Copies to: Irrington 
           Holt 
           Bennitt 
           Stoddard 
 
 
                                                         Now Soils Building

                                                         Deceber 26, 1933

 
 
 
 
    Mr. W. C. Buford 
    State Game Coissitoner 
    Jefferson City, Missouri 
 
    Dear Mr. Buford: 
 
    Prof. Rudolf Bennitt of the University of Missouri has told me that you

    are considering undertaking some game research wcrk and that you might

    be interested in my opinion as to the opportunities for such work in

    Uissouri. 
 
    I have no hesitation in saying that Missouri is the most favorable place

    I know of for at least two projects, a quail investigation and a wild

    turkey Investigation. 
 
    The quail Investigation would consist essentially of finding out the

    extent to which Stoddard'e findings in Georgia are applicable to Missouri

    conditions.  Iowa and Wisconsin are already engaged in similar under

    takings, the work in each case being done through the University or 
    Agriultural College. Uisso-urt, however, surpasses either of these states

    in opportunities to make quail a farm crop. If you undertake this work,

    I advise putting your man in tauch with Mr. Paul Mrriwton, State Agricul-

    tural College, Aes, Iowa, who is in charge of the game for that state.

    and with Mr. Ernest Holt, Coon Valley trosion Project, LaCrosse, Wisconsin,

    who is in charge of the work for this state. 
 
    The wild turkey Investigation is a virgin field in whih Missouri might

    very easily take the lead. There are, however, very few men who know

    anything about wild turkeys to begin with. I would      est you retain

    H. L. Stoddard, Thomasville, Georgia, for a month or two to select a
nan, 
    train him, and start him out on this work. Missouri has a unique advan-'

    tags in being able to produce wild turkeys within reach of the northern

    population centers. I need not tell you that an abundant crop of turkeys

    would attract thousands of people. 
 
    It goes without saying that these projects might  aount to nothin, without

    the proper personnel for executinT them. Men already trained are practically

    non-existent, but good material with the needed basic education is easier

    to get now than in any years past. It would be eeonomy in the long run
to 
    retain a man like Stoddard to start the work right, and I would rather
see 
    you start one project right than two of them poorly. 
 
                                           Yours sincerely, 
 
 
 
 
                                                   ALDO LOPOLD 
   A.t/vh                                              Game Manager