12 THE “A'U DU BION’ BU Lela aa 
Sportsmen and Birds 
By RoYAL MCCLELLAND 
Epiror’s Note: The following article was submitted by one of the members 
of the Natural Resources Council of Illinois as an explanation of the prin- 
ciples and objectives of the Izaak Walton League. While the views expressed 
below may not coincide with the beliefs of many I.A.S. members, it is felt 
that this article will nevertheless help to promote a clearer understanding 
of the League on our part and permit closer cooperation between all wild- 
life groups concerned with the solution of conservation problems. 
THE BASIC REASONING of the Illinois Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs as- 
sumes that modern conditions will not allow survival of many forms of bird 
life if left to mere half-hearted attempts at conservation. Modern agricul- 
tural practices leave no room for bird living space, as the competition be- 
tween farm crops and wildlife eliminates the use of farm land for wildlife 
preservation and development. 
We are constantly engaged in attempts to show the hunter that he must 
devote as much money, time and effort to producing a crop as he now de- 
votes to the harvesting of that crop. In fact, he must devote much more if 
he is to continue the sport of hunting. From a practical standpoint, it is 
much more likely that the hunter can be induced to spend money to produce 
a crop of game birds for the pleasure he expects to derive from that crop 
than can the ordinary citizen who is only interested in conserving what we 
now have from an aesthetic standpoint. 
Our job is primarily educational — teaching game management principles 
to citizens aged 6 to 60. Some of the programs we encouraged have produced 
results. For several years we have stressed the need for cover on barren 
Illinois farms. With the knowledge that the average farmer is not going to 
devote a highly profitable corn field to wildlife production, which is not con- 
sidered profitable, we have stressed the planting of multiflora rose living 
fences as the single best cover item which makes economic sense to the 
farmer. Experience has shown that multiflora rose hedges not only serve 
game birds and animals but do an even better job of serving song birds. 
We have encouraged the Department of Conservation to grow and dis- 
tribute multiflora rose, using license funds and federal Pittman-Robertson 
funds to promote the propagation and utilization of this nursery stock. Most 
of our clubs have encouraged the use of multiflora rose by farmers in their 
areas, some even giving seedlings to farmers and assisting in planting. 
The Illinois Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs has for many years taken a 
prominent part in developing the various methods of teaching conservation 
in schools. It promoted the summer conservation schools at Lake Villa, now 
moved to the State Fairgrounds. Its local clubs have paid the tuition for the 
bulk of youngsters attending this series of courses. We have advocated the 
idea that conservation education should be an integral part of the public 
school curriculum. We helped develop teacher training courses with college 
credit and have offered scholarships to encourage attendance. Also in co- 
operation with other agencies, we are encouraging development of outdoor 
camping for school-age youngsters. 
