THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
still left in Western America is the food question. Every year it becomes 
more difficult to find grass for the herds in their winter range, and thou- 
sands die in consequence in early spring. This is a question that only the 
Government can take up, and, unless it is settled in a satisfactory manner, 
very soon these animals, the finest of all horned beasts, and in many 
respects the noblest animals in the world, will be doomed to destruction 
except in enclosed areas. The American people are rich and the present 
stock of wapiti is still quite good; but what is required to preserve them, 
as beasts of the chase, is for the Government to purchase large tracts of 
lands in the old winter range and keep them exclusively for these animals, 
allowing a certain amount of hunting there. This could be done without 
any great expenditure and the annual hunting licences would provide a 
good part of the money required, whilst the pleasure of seeing large herds 
in good health and the joy of shooting an occasional bull would give much 
satisfaction to future generations. It is now clear that hunting in areas 
entirely surrounded by civilization can only take place and be successful 
where large tracts of country, which are not of much use for farming, 
are set aside for the purpose. The legitimate big game hunter is really 
the only preserver of wild game and more ought to be done to further 
his interests because he both “ pays the piper ” and preserves wild 
animals for others. 
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