The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-03-17
MOUNTAINS NEW GAME LAWS
synopsis of the Act Passed by the
Last Legislature for Game
Protection.
Severe Penalties Provided for It's Vic.
latiOn-lnformers Must Be
Careful.

The legislature at its recent session
made a new law for the protection of
game in this state. For the benefit of
the public the provisions of the new
law are given below: The law makes it
a misdemeanor to shoot or otherwise kill.
for a period of ten years, any bison, buff
falo, OF quail or Chinese pheasant; aud
for a period Of six years 1t likewise pro
tects moose, elk, otter and beaver. The
penalty for each oifense is from 500 to
$500 fine, or imprisonment in the county
Jail from two to six months, Or both fine
and imprisonment, at the discretion Of
the court. The possession of the skin,
or meat, or Offering for sale the un-
mounted head or horns of any such
animals during the period mentioned, is
to be prima facie evidence that the per
son having them has killed the animals
in violation of the law. At the expira-
ton of the time of prohibition, the open
season for killing the animals or birds
named is to be from Aug. IL to Dec. ID.
No female bison, buffalo or moose can
be shot even then. The penalties for
violation are the same as for killing
them during the periods of prohibition.
The open season for white tail deer.
black tail deer, mule deer, mountain
sheep, Rocky mountain goat and ante
lope is also from Aug. 10 to Dec. ID. The
penalty for killing them out of season
is from $50 to 500 fine for each otfense.
or Imprisonment in the county Jail for
from thirty to sixty days. The above
provisions are not to apply to persons
who have raised or own the animals they
kill, or to those who have to kali beaver
to protect their water rights. No one,
however. can catch any beaver on pri-
vate property without the consent of
the owner.
A penalty of from $50 to 500 fine, or
from one to six months in the county
Jail. or both fine or imprisonment, is i'm
posed on any one shooting or otherwise
killing deer, mountain sheep, Rocky
mountain goat or antelope for the pur-
pose of procuring their head or hide
only, or for purely speculative purposes,
or for market or sale. A further fine of
from so to SO is imposed for hunting
chasing, bounding or running them
with dogs at any time of the year
Marten and fisher cannot be trapped or
shot between April ! and Oct. !, under
a penalty of from SO to S2J fine for
each olfense. From Aug. - to Nov.
Is is the open season for grouse, prairie
checked. pheasant, fool hen, sage hen,
partridge and snipe. TO Xxi them out
Of season. or to kill them for speculative
purposes or for the market, or Offering
them for sale, is punishable by from $50
to $50 fine for each o~ifense, The open
season for wild geese or wild ducks,
brant or swan is from Sept. ! to Jan. l.
To shoot them at other times means a
fine of from 80 to $50 for each ~otfense,
or not over thirty days in the county
Jail. or both fine and Imprisonment, 1t
is made unlawful to shoot robin, meadow
lark. thrush, fiecker or yellow hammer,
oricle, hooking bird, gold finch, snow
bird, cedar bird or any other small bird
known as singing birds at any time. I'M
Ger q penalty of from 50 to so fine for
each otfeuse. or imprisonment in the
county Jail for not over thirty days, at
the discretion of the court. The same
penalty is provided for w~Ilfully destroy
ing the nests or carrying away the eggs
Of any birds or wild fowl mentioned in
the act. and the possession of their
bodies is prima facie evidence that the
possessor is guilty of killing them.
The portions Of the law providing for
the protection of fish will be given to-
morrow.