The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-09-22
AMENDING GAME LAWS.
Talk Of United Efforts by North D.
kota and Minnesota sportsmen.

Talk Of United Efforts by North d.
kota and Minnesota SpOrtsmen.
There has been considerable talk OF
late among North Dakota sportsmen
concerning the inadequacy of the game
laws, and 1t IL altogether likely that q
bill will be presented at the next e 9
sion Of the state legislature for the
purpose Of remedying some of the de-
fects which eist in the law as it now
stands. It Is the intention of sports
men O nthis side of the line to endeavor
to secure concerted action here and In
minnesota that the laws governing the
hunting of wild game in the two states
may be made uniform.
In this state the open season for
chickens begins on Aug. 20, while in
Minnesota the date is Sept. 1. III
hunting grounds Of the two states adj
join, being separated only by the Red
river. Confusion naturally arises, and
a good deal of dissatisfaction results
Hunters from the Minnesota side look
with eager yes upon their brethren
across the creek killing chickens for
ten days before they r permitted to
take a shot at them, and the tempta-
ton to cross the line and slay birds is
often too great to resist. On the otheV
hand, the Minnesota men complain that,
hunters from this side of the line, after
shooting over their own fields for ten
days, and taking the cream of the
! game, as 1t were, a then cross over
into the adjoining state and start in on
the first Of the month on even terms
with the actual residents and really
have the benefit of two hunting sea-
sons in one year. To remove this
source Of confusion it is proposed to
make the opening date uniform in both
states and the majority appear to pre-
fer the later date, as the tendency
seems to be to restrict rather than to
extend hunting privileges.
Many of the sportsmen are also in
favor of a still further restriction in
the chicken matter by arranging for a.
during which season the shooting Of
chickens shall be absolutely prohibited.
1t is believed that by making such a
law and by strictly enforcing its pro-
visions h supply Of chickens could
not only be kept as large as it is now,
but could be largely increased. The
settling up Of the country does not nee
essarily diminish the number of birds
If reasonable care is exercised in shoot.
ing them, as is shown by the expert
ence of Southern Minnesota. Wisconsin,,
Iowa and Illinois, where chickens have
been hunted for a long time, yet are
comparatively plentiful.
It Is also desired that there should b9
uniformity in the license laws Of the
two states, in order to prevent the
confusion which Is constantly arising
through the difference in the regula-
tons which prevail at present. There
Is some question as to the constitution
atty Of the present nonresident per-
NIT laws in force. at least theoretically,
In both states, but it is quite likely that
In any bill which is submitted to the
legislature of either state a difference
will be made between residents and
non-residents. There is a disposition
to discourage the hunting Of wild game
In the Northwest by parties who como
from a distance in special cars. hunt
for a few days with well trained dogs.
and take their departure after indis-
criminately slaughtering everything 10
sight, and without leaving 9. dollar in.
the state or benefiting 1t a particle.
For that reason the high nonresident
license fee will probably be retained,
and persons who feel aggrieved thereby
will be given an opportunity to test the
matter in the courts.
Sometime during the fall a commit
tee Of North Dakota sportsmen will in
all probability be selected to confen
with q like committee of Minnesota
men for the purpose Of drafting a bill
which will meet the requirements Of
fha ease