[Illustration:  G.O.  SHIELDS A Notable Defender of Wild Life]

THE GAME-HOG.—­This term was coined by G.O.  Shields, in 1897, when he was editor and owner of Recreation Magazine, and it has come into general use.  It has been recognized by a judge on the bench as being an appropriate term to apply to all men who selfishly slaughter wild game beyond the limits of decency.  Although it is a harsh term, and was mercilessly used by Mr. Shields in his fierce war on the men who slaughtered game for “sport,” it has jarred at least a hundred thousand men into their first realization of the fact that to-day there is a difference between decency and indecency in the pursuit of game.  The use of the term has done very great good; but, strange to say, it has made for Mr. Shields a great many enemies outside the ranks of the game-hogs themselves!  From this one might fairly suppose that there is such a thing as a sympathetic game-hog!

One thing at least is certain.  During a period of about six years, while his war with the game-hogs was on, from Maine to California, Mr. Shields’s name became a genuine terror to excessive killers of game; and it is reasonably certain that his war saved a great number of game birds from the slaughter that otherwise would have overtaken them!

The number of armed men and boys who annually take the field in the United States in the pursuit of birds and quadrupeds, is enormous.  People who do not shoot have no conception of it; and neither do they comprehend the mechanical perfection and fearful deadliness of the weapons used.  This feature of the situation can hardly be realized until some aspect of it is actually seen.

I have been at some pains to collect the latest figures showing the number of hunting licenses issued in 1911, but the total is incomplete.  In some states the figures are not obtainable, and in some states there are no hunters’ license laws.  The figures of hunting licenses issued in 1911 that I have obtained from official sources are set forth below.

THE UNITED STATES ARMY OF DESTRUCTION

Hunting Licenses issued in 1911

Alabama 5,090 Montana 59,291
California 138,689 Nebraska 39,402
Colorado 41,058 New Hampshire 33,542
Connecticut 19,635 New Jersey 61,920
Idaho 50,342 New Mexico 7,000
Illinois 192,244 New York 150,222
Indiana 54,813 Rhode Island 6,541
Iowa 91,000 South Dakota 31,054
Kansas 44,069 Utah 27,800
Louisiana 76,000 Vermont 31,762
Maine 2,552 Washington, about 40,000
Massachusetts 45,039 Wisconsin 138,457
Michigan 22,323 Wyoming 9,721
Missouri 66,662
                                                       ---------
            Total number of regularly licensed gunners 1,486,228