The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-08-19

wherein Lies came Protection.
Elsewhere in this issue Is printed a
special from Plankin.on chronicling the
issuing Ola warrant for the arrest at an
individual accused Of shipping prairie
chickens. 1t is a step in the right direct
ion and will meet with the unanimous
approval of all people regardless OF how
Indifferent they may be to shooting the
birds before the open season.
1t is the market butchers who have
practically depleted the states OF Iowa
and Minnesota Of this, the finest game
bird of the West, and it has US a last re-
sort sought refuge in the Dakotas. The
advent of the market shooters in this
state, il they are tallowed to ply their
calling unmolested, means the end Of
prairie chicken shooting in the United
States-and that, too, in a very few years.
Without the least seeking to mitigate
the practice of shooting prairie chickens
before the law says they can be legally
hunted, yet the facts Of the matter are,
this kind of shooting is almost wholly
confined to a few too impatient sports
men who are content to kill a few for
themselves and their friends and to farm.
ers who naturally want Il change of diet
of bacon. This in itself alone viii! not
for many %Years-until the country be-
comes very thickly settled, With Il CORE
spending increase of hunters-have any
preceptible effect upon the supply Of
birds, Not one man in ten who hunts
cares to shoot half-gIvwn birds aud it is
not until they are sufficiently grown as
to be able IL take care OF themselves that
any zest or pleasure is given to the sport.
Even did the law permit, local sportsmen
would not kill the birds when too young
to test both ldog and gun for, as n rule,
they are naturally interested in the
preservation of that which affords so
much pleasure. The law, however.
serves as Il check aud especially to forbid
outsiders frem coming in and wantOnly
killing anything they can see to shoot
at. Being n0n-rcsidents they have no
other interest other than having a good
time And there is no sentiment about
the market shooter, whether a resident
or a nonresident. Every bird brought
down means so much money; and from
the rising till the going down of the sun
and until ale freezing hlrsts from the
%arctics forbid the WORT, he roams the
prairies, the stubbles aud the corn fields
with Il relentless persistence that only
the love for the almighty dollar cal
crcate--and then he sets his traps.
1t was aot the shooting out of season
that exteyminated the grandest game OF
this contiHent-t the American buffalo
but the hdde hunters. II Che newspaper.
Of this state that have SO much to SD,
about tie shooting of prairie chicken,
! before the legal date turn their attention
! to the shipment OF the birds out Of tn,
state byaaarket shooters all the summe
and fall they will be making a move il
the right direction. If the people of tn
state knew Of the wanton obstruction 0
I our only game bird going on they woul,
D fairly be paralYzed with sa:Aignation.
The Law is especially fI med TO Dreven
traffic i'll game in any manner. 1t no
only rorldds shipping game out of tn
! state at any time of year but within til
t state as we'll, and innicts q severe penal
ty for having in possession over twenty
4 five prairie chickens for any purpose.