The evening times., 1896-10-17

| o. sosoN.
.he country are not over-favoraDie 1h'
| feathery tribe has not yet recovered IRON
| the terrible shock IL experienced in ln'
| blizzard Of TWO years ago and II VIII VI
| A. least another season before the spor'
| Will resume It's former interesting status
| lot rOtu res--cdt ann i.ui.-i q iueu
hunters are barred from Virginia iii seeking
| for almost all Kinds Of birds. The last STATE
| legislature saw TIt 10 pass proiubitOri
| law Il year ago preventing the shooting ol
| BIRDS for three years. Consequently two
years OF the restraint yet remain.
| The most Coleful tales 'are told OF the
| manuer IN when the quail suffered IN the
| winter of 1894. Birds perislrd by the
| thousands. Those that were not frozen
| outright were starved to death, and after
| the spring tIaws farmers found whole
| Coveys OF Gead BIRDS ON tie ground. The
| .eg sidtIve act was passed IN order 10 give
| the birds a chance to multiply.
There is such a comparatively small
| amUunl of Cunning done in the District
| that the laws on the subject here are OF
small importance. Attention might be
| called to tie fact, howeye that the quail
season will begin November and close Feb
| ruary l. heavy inpoSt is imposed on any
| one killing or offering fer sale tiese birds
during the remainder OF the year, though
IL is a weilknown fact that they are to
be found i'll the market III other months
Phcasants may be killed now and for
that matter might have been Killed for
the last two and a half months, for the
season began August 1. Hunting for woud-
COCK began Il month earlier. Both seasons
close February 1. snipe and pinyer may
he killed be,ween September l and the
first of May. The ortOlan and reed bird
open season is from september l 10 Febru-
AIRY 1.
Repeated attempts have been thus far
unsuccessfully made TO clIange the game
laws in the District, especially So FAR as
quail hunting is concerned. The laws are
at variepce with those iii the neIghboring
counties of Maryland and Virginia, where
the season begins ON November ana lasts
for month and twCnty-four days.
TRAPPING QUAIL.
II is furthermore pointed out that the
birds that come to the market during the
month OF January are almost all trapped
birds, taken when the snow is on the
ground. In this manner, it is claimed,
there l. "A ruthless slaughter or quail and
gradual movement toward The complete
annihilation of the species. 1t is also
argued that the birds have, by this late
season, lost their flavor and tende rness
and are not fit for food.
In Maryland there is Il, general law max
ing closed season from January to No
vember !. But this is no guide by which
nuhiti van AItN'ls if'i fti.ii Atuitl
has its own laws and i sportsman may
lawfully shoot bird III one county on
certain DAY that he might TIC fined for
shooting ON the same day III nesshtoTIg
county.
or course Washington gunBers re chiefly
interested in the la vs. in effect i'll the
counties nearest the District. In Anne
Arundel county the general open season
is from November . 10 December 3 for
quail. WoodCock hunting will begin No
vember 10 and close December 10
Strangely enough rabbits, that do not
begin 10 reach their best until nearly the
dead o. winter, cannot be shot with legal
propriety except between the dates last
The pheasant open season is be-
tween the same dates.
In Montgomery county quail Shooting
begins half month earlier than in Anne
\ rundel and lasts until the middle OF
December Partrid.es can be shot in The
same time. There is grave doubt as TO Just
when woodcock may be killed In this
county Hunters are given two dates and
told TO take their choice, for one OF which
they may be called upon to pay a fine.
The dates are: July l TO January l ard
September l to January l.
BRER RABIT's SEASON.
Rabbits may be hunted between ScptcIII-
ber and Februaryl. The pheasant season
has been on for Il month and a hale and Will
continue Until the FIRST OF the Year. The |
yItes have been shooting squirrels
since August hut viii be compelled to |
quit December |.
In Prince George county the old woodcock |
law CT shooting from September l to No |
yemher l has been amended, in the minds |
of many, TO November l 10 december "a |
The la VS. here seem tobe conflict ing housh, |
and IT is not without Il bit OF risk that the |
sportsman delays his hunt for these birds |
until time to get them for Christmas diu-
her. There is i consensus of opinion that |
the partridge dates are from November |
l to the day before Christmas Rabbits |
may he killed, if the gunner is a crack shot. |
between the same dates
The authorities OF Prince George county
believe in protection when the county's |
sport is at stake. For that reason they |
have passed law prohibiting non-resi-
lent gunners to hunt except on the pay
meut of 4 license zee OF $50 An ad-
Lfti9nal clerks fee OF 30 cents is also re-
lulred The license thus obtained gives
The owner OF 1t the right TO shoot all he |
pieases III sea son, but he is not permitted |
10 transfer 1T to his neighbor when he dis
covers that his luck has deserted MIN
The Maryland State laws permit the
shooting of wild ducks from November
| to March 81 Shooting from the shore |
is alone allowed during the rrninirrier,of |
'he year. There are certain days of the |
week that govern shooting of water fowl
90, and The only sure way OF avoiding |
when about to take a hunting |
excursion for this kind of game is to con |
suit the most recent statutes or a game
versed attorney
REGARDING DUCKS.
Down in the waters of the Che,apcake
[ Is lawful To shoot teal. mallarts. black. |
laid-pate, and other ducks from IN hoCF |
before sunrise to an hour after s,:rsct ON |
very day between August l5 and October |
|. There are County duck laws. too and |
many or them are so uncertain that If is
ilmOst impossible 10 rccitc them G DIRECTLY
II every instance.
Here Is the way the law stands in the
;ounties nearest Washington: In these. as
II oil other Counties iii the State of Mary.
and, 1t is unlawful to shoot water fowl
While they are in flOcks on their .uosting
rounds or To use anything from Il swivel
;iin to eatling gunfn their destruction.
Of Anne Arundel and Prince
'eorge Counties are prohibited from shoot
ne or trapping geese and ducks ON the
,atuNent or It's tributaries unless they get
he perIniss ssion of ma Iority Of the Citizens
living in the vicinity Of the marshes ar
ihiess they employ only licensed lo;,ts for
heir shooting. Citizens of Calvcr. county
ire exempted from this law.
Anne Arundel county shooting davs for
vid ducks irpm BOBBY blinds are az fol |
ows:
south River-T Tuesdays. Thnrsdays and
Severn River Mondays. wednestars md
saturdays.
Magothy River-Tuesdays and Fri,iavs
west ana Rhode rivers and their creeks |