The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-12-30

The legislative committee of the
Montana State Sportsmen's associa-
ton, at its meeting in Great Falls,
after consultation with many sports
men, decided upon numerous changes
in the game laws that it will urge
the legislature to make.
Perhaps the principal recommend
alton that will be made is that every
resident of Montana desiring to hunt
shall pay license of 81 for the sea-
son, the revenue from this source to
go toward defraying the expenses of
the Office of the state game warden.
1t will be recommended that this pro-
vision requiring a license shall not
apply to persons hunting upon their
own land 1t is argued that the IL
censing of every hunter will not only
greatly increase the funds available
for the protection of game, at a tax
which every true sportsman will
cheerfully pay, but the license sys-
tenn will also enable the several dep
uty game wardens better to keep
track of tie hunters of the state, sep
the violators of the law.
1t will also be recommended, as
the unanimous opinion of the sports
men of the state, that the tax for
the maintenance of the Office of state
game warden shall be increased from
Ito to LIS of 1 mill 1t is agreed
that the present force of deputies are
inadequate, on account of the vast
extent of territory to be covered,
and it is believed that the doubling
of the tax will give funds sufficient
to provide for at least double the
present number of deputy wardens
in the state. The present force has
done much good work. There have
been many prosecutions and many
convictions for violations Of the game
laws. and the work of the wardens
has had a great deterrent influence,
but many violations of the law have
gone unpublished, and it is believed
that a doubling of the force will re-
suit in almost entirely preventing in
fractions of the law.
One of the most important changes
| in the law to be recommended is that
spring shooting of aquatic fowls be
abolished. At present. the open sea-
son for ducks geese, swans and
brants extends from September 1 to
May l. The birds all return from the
south before May and would nest in
Montana if it were not for the drive
of spring shooting, but this drives
them further north, and they are not
often seen in the state between May
and the late fall. If spring shooting
should be abolished, it is believed the
birds would nest here and rear their
young in the state, and by the first
of September there would be upon
the waters of Montana many times
the number of birds now found here
at that season. It will be recon-
mended that the open season for
aquatic birds shall extend only from
| September / to December /.
1t will also be recommended that
| the maximum number of deer that
may be killed by one hunter in a
season should be reduced. At pres
ent the limit is six, and it will be
urged that that it be reduced to three
or four and perhaps to two.
it will also be asked that the open
season for deer and elks be reduced
probably to the period between Octo
Der / and December / for deer, anG
between September Is and November
l for elks.
It will also be recommended thai
the maximum number of mountain
goats that may be killed by one hun
ter in a season be reduced to three
or four and perhaps to two