The morning call., 1893-07-16
THE GUN.
Deer Shooting in Santa Clara, Sonoma
and Ventura Counties.

II the authorities of Marin County carry
out the law. in he strict sense of the word, so
far as tile Killing OF deer is concerned there
may be trouble on the other side Of the water
this evening.
According 10 section 26 of the county gov
ernm MT act. which relates to iisb and game.
no ordinance passed by The Board of Supervi-
sors of any county shall take effect within less
than fifteen days after Its passage, and before
the expiration of said fifteen days the same
must appear in some paper published in the
county. with The names of the members voting
for and against the measure.
BY this it will be seen that although the Su-
pervisOrS of Marin County ordained, at a recent
meeting, that ii will be lawful 10 shoot der
between The 10Th OF July and the 18th of Au.
gust, the season viii not open until fifteen
DAYS after the passage CT TIL act by the Super
visors, hence the killing of deer 10 day Is un-
lawful and any man found in possession Of
game ~ Marin County can be punished If the
law is enforced.
According to letters which have been re.
Gently received by the sporting editor from
farmers and spOrtSmeU Of SonOma and Marin
counties II will be decidedly risky for any
hunter TO trespass on the lands OF the farmers
who reside within easy reach of San Rafael
sos e.sr .iSef fsefiee ast PesmsslGn
gagged cCnstabes 10 keeT watch on their lands
knd arrest all parties found trespassing who
cannot produce a written permit from the land
owners Otner landowners IN the vicinity OF
NicasIo will be equally particular as regards
trespass because AT this time OF year, when the
grass Is dry and wiihered, spark from pipe
or cigarette may cause great damage 10 prop
erty. There are quite a number OF deer in
Marin County this year, and 1t Is safe to say
that before the season for shooting has expired
there will be few left for breeding purpos es
In ref renee TO deer-shooting aud The having
Of deer in possession, Attorney Deering OF the
Fish and Game Commission says: with re-
spect 10 deer it is part OF the history of
the law, as 1t now stands, which permits
the killing OF deer from September to Octo-
ber l5. and that six weeks was intended
by the Legislature 10 be the extent Of the open
season, therefore the Supervisors may change
this period OF six weeks 80 as 10 make 1t begin
on July l, for example. ana end August 15, If
such a regulation would be for the protection OF
deer in that county or II tne needs OF the county
make 1t advisable. The Supervisors can legis-
late only for their comfy and srortsmen viii
be protected by the ordinances only as long as
they are in that county.
1t is a misdemeanor for person TO have IN
his possession any deer at time when 1t is IN
lawful Kill them. The code makes 1t unlaw-
ful 10 Kill deer except b tween September l aud
October %. Therefore while the Supervisors
OF Marin County, for instance, might for that
county change The open season for killing deer
to the six weeks beginning July /, yet If any
sportsman from San Francisco should shoot
deer in Marin County in July and take it into
San Francisco, or any other county where the
general law had not been changed by the Su-
pervisors, he would subject himself to prosecu-
tion. Again tn laW-secton G26 OF the Penal
the hide or meat of der.
This law the Supervisors cannot change.
Therefore. deer meat and deer hides may not
be sold nor offered Tor sale; hor may deer shot
IN one county under an ordinance permitting 1t
there be carried iltO another county where tile
general State law IS in force"
AS will be seen by The above opinion OF an
eminent attorney. sportsmen must be careful
and not expose deer meat 10 public gaze once
they enter this county. otherwise they may
have reason TO regret their rashness and diSre-
gard for The game laws.
1t has been rumored that the Fish Commits
si0ners have Instructed some of their officers to
be on the lookout this evening for the return of
the hunters, and any pclous-looking parcels
will be examined.
IL is quite probable that the Supervisors of
this city may so amend the law at their next
meeting that spOrtsmen can bring deer into
this city until the shooting season expires, but
not offer them for sale.
The SonOma County Supervisors have given
sportsmen the right TO shoot deer IN SonOma
County commencing with July % and ending
September 4.
There are many excellent shooting grounds
In SonOma County. and particularly in that
country through which Austin Creek flows.
lie ride to CaZadero on the North Pacific Coast
Rallfo d VIII not occupy more than four hours.
and once there you are in the heart OF the deer
rang 5. Bear are also plentiful in The ranges
cas- oil CaZddefo but spoTtSmen whose ann is
lduity and whose nerves are not as strong as
steel might hnd the pasrime OF bear
chasing ralher rough should b~uln take a
notion 10 enter into the sport Of man-hunt-
Ing. once The shaggy old "mountaineerS"
make up their minds that man flesh
Ia sweeter than mutton, then the amateur must
decide upon enc of two things, VIZ: either
climb Tree and shoot from high elevation or
run aud trust to luck that the bear will drop
dead before ii reaches you.
The quail-ShoOtng season viii not open In
Marin County until October / this year, and
VIII close on the lst OF February, instead of
Oh HE first day Of March, as formerly.
There will be quite u number OF hun ers
securing the hills OF Santa Clara County for
deer to-day.