File:Bulletin (Pennsylvania Game Commision), no. 11 (1911) (19878210654).jpg

Title: Bulletin (Pennsylvania Game Commision), no. 11
Identifier: bulletinpennsylv11penn (find matches)
Year: 1911 (1910s)
Authors: Pennsylvania Game Commission
Subjects: Game protection; Birds
Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa. : Pennsylvania Game commission
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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â ^ 4 WHY MORE FOOD FOR GAME? 11' wild birds and animals are to live and propagate normally they must have an abundance of natural food. AVhen there is a scarcity of natural food, due either to failui'e in fruit or nut crops, or to deep snows which cover nuts, seeds, and grit, it becomes necessary to sup- ply food by artificial means. In Pennsylvania it is particularly im- )iortant that game birds and animals be cared for in these days of strenuous hunting, when 600,000 sportsmen range the woods and fields in the fall. To meet the ever increasing demands of the hunter, game animals and ))ir(ls must propagate to the limit of their natural ability; and to do this thev must be healthv and well nourished. The im- portance of keeping game in sound condition cannot be too strongly impressed on the minds of sportsmen throughout the country, and particularly is this true within a thickly settled and industrial State such as Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commis- sioners fully realize this and, through tlieir Game Protectors and Ref- uge Keepers constantly endeavor to supplement the natural supply of food with grains placed in slielters. Slj)ortsmen, too, throughout the âºState are l)ecoming more and more interested in this vital ))hase of pame conservation woi-k. The natural food supidy can be augmented by two )n'incipal UM'thods: first, the pbiuting of various kinds of shrubs, trees, vines and grasses wliich will eventually ))roduce nuts, berries, and seeds desirable as food for game; and second, the distribu- tion of grains, nuts and dried ))lants, usually in winter when deep snows make this method expedient. The latter method is herein termed rmrrgrvrif winter fcrdivg. When the early settlers came to America they found a balanced, though varied, assemblage of wild-life. There was sufficient food for all. Predatory species killed weaker animals, but these weaker animals were always so abundant that they were not exterminated. The coming of civilization ups(»t the balance which so nicely existed in primeval Pennsylvania. The white man killed game, while the ))easts of prey evaded him, and continued their killing. Game animals dis- appeared as their enemies became too abundant. The white man con- verted the primeval woodland into farms and towns. Vast areas, after the tind)er was cut, became waste land as the i-esult of repeated forest fires. These fires destroyed much game, game food and cover. In more recent years the chestnut blight has ))racticaliy eliminated rhe chestnut, Pennsylvania's best native game-food producing tree. The loss of this tree has taken away much of the food for wild turkeys, grouse, srpiirrels, and deer, causing the latter to invade the farms in search of food. Tt has become increasingly important to supply additional winter food for tui'keys since these birds dependefl so extensively upon chestnuts. I
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Photograph by Game Commissioner Francis H. Cofflii, Scruiiton. Fi- 3. ROY SCOr'TS SC\\TTEUINTJ GHAIX FOR GAME BIRDS EMERGENCY WINTER FEEDING )\Iany thousands of game animals and game birds are fed each winter in Pennsylvania with various kinds of grains, scratch feed, and occasionally with hay and alfalfa distributed especially for that jvurpose. During the past few years this feeding jirogram has been stressed continuously by the (Jame Commission and splendid assist- ance has been given by organized and iixlividual sportsmen, farmers, rural mail carriers and Boy Scouts, fn many sections of the Connnon- wealth. Boy Scouts hav(» organized successful feeding campaigns, and they, as well as farmers, are entitled to special commendation for their good work. For the welfare of our game, particularly game birds, everj^one interested must do his bit in placing suitable food where it will do the most good. We have much to learn concerninir the most desirable game foods and the ))est methods of feeding game in an economical way. It is difficult to determine how to feed the maximum amount of game with a minimum amount of food and eff'ort, for animals other than game, rodents particularly, are likely to get more of it than the game for which it is intended. Definite knowledge of the kinds of food that ai'e most tempting and beneficial to game is of great importance and in this field there is much opportunity for investigation and experi- ment. Many metliods in the proper distribution and placing of winter fppd have been employed in this Commonwealth with varying degrees of success. Throwing grain from an aeroplane was tried in one in- INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

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