The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-08-14
LEGAL THEN TO HUNT CERTAIN
GAME.
BEGINNING OF OPEN SEASON
Birds That May Be Killed Reported
as Unusually PIentifuI-Season
Was Favorable.

sETomorrow, August Is, the men who
have been cleaning their shotguns and
training their dogs in anticipation OF
the season when they would be per-
mitted by law to kill prairie chickens,
grouse, foolhens, partridges and sage
hens, may sally forth and shoot as
many as any reasonable hunter would
care to bag in one day, namely, 70,
the legal limit OF one days shooting.
BY this it should not be understood
that for only one day may they hunt,
for the open season continues until
December l. The limit fixed applies
only to each day in the season.
For violating the law a penalty OF
fine from $25 to $3.50 is imposed.
In default the one convicted shall be
imprisoned in the county Jail for
period OF not less than 30 nor more
than 80 days.
May Not Sell Game.
Under provision OF the law hun
ters are forbidden to sell any game
that may be killed during the open
season. Violation OF this provision IS
punishable by a heavy fine. Neither
may they ship any out OF the state,
unless previous permission has been
obtained from the Office OF the state
game warden. Transportation COM
panies are enjoined from forwarding
any game to points beyond the limits
OF the state, unless the party desir-
ing to make shipment exhibits a pro-
per permit This must contain the
name of the shipper, describe the
game about to be shipped and also
give the name OF the consignee and
the place OF his residence. For dis
regarding this part OF the law trans
portation companies are subject to
punishment in the way OF fines.
An Exception.
The only exception made in the
prohibition OF catching, snaring or
shipping OF live wild animals classified
as game is in favor sof the genera
government. Any authorized agent of
the Smithsonian institution may. upon
application to the game warden, catch
and forward any animal desired for
propagation or exhibition in the Ma.
tional Geological park, under such re-
strictions as the game warden may
deem fit and proper
Good Shooting Anticipated.
According to all reports that have
reached the hunters feathered game
appears to be unusually plentiful this
season. The dry summer and ab-
sence OF severe hailstorms have con.
spired to give the young birds
chance to grow. In addition hunters,
OF the real sort, have obeyed the
law scrupulously ana in consequence
no hunting has been done since last
winter. All the shooting since then
has been by "pothunters," fortunate
ly not numerous in this part of the
state. The genuine sportsman and
the game wardens nave kept close
watch on the fellows and they have
been able to do but little hunting,
having a wholesome fear of the law.
1t is also said that the new law
preventing Indians from carrying guns
when off their reservations has had
not little to do with the increase.
OF this, however, there is no great
certainty. Indians, as a, rule, are not
small game hunters. They have no
shotguns and do not care for killing
birds with rifles, il they could, some
thing very few are skillful enough
marksmen to accomplish 1t is possi-
BILE that the law may have had a
tendency to increase large game, but
this cannot be told until the season
when it may be hunted opens.
EAIR AppnIMrecc