In 1911 Governor Norris, Senator Cone and the legislature of Montana, at the solicitation of W.R.  Felton, L.A.  Huffman and others, created the SNOW CREEK GAME PRESERVE, fronting for ten miles on the Missouri River, in the northern side of Dawson County.  It is a magnificent tract of bad-lands, very deeply eroded and carved, and highly picturesque.  The new state preserve contains 96 square miles, but there is so little grazing ground for antelope and bison it is absolutely imperative that a narrow strip of level grass land should be added along the southern border.  This proposed addition is being fiercely resisted, by an organized movement of the sheep owners of Montana (the National Wool Growers’ Association), who naturally want the public domain for the free grazing of their tariff-protected sheep-herds.  It remains to be seen whether the three sheep men south of the preserve,—­the only men who really are affected,—­will be able to thwart a movement that has for its object the development of a very good game preserve for the benefit of the ninety millions of the general American public.  The range is necessary to contain representatives of the big game of the plains that has been so ruthlessly swept away, and particularly the vanishing prong-horned antelope, once very numerous in that region.

In order to relieve the sheep men of all trouble on account of that preserve, the area should be enlarged to the right dimensions and made a national preserve.  A bill for that purpose (Senate 5,286) is now before the Senate, in Senator McLean’s Committee, and help is needed to overcome the active hostility of the sheep men, who vow that it never shall be passed!  All persons who read this are invited to take this matter up with their Senators and Representatives, without a moment’s delay.

WYOMING: 

THE TETON STATE PRESERVE.—­One of the largest and most important state game preserves thus far established by any of our states is that which was created by Wyoming, in 1904.  It is situated along the south of, and fully adjoining, the Yellowstone Park, and its area is 900 square miles (576,000 acres).  Its special purpose is to supplement for the elk herds and other big game the protection from killing that previously had been found in the Yellowstone Park alone.  The State Preserve is an admirable half-way house for the migrating herds when they leave the National Park to seek their regular winter ranges in and around the Jackson Valley.

[Illustration:  BIRD RESERVATIONS ON THE GULF COAST AND FLORIDA]

In 1909, Wyoming established the Big Horn Game Preserve, in the mountain range of that name.  Into it 25 elk were taken from Jackson Hole, and set free, in 1910, at the expense of the Sheridan County Sportsmen’s Club.

LOUISIANA: 

Great developments for the preservation of wild life have recently been witnessed in Louisiana, all due to the initiative and persistent activities of two men, Edward A. McIlhenny, of Avery Island, La., and Charles Willis Ward, of Michigan, lumberman and horticulturist.