The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-23

some kind IN Minnesota sD6llB taken dI
the next session The number of men
who have been killed or wounded during
the past two weeks has been appalling,
and it is felt that something is neces-
sary to counterfeit the carelesSness that
is the cause of this terrible carnage.
These disasters are becoming altogeth-
er too common. Every day during the
hunting season reports come in of some
one being plugged with lead because an
idiotic dolt couldn't tell the dlHerence
between a man and a deer.
Hundreds of these amateur hunters go
into the woods, dressed in buckskin jack
cts and cap, or in khaki. This is sui
cidal in view of the vast number OF
inexperienced persons seeking deer in
the forests. The dun-colored animal
and the dun-colored man are mixed, and
bullets fly at the individual who Is fool
ishly rugged out in reddish-brow
clothes In this respect the knowing
hunter takes no chance of being made
a target. He goes into the woods in
dark or colored clothing When on the
trail he wears a white cap, or has d
deep band of red cloth around his head
gear. Some do not disdain to wear
bright-colored sweater or mackinaw
Thus CARRIED, he at least lessons the
danger of being mistaken for deer by
some careless hunter.
E0VOr Legislative ACTON.
The Glo b talked with a number of
legislators yesterday, and they all IA
vored the idea of taking some action at
the next session. They were naturally
a little backward about giving their
views as to just what the procedure
should be- The general opinion was that
the law could not designate a. certain
uniform to be worn by all hunters, but
all seemed agreed that a law could be
passed making carelessness of this class
a criminal offense, and punishable by
law. From the statements made there
would seem to be little doubt that the
Minnesota legislature will take action of
some kind.
AT the last session OF the legislature
this very matter was discussed. Senator
Ryder. chairman of the committee, and
Sam Fullerton giving particular atten-
ton to this phase of the question Sen
ator Ryder says that If law having in
view the protection of hunters can be
drawn up so that it will be at all eff
fective, without being vindictive, 1t will
have no trouble in passing the legisla-
ture.
81 should be heartily in favor of such
law myself, and know that great
many of my colleagues would also,' said
Senator Ryder yesterday. "It does seem
as If something could be done to par
tally remove this danger, and it is GER
tain that something must soon be done
or the real sportsmen will be forced to
leave the field entirely to those amateurs
who menace the population of the state.
L should favor making the accidental
shooting of man under such circum-
stances penal offense. When death
is the result of rank carelessness, such
carelessness is certainly criminal, and
should be punishable"
Attorney General Douglas was some
what opposed to this idea last year;
but since his experience in the woods
he will probably favor the passage of a
law making this kind of accidental shoot
ing criminal offense as heartily as
anybody.
Same as Wisconsin.
The subject is being discussed in Wis
consln, also, and it is altogether proba-
bic that the Wisconsin legislature WI
act on this matter State Senator Roeh
er, of Wisconsin. says:
Its clear case of criminal careless
ness. The state is the absolute owner
OF all the game animals, fowl ard fish
IN he woods and streams. 1t can pre-
scribe therefore how they shall be hunt
ed or captured. The license can be made
TO read so that deer hunters shall con-
form to certain regulations. think the
killing of man in mistake for a deer
or bear or wolf, with the excuse that it
was accidental, can be made a prison Of
tense. It's not so much accident as Grim,
NAL carelessness, and that is a punish
able offense. No man should shoot until
he is absolutely certain that the object
aimed at is what he knows to be a deer
or other wild animal | hardly think
there could be a regulation made that
only men of certain age or experience
IN hunting should be granted a license,
Ihere are numbers of men who have
sons of eighteen or twenty years that
they take out with them on a hunting
law that would prevent them having
these young men with them. Neither
do | think the kind Of weapon can be
regulated by law. Not every hunter who
takes out license goes out for deer
They may intend to go duck hunting or
after quail or snipe. To force one kind
of gun on hunters would be impossible
A shotgun would not do for deer, any
more than a rifle would do for snipe
For myself, although I was with a
party of experienced hunters. I got nv
wife to sew red band on my cap. and
1t IS a good plan, no matter whom you go
With. We had grand sport I hold the
record in our party for the largest deer.
shot buck that weighed 203 pounds
dressed. am going to have the head
mounted. 1t is a six-prong antler and as
splendid a head as 1 ever saw. I quite
agree with Senator Green about the ne
slaughter of human beings. Senator
Green is chairman of the senate game
and fish committee, and he is likely to
introduce a measure himself His com
mittee would have the consideration of
all such bills in any event, and no doubt
would report favorably on one"