Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-11-12
THE SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
THE SLAUGHTER OF DEER,

THE SLAUGHTER OF DEER,
The report of Commissioner Titcomb
showing that about ninety deer have been
killed in Vermont during the month of
October practically sums up the results
of VermOnt's attempt to promote the
states reputation as a sportsman's para
disc. So far as announced comparative
ly few hunters from other states have
invaded our domain. and the financial
results realized have fallen short of com.
pensating for the expenditure of legisla-
tive wisdom and time, and the narrowed
and lacerated feelings of majority of
our people attendant upon this expert
ment.
1t is not probable of course that Com
missioner Titcomb has learned of all
killing of deer in Vermont from the very
nature of the case. Hunters sometimes
fail to capture ANIMALS that are fatally
wounded and it is moreover not to be
expected that the nimTod who kills a
deer illegally will rush to the nearest
telegraph station and wire the fact to
the game authorities. But making due
allowance in the directions indicated, it
is evident that the number of deer
slaughtered in Vermont during the open
season, now ended, has been much
smaller than was to have been expected
from the glowing reports of the abund-
ance of deer in Vermont previous to its
approach.
When the report of the commissioner
is compared with the published results
of deer hunting in the Adirondacks for
the past two years. the deer of the Green
Mountains would seem to have enjoyed
comparative immunity even during ouI
open season. The tabulated statement
by the New York state fisheries, game
and forest commission in the report OF
that body for the year 1896 shows that
the number of deer killed in the twelve
counties included in the Adirondack
region during that year reached the
enormous and astonishing total of G4OG
This was an increase of 1906 over the
number captured during the previous
year when 1900 were slaughtered. OF
this number 1898 were bucks and 3l7a
does, the proportion being about the
same as in the year preceding.
The report also shows that more than
one-half of the deer captured in the Adj
rondacls during the year 1896 were taken
by bounding, the exact number being
l34Gl, AS compared with 2G9l in the yeal
preceding. The use of hounds in hunt
ing deer in the Empire state is now lille
gal. and inasmuch as strenuous efforts
have been made to enforce the law it is
safe to say that there will be a marked
diminuton in the slaughter of deer dur
ing the present season.
While Vermont sought to induce
sportsmen to visit our state through the
legaizing of deer hunting during the
month of October, it is interesting in this
connection to learn that elsewhere out
side nimrods are Disseminated against
In Wisconsin, for example, resident
must pay license of 81 for the priv
lege of hunting deer anywhere in what
are known as the deer counties, where
as nonresident hunters must pay $50
for the privilege. Licenses are of course
not transferable and should non-resi-
dent be caught hunting on a residents
license he would be subject to fine OF
not less than $500 nor more than $1,000,
and If such license was obtained through
falsity he would in addition be liable to
prosecution for perjury.
If it may cost trespasser SlUOO To
merely hunt for deer in Wisconsin. it
must be enormously expensive to mis-
take a man for deer in that state as has
happened here. But however this may
be, it is safe to say that Vermont legisla-
tors will know considerably more about
the hunting pastime in 1898 than in 1886
and the chances are that future legisla-
ton regarding deer will be protective
rather than bid for tourist sportsmen.