The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-11

capture or kill deer in Vermont with a
dog, or dog kind; by the aid of jack or
artificial light; by the method known as
crusting, by the use of any snare, trap
or salt lick, or while the deer are yarded.
1t is also provided that no person dur
ing the open season of any year, shall
lake, KILL destroy or have in possession
more than two deer; and deer cannot be
transported except that the carcass, or
parts of deer lawfully killed in the state
can be transported in the open season.
and ten days thereafter, when open to
view, tagged and plainly labeled with the
name of the owner thereof, and accompan-
led by him, and the common carrier who
otherwise has in possession deer, or
parts thereof, may be prosecuted. The
penalty for the violation of any of the
provisions of the law is a fine of 500, half
of which goes to the complainant Since
late in the '70s, deer hunting has been
prohibited under the penalty of heavy
fines, and, as result, the animals have
rapidly increased in number until the
game has become a nuisance to farmers
in certain sections of the state. The leg
islature last autumn, in response to the
appeals of certain interests, decided to es-
tablish a limited open season for deer
hunting, but the provisions of the law
quoted plainly show that our lawmakers
did not intend that this game should be
wholly wiped out, but allowed to continue
to serve as an attraction for tourists for
all years to come, the first section of the
law being designed to protect young bucks
and does.
The attractions which the establishing
of an open season for deer in Vermont will
have for sportsmen are set forth in the
following article from the columns of the
Boston Transcript:
The opening of Vermont to deer shoot
ing next October, as recently announced.
80
lovers of big game For twenty years the
deer has been almost a sacred animal in
that state, and to shoot one was as peril
GUS as to kill a farmers COW. The hand
some animals appreciated the absolute
protection they enjoyed so much, that, in
cold weather, they would leave their food
less haunts, and come down to the farm
yards and feed with the cattle The far
mers have come to the conclusion that this
friendliness has been a little over-done.
The license to forage seemed to extend to
their growing crops. as well as to their
hay-racks, and 1t was at their request that
the last legislature passed an act permit
ting deer killing in the month of October.
But the restrictions of this act are very
proper. Prohibiting the old death dealing
devices, and confining the slaughter to
antlered animals, gives the deer chance
for its life. Limiting the number that
may be carried off or shot by one person
is also a good thing. But the possibility
of bagging even two deer is enough to
turn a new tide of travel to the Green
Mountain state when the season comes
around. AS the farmers have fattened
the deer they ought to get some benefit
from the new order of things, either in the
way of venison, or in guiding and feeding
those who come after it. Those who have
read Charles Dudley Warmers sketch, "A
Hunting of the Deer" will be glad that
the dogs are not TO be allowed to take
part in the chase.
The action of the legislature was plain
ly dictated by wisdom, for the limitations
placed upon the hunting of deer will evil
IDENTIFY tend to prevent the extinction of
this game in Vermont, while, at the same
time. provision is made for the sport to a
degree that ought to satisfy all reasonable
lovers of this exciting and fascinating
pastime. That the establishing of an open
season for deer has attracted wide atten-
ton is evident, and 1t is to be hoped that
the experiment will prove as profitable
for residents as it will be pleasing for Wis
itorS.