The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-03-10
To Preserve Our Game.
MIR. EDITOR =

MR.. EDITOR -
Anyone walking along the streets
OF Shelton, either morning, noon OF
evening, is almost certain to hear the
bang OF shotgun or the crack of a
rifle, ringing out across the valley
from the adjacent hills and gulches.
What does 1t mean? That some OF
our young or old sportsmen are out
shooting blank cartridges at knots on
trees, or into the air, just for the sake
of hearing the echo? l think not,
further, according to reports, / am
convinced that there is something
going wrong with our game, ouails
pheasants ETC. If am not mistaken
the present time is 'sclose" season 70,
all game, hoof, feather and scale, ac-
cording to the Laws of Washington
And 1t should be, according to the
laws OF common sense, when you think
about 1t, that the present time is set
aside by nature sor the mating, nest
ing and propagation of all our game.
Yet we see and hear of game of all
kinds, being destroyed on every side,
regardless of natural laws, state laws
and "hoss sense"
admit OF doing these things in
past years myself, and now begin to
see the folly of being so ravenous after
game, that to all intent and purposes
IS unprotected. A few years ago deer
were plentiful in the immediate vicin-
ity of our little town, where are they
now? How are they hunted now? II
at any time you want deer at the
present day, you have to run it down
with dogs, and then where does the true
sportsman's skill come in, that per-
feet satisfaction one feels at the sight
OF the fall of the wary Buck, that you
have 10y your own efforts outclassed:
To think it all over you find that your
faithful dog tracked the Buck to his
hiding place, Jumped" him, followed
close to his heels till the deer is forced
to "take water in order to get away
But where are you? Right close by
with lifle poised for snap shot as the
Buck goes bounding by, or in boat
waiting till the deer gets far enough
into the bay or stream for you to pad
die in behind and cut him off from
shore, then you follow till close enough
! to knock him on the head with an ole
dull axe. Where does that sense O
manly sportsmanship come in under
such conditions?
Fish? Yes plenty of them, but moi
as plentiful as they were few years
ago, why? Well because they have
been caught and killed at all seasons
of the year and in every conceivable
manner, anyway to get them, the
more one thinks the greater the no
toriety in the public eye. But as
have said before, where does the sense
Of manly sportsmanshlp and pride
come in. That every true sportsman
has this feeling within himself, when
he knows by his own skill, he has
outclassed the games wary cunning
speed or strength, is beyond question
Our "Game Laws" made by men
from every part of our State, | think
are as liberal as one could wish, and
about as much so, as the laws of any
state in the Union. Why not con-
form to these laws and common sense
and give our game chance for propa.
CATION? Why need We arrest, or even
threaten, to stop wanton slaughter OF
taking game out of season? I AM
sure that our sportsmen are endowed
! with fine sensibilities, pride and good
| Judgment and can see the right and
wrong of the case pretty plain and
can call halt on themselves and de-
sires if they will. Please do so, not
for my sake, but your own, you who
love the hills, valleys, crags, and
mountain peaks, surely you are honor
able enough to deny yourselves just a
little. OF all the human family, fol
good honest hearts, clear heads IN
trouble, sympathy in grief, and help
ing hand all around, give me the true
American sportsman.
Now Mr.. Editor, am not writing
for noloriety or selfish motives, but
that our game may be protected II
sclose" season and that common sense
may be used in the taking of the same
during "opeu" season.
Thanking you in advance for space
if you give it to me,
/ / Remain Yours Truly,
E. p. DUNBAR,