14, 1903.J 
FOREST AND STREAM 
Montana Fish and Game Interests* 
The semi-annual report of the Montana State Game 
and Fish Warden, W. F. Scott, for the term_ from June 
to December, 1902, contains an amplification of the 
paper read by Mr. Scott before the Wardens' con- 
vention last summer, and printed in our columns, set- 
ting forth in an intelligent and convincing way the 
great value of fish and game as natural resources de- 
manding efficient protection. Mr. Scott's summary of 
the work of his department for the first year is a testi- 
mony to his own earnestness and ability in office, and 
reflects credit upon him and upon the State. The re- 
port is profusely illustrated with pictures of Montana 
scenery, game country and dead game. We quote 
the warden's story of the work of the department: 
Upon assuming the duties of this office on April i, 
1901, I had no easy task before me. The office had 
just been created by the Legislature, and as I had no 
predecessor's footprints to guide me, nor his records 
or system to go by, I had many obstacles to surmount 
which under any other conditions would not have ex- 
isted. Nor were these the worst with which I had to 
contend, for I found a general ignorance and disre- 
gard of the game laws and public sentiment somewliat 
arrayed against me. The bill provided for the division 
of the State into game and fish districts, and for the 
appointment of not less than five nor more than eight 
deputies, one to be stationed in each district and whose 
salary should be $100 per month in full of all services 
and expenses incurred while traveling in their districts. 
The two questions, "districts" and "appointments," ne- 
cessitated careful consideration and study, and con- 
sumed a great deal of time to settle them as nearly sat- 
isfactorily as possible, for while the law on its face 
seemed fair enough, the vast area- of the State was 
in all probability overlooked, Thus, as the law read, 
the State, with its 146,850 square miles, made it neces- 
sary for me, even though I appointed the maximum 
number of deputies, to assign each an average district 
of 18,606 square miles, over which he must patrol and 
preside whenever needed or sent, receiving therefor, in 
full for all services and expenses the small sum of $100 
per month. It is true, though, with all the above un- 
satisfactory conditions, I had nearly 1,000 applications 
for the eight appointments and several thousand letters 
of endorsement. This was probably due to the fact that 
they did not realize what work and traveling would 
be required of them, but those appointed are now fully 
aware of these conditions, for in a great many instances 
their allowance is almost taken up by traveling ex- 
penses, one deputy reporting that in one month he 
spent all but $9.40 of his salary for traveling. The 
deputies are not allowed the fees for the service of 
warrants, or mileage for themselves or prisoner when 
making arests as are sheriffs and constables, and in not 
a few instances they have been obliged to stand the 
expense of bringing a prisoner from some out of the 
way place. 
There were many points considered in laymg out the 
districts, but the principal points were, the amount of 
game in the section, the physical geography and the 
railroad facilities, thereby giving the easiest access to 
the greatest part of the district and assurmg quick 
and efficient service from the district deputy as well as 
making his expenses as light as possible. 
I made the districts as follows: 
No. 1, Flathead and Teton comities. 
No. 2, Choteau, Valley and Dawson counties. 
No. 3, Missoula, Ravalli and Granite counties. 
No. 4, Deer Lodge, Powell, and Lewis and Clai-ke counties. 
No] 5! Meagher, Cascade and Fergus counties. 
No 6. Beaverhead, Madison, Silver Bow, and Jefferson counties. 
No. 7' Gallatin Park, Sweet Grass and Broadwater counties. 
No. S, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud and Custer counties. 
T appointed the following gentlemen as Deputy State 
Game and Fish Wardens : 
No. 1, J. H. Boucher, Altyn, Teton county. 
No. 2, Taylor B. Greene, Malta, Valley county. 
No. 3, A. E. Higgins, Missoula, Missoula county. 
No. 4, Samuel Scott, Deer Lodge, Powell county. 
No. 5. John H. Hall, Great Falls, Cascade county. 
No. 6, Henry Avare, Butte, Silver Bow county. 
No. 7, Henry Ferguson, Bozeman, Gallatin county. 
No. 8, Thos. T. Thompson, Miles City, Custer county. 
(Thos. T. Thompson, deputy for District No. 8, and 
located at Miles City, resigned on Sept. 18, 1901, and 
Charles L. Smith, of Billings, appointed in his stead.) 
Since the creation of this office eighteen months ago 
more arrests and successful prosecutions for game vio- 
lations have been made than in the whole previous 
history of this territory and State. The work of this 
office or the benefits derived therefrom can by no means 
be measured by the court's record alone. _ Much more 
has been done in the prevention of violations and the 
education of the people, of which no record or esti- 
mate can be made. Heretofore the game laws were 
considered dead letters, and public sentiment was 
against their enforcement, but it is most pleasant and 
gratifying for me to report the revolution that has 
taken place in the last year regarding this proposition, 
and that the people are now much in_ sjonpathy with 
the cause and are assisting us greatly in our work. 
Through the hearty co-operation of Major John 
Pitcher, acting superintendent of the Yellowstone Na- 
tional Park, much able assistance has been rendered me 
by his scouts. These men I have appointed as special 
deputies, to act without pay, and they have done much 
efficient work along the borders of the Park. I will 
call your attention here to the following letter: 
Department of the Interior, Yellowstone National Park. 
Yellowstone Park, Oct. 25, 1902.— Mr. W. F. Scott, State Game 
and Fish Warden, Helena, Montana; Dear Sir— I am greatly 
indebted to vou for the prompt and thorough way in which you 
have at all tunes co-operated with me in our efforts to protect the 
game in the Yellowstone National Park. The results have been 
very satisfactory, and up to the present time I do not believe there 
has been a single case 0* Beaching in the Park along the Mon- 
tana line. , . , , 
From the reports of parties who have been hunting and killmg 
game outside of our line, and in accordance wilh the laws of your 
State, I am of the opinion that the game in the State of Montana 
is being well protected, a fact that all true sportsmen will be de- 
lighted to know. 
I am glad to say that a very large majority of the people now 
living in the vicinity of the Park are beginning to take an interest 
in the matter of game protection, both in and out of the Park, 
and are also beginning to realize the fact that whatever work we 
may do in this line, is intended for their benefit, as no game can 
Killed in the Pstrk, ^n^ tl^e surplus all jfoes out into the neiah- 
boring States, where it can be hunted and killed in accordance 
with the laws of those States. Yours very truly, 
Jno. Pitcher, 
Major 6th Cavalry, Acting Superintendent. 
It is marvelous what an effect a few successful prose- 
cutions will have on a community which has heretofore 
borne the reputation of paying no attention to the 
game laws. In many cases the persons who respected 
the laws the least are now assisting us greatly in their 
enforcement. 
The hide, head and market hunters have been prac- 
tically driven out of the business by the enforcement 
of the laws, and the results are very evident at the 
present time. Large game has been more plentiful this 
season than in the lo years last past. Deer and elk 
have been found in large numbers in places where they 
have not been seen for years. In many instances this 
season thej^ have been killed within a few miles of 
town, and it is not unusual to hear of them being seen 
while driving along the country roads and in some 
cases even in the gardens close to the farmhouses. So 
numerous are they this year that almost every hunter 
who went out has returned with a good kill and re- 
ports game plentiful everywhere. Only a few days ago 
Miss Josie Talbott, a young society lady of Columbia 
Falls, killed a deer on the river bank in front of their 
beautiful residence. Mrs. G. H. Stoiber, of Silverton, 
Colorado, while on a hunt in this State last October, 
killed a fine bull elk and two brown bears, one a very 
large specimen. This lady also enjoys the distinction 
of being the first woman to take out a non-resident 
hunter's license in this State. 
The bountiful supply of game this season can be 
STATE WARDEN W. F. SCOTT. 
directly attributed to the protection it has received by 
the rigid enforcement of the laws. 
The greatest large game sections of the State are the 
extreme northwestern and southwestern parts, but more 
especially the former, as almost every species of native 
North American game is still to be found there. This 
section is composed of the whole of Flathead, portions 
of Teton, Powell and Lewis and Clarke counties. The 
other section is that which is adjacent to and borders on 
the National Park, and is made up of portions of Galla- 
tin, Madison, Park, Sweet Grass and Carbon counties. 
Both of these sections are sadly in need of more depu- 
ties to patrol them. One can do but very little of this 
work owing to the rough and unsettled conditions which 
compels the use of pack-horses and makes traveling slow 
and laborious. The other west and middle west counties 
have a very liberal allowance of big game, while in the 
eastern part of the State, along the Missouri River, in 
the breaks, is found the finest whitetailed deer shoot- 
ing in the world. On the prairies of this section the 
remnant of antelope live and range. 
Judging from the data gathered and reports received, 
the game which is protected at all times is rapidly in- 
creasing. This is especially true in regard to antelope 
and beaver. Antelope are becoming numerous in some 
sections of the State where they were almost extinct two 
years ago. We now hear of famillies of beaver every- 
where, and in some instances they have had to be killed 
to protect property. Moose are often seen, and a caribou 
is occasionally found. 
With quail and Chinese pheasant we are not so for- 
tunate. These birds have been imported and turned loose 
year after year, but their propagation so far has proven 
anything but a success. It is true that in the State of 
Idalio, where the same climatic conditions seem to exist, 
they are becoming plentiful and doing well. There have 
been many theories advanced by people who have studied 
the question, one being that as they are both ground 
roosting birds, the ground vermin, so plentiful in this 
State, l-dll them off. Another, that the cover is too scant 
and the winters too severe, and in the case of the Chinese 
pheasant that a sudden change in the weather will often 
freeze him fast to the ground, thus holding him a 
prisoner until he is eaten or dies of starvation and ex- 
posure. It is claimed ii^<nX \n the Bitter Root Y^Hey quail 
seem to be multiplying and that the notes of the Bob 
White are no uncommon sound in the early morning 
hours. 
Of the game for which we have a lawful open season, 
all are plentiful and seem to be on the increase, with the 
exception of the Rocky Mountain goat. They, like the 
mountain sheep, are only found in the Rocky Mountains, 
and as they are permitted to be killed they are becoming 
very scarce. But still, in regard to these, we are very 
fortunate, as we undoubtedly have more than any other 
State. Elk are increasing and are gradually working 
back into their old haunts, which are still unsettled. I 
have been endeavoring to secure reliable reports of the 
number seen the last year, so as to make some estimate 
of the number still existing in the State. Taking the 
report of the Superintendent of the National Park into 
consideration, as well as those received from scouts, 
deputies and old mountaineers, I think twenty-five to 
thirty thousand would be a very conservative estimate to 
place thereon. Blacktail deer are no doubt multiplying, 
as more have been seen and killed this season than for 
many years past. They are being found quite numerous 
in sections which have been considered hunted out. The 
little whitetail deer, the most beautiful and graceful of ail 
wild game animals is still found in large numbers along 
the bottoms and breaks of the Missouri River. They are 
also found in other sections, but not to any great extent. 
These I would consider holding their own, if not incrasing. 
Considering everything, our large game is doing nicely 
and with continued rigid enforcement of the laws will 
propagate and multiply. The laws relating to large game 
are very good, but can be improved upon greatly by a 
few slight alterations. I would suggest that the open 
season begin one month later, namely, October ist ; and, 
in regard to elk, if it be deemed necessary, continued one 
month longer, namely, until December ist. These sug- 
gestions are made for the reason that the weather in 
September is usually so warm that it is impossible to 
keep the meat, and in most cases it spoils and no good 
use can be made of it. I would also reconmiend that the 
limit on deer and goat killed be made three instead of 
six, as the law now stands. 
Our game birds, grouse, pheasants, prairie chickens 
and sage hens, have been \'ery numerous this year. Not 
only is this true of sections, but seems to have been uni- 
versal all over the Stale. Many reports have been re- 
ceived that grouse, pheasant and prairie chickens were 
being Ininlod and killed during the month of August, and 
on September ist they were wild and unapproachable. 
This is due greatly to the fact that the open season for 
sage hens and turtle doves begins on the first day of 
August, one month earlier than for grouse, pheasant 
and prairie chickens. Thus a man who is seeking to 
break the laws can go out in August with his dog and 
gun without fear or suspicion, for he is always hunting 
"sage hens or doves." The man who is really and hon- 
estly hunting for sage hens or doves, will often run into 
a flock or covey of the others, and, not being able in his 
excitement to control himself, will take a chance and 
kill them. Thus it is well to "lead us not into tempta- 
tion," and this would be remedied to a great extent if the 
open season for sage hens and doves was fixed at Sep- 
tember first, which would then make the open season for 
all birds and fowl open at the same time, greatly aiding 
in keeping the law-breaker in check, and giving the law- 
abiding hunter more consideration, and at the same time 
lessening the burdens of this office materially. 
We are not so fortunate in regard to aquatic fowl, such 
as ducks, geese and brant. These are migratory birds, 
and as our State has a very small water area as com- 
pared with - other States, the breeding grounds are less 
and inducements fewer for them to remain and rear their 
young. I believe even with these conditions that our 
duck shooting would be much better if the ducks and 
geese were not molested in the spring. As it is now, 
they are continually shot at from the time they first show 
themselves until they are driven out of the State. They 
are given no opportunity to remain and breed, even 
though they were so inclined. As an article of food they 
are not at all palatable. They arrive here after their 
long flight, poor, scrawny and tough, being nothing more 
than muscle and stringy sinews, good only for the pur- 
pose of being slaughtered for amusement, when, if al- 
lowed to remain, had they been so inclined, we would 
have a goodly number of native ducks in the fall. Who 
would not rather have one i^oung, fat and tender native 
duck for eating than a dozen of those thin and emaciated 
creatures that come in the spring. A great many of the 
Slates have closed out spring shooting. Maine, Ver- 
mont, New Hampshire, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Min- 
nesota, California and Utah are among the States that 
have done so, and they report great results. I would 
be glad to see this tried in our State, as I am sure it 
would result in giving us thousands of native ducks, 
where, under present conditions, we have practically 
none. 
Fish. 
While we have many laws for the protection of game, 
we have little or no protection for fish, and especially for 
our mountain trout. Farming is one of our greatest in- 
dustries and resources, and its success is wholly depend- 
ent upon irrigation. The problem of fish protection is a 
hard one to solve satisfactorily to everybody. It is a 
matter of serious regret that no pracl;ical method has 
been adopted to prevent the great loss of trout which 
escape through the irrigating canals and ditches out on 
to the land, and perish, during irrigating season, other 
than the common wire mesh screen which clogs up and 
retards the flow of water in the spring and autumn when 
drift matter and leaves are brought down by the current 
of the stream. 
It is to be hoped that in the near future some satis- 
factory' contrivance may be invented which will not in- 
jure or work a hardship on the farmer, and at the same 
lime put an end to this widespread destruction. 
I have . received hundreds of letters from all over the 
Slate on this subject, and have personally seen many ex- 
amples of it. 
Many people ^re under the erroneous impressioil th.-it 
the old screen law is still in effect, but this was repealed 
by the Legislatnre of 1897. This law was of no practical 
value, as it required screens to be placed in the ditches 
from September i to J^Iarph i, at vvhi^ch time the fisSh 
^ere not running. 
I 
