Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-09-09
SEPTEMBER HUNTING IN MAINE.
Several New Enactments in the
Maine Game Laws Which will Be
orInterest to Sportsmen,


Several changes in the Maine fish and
game laws. exacted by the Maine Legis-
lature last Winter, are of interest to
sportsmen who pursue their favorite
pastime in Maine woods and waters.
The principal change in regard to fish
ing was that the beginning Of the fish
ing season, formerly fixed for the first
day In May, will hereafter be regulated
by the freeing of the streams and lakes
from the ice in the spring.
This will give rather more fishing at
SebagO Lake and other waters in the
southern portion of the state which are
usually free of ice the middle of April,
while In more nothern waters it lasts un-
til we'll along toward the middle of May.
The change of most interest a present
Is that it allows the shooting of deer in
September The September deer law 50
called provides that camp owners and
campers are allowed to kill one deer after
Sept. / on the payment of fee of Sc for
nOn-residents and 81 for residents of the
state. This allows a man whose vaca-
tiOn comes in September to shoot deer
and carry home the head and hide as
trophy to adOrn his home and serve to
remind him of many happy days spent In
the Maine woods.
Formerly the law provided that no deer
should be shipped out of the state unless
accompanied by the owner. This has
been repealed, and instead it is pro-
vided that all spOrtsmen may send out
one deer by paying a fee of SO and one
moose by paying a fee Of "a. This will
prevent the general shipping Of deer for
mercantile purposes, and at the same
time enable spOrtsmen to send moder-
ate amount Of venison to their family
and friends before they return from
their expedition.
1t seems that this IL Il very wise law,
for Oftcntimes man will get his COM
plement of game during the first few
days of his visit. and, of course, one of
the pleasure in getting the game Is to
have 1t to show to and present to
friends at home.
The old law required the owner to ac-
company the game. which made it neces
for man to cut short his vacation If he
wanted to get the meat home before 1t
spoiled, while now he can ship it and
remain In the woods for two, three or
four weeks, according to the length of his
vacation. and the state thus be the richer
by the money left by him during that
time.
Caribou has been given complete pro-
lection for a period of six years, and the
penalty of fine or Imprisonment or both
for the illegal killing of moose will tend
to stop the decrease of this noble animal.
The record of big game killed last year
IN the state has been so widely published
abroad that it has brought into greater
prominence that part Of our country
which is unqucstionably a sportsmens
paradise, for one can paddle his own
canoe in the solitude Of the unbroken
wilderness for hundreds of miles and see
no sign whatever Of civilization.
Great preparations have been made the
past summer for the entertainment of
sportsmen. many of the camps having
been enlarged and all improved in many
ways to cater even more to the comfort
and pleasure Of their guests, and the
great numberof enquiries for information
Is evidence of the great popularity of
such an outing season.
The number of deer and moose seen thi.
summer along the streams and hOgs of
the Rangeley Dead River Moosehead.
Penobscot. Masardis and Washington
country districts of Maine has been sur
prisingly large. and the officials Of the
Maine Central r. r. have had their hunt
ing and fishing guide revised to date. as
all eyes are turned toward the Pine Tree
State for fall sport. and the demand for
this popular publication increases every
mail. A vast deal of information can be
obtained from one Of these books. which
can be had OF application to the General