ia 
DEPARTMENT OF GAME. 
MEETING CHANGED CONDITIONS. 
(By J. I. BLackMAN.) 
It will not do to look upon the question of game in Illinois today 
and tomorrow with eyes of 25 years ago. Conditions touching the® ques- 
tion of game have changed materially in the past quarter of a century. 
Where there was at that time an abundance of low land untouched by 
the plow, today stands fields of corn. Where good farming land sold at 
from twenty-five to thirty dollars an acre, the farmer thought it would 
not pay to tile the lowlands and make of it tillable ground. So, too, 
there were thickets on land not counted rich that it was not thought 
profitable to disturb. 
These lowlands furnished a desirable home for the prairie chicken. 
Here they could nest in peace and rear their broods away from the 
activities of man. 
The thickets and woodlands at the period referred to swarmed 
with quail. Here they could keep out of the way of such enemies as. 
the hawk, and after feeding in the adjacent open ground could return 
to the cover for the night. 
Today the lowlands, where formerly the prairie chickens congre- 
gated in great numbers, is regularly tilled. The thickets have been cut 
away and the land put to profitable use. The swales where the wood- 
cock used to breed and feed, have been turned into profitable farming 
land. ‘The places where thousands of Jack Snipe stopped to feed on 
their migrations are now under cultivation. So, too, are the grounds 
where formerly the plover was found in great numbers. 
The increased value of farm land is responsible for the reducing 
of the old haunts of game birds to tillable ground. Over-shooting and 
lack of good protective laws have, of course, had much to do with the 
falling off of the game bird supply of [hnois, but primarily it is a 
question of increased land values. 
Game birds to thrive must have suitable cover and feeding grounds. 
They cannot be legislated into existence, although protective measures 
are necessary to prevent their utter extinction. 
Those who are charged with the duty of propogating and protecting 
our game birds, will not succeed in their undertaking if they close their 
eyes to the important truths herein set forth, and attempt to promote 
the game interests of the State in a manner suited to by-gone days. The 
new order of things must be recognized and the business of game propo- 
gation and game protection suited to the new conditions. 
