Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1901-11-08
vERmoNT,s DEER SEASON.

Interesting Interview with state Fish
and Game Commissioner Tt'cOmb-
OAicisi Report shows 100 Animals
! Killed, an Increase Of 90 over Last
Ysar-Only Four secured In Wtndhsm
County.
An interesting interview with State
Fish and Game Commissioner John w
Titcomb regarding the recent open deer
season was published 10 the st Adams
Messenger Tuesday, In connection with
the interview was table showing the
number Of deer reported to the COM
missioners by postmasfers as having
been killed during the last 10 days 10
October These statistics were obtain
ed BY furnishing every postmaster in
the state with postal cards addressed to
the chairman of the commission, the
back being printed blaik so that the
postmasters can fiji in simply the num-
Der of deer, the town in which killed,
aud his residence. They then state the
weight as received and whether estimsted
or actual.
The same table also gives the number
of deer reported by postmasters for
each year since the open season TN deer
From these statistics, 1t may be gather.
ed that in 1898, watch was the first
open season IN about twenty years and
extended through the month OF October,
l3l deer were reported as killed; in 1899
when the open season was changed to
ten days, SO; in 1900, l27, and in 1901,
1876. 1t is probable that the statistics for
1901 by actual report will be raised TO
about 200 as the reports straggle in from
the backwoods for at least II week after
the open sea.on.
The commissioners estimate that
about % per cent more deer are killed in
the open season than are actually re-
ported. Out of this 20 per cent, uum
Der Of does may be included Some of
these does are dressed and utilized, but
frequently the mao who shoots one
leaves it to rot on the ground where
killed.
The actual statistics for the last four
open seasons by comparison may be
taken to show that the deer have in
creased in spite of the open season, but
not in the same proporl ion as the in
crease In the pumber of deer annually
reported MS killed. There were IN
doubtedly more hunters in the Nermo
foods this year than during any pre-.
vious years, Many of the residents OF
Vermont who had DOT hunted deer for
many years equipped themselves with
rifles. More visitors have come in this
year than 10 the previous years. Most
of the deer kllet, however, we're killed
by residents of Vermont, not over five
per cent being killed by non-resdeuts.
Mr. Titcomb thinks that the deer will
undoubtedly continue to Increase un-
der the present conditions. The in
crease in the number If the animals is
apparent by the number OF letters about
them which are received by the com.
mi .soners. Not a week passes without
having something relating to deer to in
vestigate. Mr. Titcomb Is inclined to
think that the present open season is
long enough except, perhaps, 10 Essex
county.
Windsor county leads in the number
Of deer killed this season, Ga animals
having been reported. In the town OF
Plymouth alone 23 were shot, and in |
l3 have been reported |
killed. Rutland county reported "a, |
Il of which were secured in the towns
Vt Chittenden and shrewsbury. Only |
four were reported from Wirdham
county, Halifax, Windhsm, Grafton |
and Stratton each having one TO its
credit. !