The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-01-31

Mr.. Sidney M. Logan, secretary of
the local game protective assocra-
ton has written the following letter
to R. Clarke Fisk, of Helena In re-
spouse to request for the views CT
the sportsmen of this locality, as &c
needed legislation for the protection
of game and fish:
Kalispell Mont, Jan. 80, 1901.
R. Clarke Fisk, Helena, Mont
Dear Sir-Your favor of the 2Gth
instant at hand. For the past ten
years have given the matter of game
protection very careful consideration
and can safely say that | am familiar
with the wishes and sentiments Of
the people Of this county with refe'-
ence to the subject. However, on re-
ceipt of your letter made it a point
to interview the leading sportsmen
of this locality as well as all the
members, numbering about fifty, Of
the League of American Sportsmen,
an organization existing exclusively
for the purpose of game protection.
| am authorized to express to you
the following views concerning the
questions submitted as well as others
of vital moment:
/. There ought to be short open
season for elk. the bag to be limited
to two
2. The season for grouse and chick
en- ought to open Aug. Is, and close
Dec. Is
8. The open season for ducks ought
to commence Aug Is, and close May
1, of the season following.
Our reasons for the above views are
as follows: The season for al
game birds ought to open at the SAM
time. AS it is now some hunters &c
out after chickens between Aug. !;
and Sept. !, and do not hesitate Il
kill ducks if they get the chance The
result is that an injustice is done thu
law-abiding sportsmen who wait unit
Sept. for his duck shooting. 1t is the
general experience here that by thu
18th of August the young ducks are
capable of strong flight.
AS to spring shooting, the sentimen
here is strongly in favor of it. Their,
is no spring shooting before April Is
and the few days we do get occur i
the latter part of the month.
Whatever may be said In opposition
to spring shooting as general rul
we do not think the argument apple
to April shooting in this county. Il
the first place the lakes and pond
are rarely free from ice before tn
middle of April and the spring fligh
does not set in before that time. O
account of the winter shooting il
California and the south the birds ar
wild and fly high. Spring shootin
here has only the effect of taking II.
edge off the sportsman's appetite, an
has no appreciate effect on the gam
supply; the ducks do not begin
mate until after the list of May, an
when mating does begin they, az
rule, seek secluded and out-of-th
way places such as duck hunters vel
rarely visit
When the time comes that oths
states are ready to fall in line ar
prohibit spring shooting it will
time for Montana to do likewise, b.
we must not lose sight of the ia
that this is Il comparatively NJ
country, that game is comparative
abundant and that consequently Il
sentiment in favor of game protectit
is not as orthodox as it ought TO b.
hence the more liberal the game la
the better chance of enforcing it..
In this connection l am instruct
10 urge you to stay if possible I,
proposed legislation looking TO Il
shortening of the open season f
deer to Dec. l. great many of o
people, as will be shown by the {
closed letter, are in favor of extendi
the season to Jan. Is. have
ready written my views as to tn
proposition to Mr.. NJ. ]. Elrod,
the fish and game commission and
is not encessary to repeat them he
but as to the proposed shortening
the season l feel that l cannot s
too much against the proposition. 7
following from my letter to Mr..
rod expresses the views of the Fl
head county members of the LA.
who, as before stated, number O,
fifty.
"The very stringency and Unjust
of the other measure" (the propo
legislation closing the season Dec.