 12. — Editor Forest and Stream: I have 
lived three years in the Indian Territory, and my chief 
motive for moving in here was the abundajice of game. 
Since I have been here I have enjoyed the finest shooting 
Iliave ever had. I have never yet gone out for game 
and returned without, and although I might have made 
good wages by shooting for market, I have never yet sold 
a head of game of any kind. True, the price of what I 
might have sold at various times would have been more 
than acceptable had not pot-hunting always appeared to 
me too heinous for serious contemplation. 
Now, however, there seems to be quite a different sen- 
timent from what I have always entertained existing, not 
only in my mind, but also in those of most of my shooting 
brothers hereabouts. Market shooting and netting 
seems to be the order of the day — very largely the latter. 
I know of nets that have been running steadily for six 
weeks, I also know of many more who contemplate 
netting a little later in the season. As every one ac- 
quainted with the Indian Territory knows, quail are our 
chief game. The country from end to end is a veritable 
breeding ground for quail. They abound by millions, 
and always have, but they cannot endure this strain. 
The netter is a personage entirely void of the element of 
sportsmanship. He cares nothing for the devastation he is 
working, but day by day follows the creeks and ravines, 
sweeping up covey after covey, never dreaming of liber- 
ating a pair, as used to be the custom when an entire 
flock was captured. 
On the other hand, the shooter only kills about one-half 
of a flock before they become so badly scattered that he 
begins to look for another flock. Then, too, netters tell 
me that when a covey is once properly "shot up" it is 
next to impossible to net them. 
Now, while I scorn market shooting, it seems to me 
that what we need is more shooters, of the two evils 
choosing the least, 
I have always understood that it was a violation of 
federal law to ship game, but I consulted an attorney a 
few days since, and his counsel was that there was no 
statutes existing to prevent either hunters or commission 
merchants from shipping game after Oct, 1. 
Will you please enlighten me through your most excel- 
lent journal if this is the truly the case? L. D. W. 
[The only law given in the Oame Laws in Brie/ relative 
to Indian Territory game is this: Revised Statutes of 
the United States, 1878.— Sec. 2137. Every person, other 
than an Indian, who, within the limits of any tribe with 
whom the United States has existing treaties, hunts cr 
traps, or takes and destroys any peltries or game, except 
for subsistence in the Indian country, shall forfeit all the 
traps, guns and ammunition in his possession used or 
procured to be used for that purpose, and all peltries so 
taken; and shall be liable in addition to a penalty of $500.] 
CHICAGO AND THE WEST. 
Extension of the Yellowstone Park. 
Chicago, 111,, Sept. 11, — Mr. John F. Cowan, a prominent 
sportsman and business man of Montana, long identified 
with the fortunes of the giant city of Butte, Mont. , is a 
man whose words are entitled to respect. Mr. Cowan is 
thoroughly conversant with every detail of the environ- 
ments of the Yellowstone National Park, and has for a 
long time been well advised in regard to the execrable 
destruction of the Park big game, which has been so often 
described in the columns of Forest and Stream, It is 
his belief that the natural surroundings of tbe Park and 
the adjacent big game country are such that the game of 
that great region can best be protected by an enlargement 
of the boundaries of the Park, so that the lattershall include 
also the great hunting grounds of the Henry's Lake and 
Jackson's Hole country. Such a movement is not at first 
sight to be called impractical, and Mr. Cowan is a man of 
actions rather than of words himself. An act such as he 
advocates in his appended letter, which is given in full, 
would at once create a vigorous opposition upon its first 
promotion. It would shut out many himting parties 
from a favorite ground, and excite the wrath of many- 
local game exterminators. It would, in short, consoli- 
date the harpy element which has always longed to break 
down the barriers of the Park even as they now stand. 
But the movement itself is not impossible of success. 
What its success would mean can be best understood 
by sportsmen whose experience, in common with that 
of members of the Forest and Stream, has taught the 
wealth of the country mentioned and the reckless squan- 
dering of that wealth which has been steadily going on. 
It is a singular fact that Yellowstone Park has had its 
most.earnest champions in the East. Now comes intelli- 
gent and thoughtful representation of the actual state of 
affairs from a man who lives almost at the gate of the 
Park, who is thoroughly well posted on the condition of 
the game supply in the Park and the adjoining section-^J 
and who, himself a conservative and careful businesd 
man, is of the belief that the Park should not only be 
guarded, but enlarged. He asks the aid of Forest and 
Stream thereto. Should it come to pass that Mr. Cowan 
and his friends, aided as might be by Forest and Stream, 
should really be able to bring about this enlargement of 
the National Park, adding to it the great game grounds of 
which he makes mention, it would be an achievement so 
considerable as to give cause to every one concerned 
therewith to look back upon it with a satisfaction not to 
be measured with that consequent upon ordinary success- 
es in affairs. It would seem to be something to be proud 
of for a decade, for a generation, and something whose 
benefits would accrue compoundly to coming generations 
perhaps more provident than this. Mr. Cowan's letter 
follows: 
"Office of Phcenix Electric Company. Room 1, Ows- 
ley Building, Butte, Mont., Aug. 2a.— Having just re- 
turned from a tour of the Yellowstone National Park, I 
thought I would write you regarding a few things which 
suggested themselves to me while up there. You have been 
through the Park and are as well posted as any one as to 
its advantages as a game country. The sections south- 
west of the Park are really bettsr game countries than 
the Park itself, as there is where most of the game win- 
ters. You will remember that I told you last June when 
I was in Chicago that I thought the herd of buffalo in the 
Park was practically wiped out. While up there I made 
inquiry of the soldiers as to the size of the herd, and they 
say there are only twelve of them ,left. This war of ex- 
termination has been waged by a band of game pirates 
who live along the boundary of the Park. I believe if the 
matter is taken hold of in earnest that Congress could be 
induced to take into the boundaries of the Park both the 
Henry's Lake and Jackson's Hole countries. This would 
afford the game a winter range, and would put a stop to 
the catching of elk in the deep snows of winter. There 
would be no great expense, too, in taking in both of those 
sections, as there are not more than five or six ranches 
located on Henry's Lake, and they are of no great value. 
The owners live off of the Park tourists and what game 
they can kill. Jackson's Hole, I am informed, is in about 
the same condition. They naturally belong to the Park, 
and the sooner they are put under Government control 
the better for our large game. 
"The good which would be done toward permanently 
preserving our large game by such an extension of the 
boundaries of the Park can hardly be estimated. I have 
traveled through the mountains north and west of the 
Park, and the hunters universally through that section 
go near the boundaries of the Park when they want to 
kill game. We have all seen the game disappear so rap- 
idly that no argument is necessary to convince any one 
of the necessity of game protection. By this move I 
think that the cause of protection would be benefited 
more than by anything we could do. It would add a vast 
area to the Park and give the game a chance to live 
through the hard winters. It would do away with the 
practice of chasing elk down in the deep snows, as all of 
that section where they are caught would then be under 
Government control. 
"If Forest and Stream would take this cause up and 
get the real sportsmen throughout the country interested 
in it, we could succeed in getting Congress to pass such a 
hiU as we want. I can count on the assistance of our 
own representatives in Congress, and will take lihe mat- 
ter up with those from' Idaho, Utah and Wyoming, if 
you favor such a move. Jno. F. Cowan." 
Live Western Wardans. 
Forest and Stream prints this week the portrait of Mr. 
George E. Bowers, State Game Warden of North Dakota, 
a man eminently qualified to be added to the list of live 
Western wardens who have been given mention in these 
STATE QAUB WABDBK QUO. E. BOWBRS, HORm DAKOTA, 
columns. Mr. Bowers resides at Fargo, N. D., where he 
has long been known as an enthusiastic sportsman of the 
highest type, and devoted to the protective side of sports- 
manship. He is a Western man in every sense of the 
word. He was born in Michigan and at an early age 
moved to Iowa, where he lived in the years when game 
was abundant. When he left Iowa, in the year of 1880, 
to move to his present home, the game was very scarce 
where once it had been so plentiful, and this decrease 
gave Mr. Bowers reason for thought. He writes that 
when he came to Fargo there was very much more game 
in that region than there is to-day, and he says that he 
can plainly see it decreasing year by year there, as it did 
in Iowa and Michigan. Mr. Bowers only receivedhis ap- 
pointment as warden this spring, but is already entering 
ardently into the duties of his office. He will not have 
so much to do untU. toward the middle of summer, when 
the violators of the grouse law begin their work. The 
writer has had the pleasure of shooting in the field with 
Mr. Bowers and is sure of his earnest desire and his per- 
sonal ability and fitness to stop illegal and destructive 
shooting and fishing in his State. With proper enforce- 
ment of the game laws of Dakota, that great storehouse of 
game would offer sport to residents and vieitors for years 
to come, and to this end Forest and Stream will surely 
wish Mr. Bowers all succeaa in his work. 
Early Snow in Cliicago. 
Chicago, 111., Oct. 17.— Without any warning or pre- 
monitory symptoms, snow began faUtng in Chicago this 
morning and has continued to fall throughout the greater 
part of the day. It is clammy and moist, and where it 
came from no one can tell, as it was not due here for 
nearly thirty days. This may be taken as ending the 
snipe season and beginning the duck season. There 
should be a good flight of birdsto-day and to-morrow, and 
one would expect to hear of good bags on those marshes 
which still offer occasional shooting. So far we have had 
no wildfowl shooting of any consequence anywhere in 
this vicinity this fall. Should the storm of to-day have 
driven the birds down from the North, and should there 
be a clear and warmer spell following this cold freak 
here, as is very likely to be the case, the result may be 
that the birds will hang about this latitude for a time and 
offer a little shooting — a state of affairs much to be 
wished, for times have been very dull among the duck 
shooters hereabouts for some time. 
Confusion of Wisconsin Deer Law. ^ 
There is a kettle of fish up in Wisconsin just now over 
the deer shooting law, it being claimed that the recent 
decision of the Wisconsin Supreme Court has invalidated 
the game laws of 1895. and left standing only such laws 
as were valid before 1895, This means that the statutes 
of 1893 govern in Wisconsin, unless the efforts of the sup- 
porters of the Buckstaff law for a rehearing be successful, 
in which case the law of 1895 might possibly be again 
made valid, Game Warden J. F. EUarson takes the 
ground that the law of 1893 is now in force, and under 
that law the deer hunting dates were Oct. 1 to Oct. 30, 
instead of Nov, 1 to Nov, 21. The decision, coming as it 
does this week after half the month of October has passed, 
has been an involuntary protective agency, for half the 
open season was gone before anyone knew it was so short- 
ened. Yesterday's dispatches told of great commotion 
among the Wisconsin deer shooters, and it is said that 
over fifty deer hunters went out from the city of Ashland 
alone for the fall hunt. There will be a swarm in the 
woods this coming week, and upper Wisconsin will be a 
good place to stay away from till the smoke of battle 
clears away a bit. 
The attorney-general of Wisconsin yesterday wired the 
representative of the Buokstaff law, Col, Harshaw, of 
Oshkosh, that the court had granted a rehearing. It is 
diflicult to tell how soon this may be gotten through 
with, and meantime the public must be uncertain just 
what the limitations are on Wisconsin deer this fall. Of 
course it is not safe to shoot after Oct. 30, for if the old 
law does hold it is as valid as any. If it does not hold 
the public may know of it just about the time when it is 
too late to make any difference. There is no real cause 
for regret over this action of the court, for the shorter a 
deer season is the better it is in these days. Whichever 
way the law may go, it is quite sure there will be plenty 
of deer killed. 
About Town. 
Mr. C. E. Willard, of the Colts Co., of Hartford, Conn., 
is in the city this week on his Western trip for the firm. 
He says business is fair. Mr. Willard is in better health 
than for years. 
Mr. O. von Lengerke, of this city, was out last Satur- 
day and bagged twenty-three snipe and two woodcock at 
the favorite grounds at Koutts, Ind., after riding over a 
great deal of country. 
Mr. O. H, Hampton, of Indiana, well known in the 
Forest and Stream columns, has gone home to his old 
shooting grounds for a time and expects to be busy having 
a good time. 
Mr. W. L. Wells, of Chicago, mentioned as having gone 
to Momence, III, , on the Kankakee River, for a snipe hunt, 
reports that he himself and party bagged ninety-seven 
birds, of which sixty-eight were jacksnipe. Mr. Wells, 
who is an artist by profession, is very fond of marsh 
shooting, and in depicting shooting scenes among the 
wildfowl has no superior in the country. He paints 
whereof he knows. 
From Dakota. 
Advices just at hand from the Devil's Lake country of 
North Dakota state that the geese are in by thousands. 
The Southern migration begins early this fall. Ducks are 
already far to the south of here and even in Texas. The 
flight seems much scattered this fall. E, Hough. 
1306 BoYOE Building, Chicago. 
Maryland Quail and Ducks. 
Stockton, Worcester County, Md., Oct. 10. — We were 
all pleased here with our last fall's quail shooting, which 
was the finest in years. This year it is even better. I 
know already of many more coveys on the same ground 
in the early morning. It is almost one continuous whistle 
from any direction you may choose to turn. I have 
asked friends from all over the county how the bird sup- 
ply is with you? The reply is always, "Plenty, plenty; 
come over and bring your friends." All the coveys I 
have flushed are large ones, with big strong birds that 
make a good flight. I had several here shooting last fall 
who had been to North Carolina. They pronounced our 
birds larger and stronger on the wing. There is no doubt 
we are to have a great quail season. 
Last year we had very little grass on the flats, but this 
year it is up to the top of the water at low tide, so heavy 
that it keeps these big stretches of water almost as flat as 
mill ponds. We look for large flights of geese, brant, 
redheads and bluebills, and if feed is any indication of 
their movements, expect to have good shooting all winter. 
There are numbers of black ducks now in the ponds on 
the marshes and some few shell ducks flying out in the 
bay. Some few bay birds still here. My son and a friend 
killed over 100 on the mai'sh one morning last week, all 
yeUowshanks and graybacks. O. D. Foulks. 
Game Laws la Brief. 
The Game Laws in Brief, current edition^ sold everywliere, has 
new game and fish laws for more than thirty of the States. It covers 
tb|a entire country, ia carefully prepared, and gives all that shootero 
and anglers reauire. See advertisement. 
