Diary, 1911, of trip to Idaho and Wyoming
Page 12
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Transcription
If elk were taken care[ful] limits, would be in favor of letting them increase but to be hunted moderately. Thinks that if the crop is enough to bear young many fawns. The yearling calves are the main one to die. Thinks the no better difference in the related number the sexes at birth and when they die. The first winter in the country, 1889-90 on Spread Creek, a great many elk died here. All ages died. Again in winter 1890-1 a great many died. In winter 1896-7 was a bad winter and many died. There were all hard winters. One winter a bull elk went out on the bank from a thicket. A fawn killed quaking aspen. The buck spread game will get poor toward spring through this and always be fat ones. There is always a certain loss among the young ones in spring. Then the young are weak they won't L.L. Lucas (Jackson) thinks came a little earlier than usual and in about that usual number has lost considerable hay. There are several hundred about not a great many have died. Thinks that an 20,000 in the Jackson Hole Country. Thinks they have increased in the last 5 years. But this may be owing to more being seen by the last few winters. Is not particularly in favor of the swamp area. Believes it better them somewhere convenient, and in feeding blocks. Is personally in favor of grazing them on Flat Creek but it proved be more economical. 4 feed them all around. Thinks it proved late some time to get them into any enclosure. Prefers Stall Control. But thinks Goat Control proved be better. Thinks that the state should derive a revenue from the elk by hunting licences and by selling surplus elk. 8 or 10 tons fawns