The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-03-20
This Objection Raised Against the
Proposed New Law.
Mankato Gun Club Will Suggest
Several Changes.
Committee Appointed to Prepare
These Amendments.
Club Wants to Shoot Water Fowl
From Blinds.
From Wednesdays Daily.

From Wednesdays Daily.
The local gun,club held a well attended
special meeting last night to consider
the game law that is before the legis-
lature, and that is said to have the
backing of the state game commission. A
copy of the proposed law was read and
thoroughly discussed. Several sections
were considered to be too drastic
The principal objection was raised to
the section which forbids the shooting
of waterfowl from blinds in the water.
The members thought that it would be
difficult to get big bag of game if it
had to be shot from the shore.
The law provides license fee of fifty
cents, to be paid annually, for the privi-
lege of hunting. The license is to be
obtained from the county auditor. 1t
was thought that this fee should be
made merely nominal, and that town
clerks should be employed to issue IL
censes. If residents of the country are
required to go to the county seat in or
der to obtain licenses the law would pro-
badly be unpopular in the country dis
tricts, where it might be considered dis
elimination in favor of the city hunters.
The proposed law prohibits the killing
of muskrats unless they destroy proper
ty. The object of this is said to be to
help preserve the lakes. Muskrats, it is
well known, build their winter homes out
of rushes that grow in the water in the
lakes and sloughs. 1t takes a large
these habitations, and the tendency is to
preserve the lakes, both by keeping clear
water and by preventing the greatly in
creased absorption that vegetation grow
ing out of water causes, not to mention
the filing up of the bottom with vegeta-
ton that in time fills up the lakes. On
the other hand, the muskrat destroys nu-
merous eggs in the nests of waterfowl as
well as young birds. They are one of
the greatest enemies of waterfowl. Look
ing at the matter in this light, the gun
club thought that the new law should
not protect these little rodents.
A feature of the new law that was
considered to be entirely too strong is
one that gives sheriffs, constables, game
wardens and other officers of the law the
right to take and destroy all property
found on persons who are hunting illegal
ly, including guns, dogs, horses and
wagons, camping outfits, fish houses,
fishing outfits, etc. Officers doing this
are relieved of any liability for damages,
and the owners of the property have no
recourse. The fear was expressed that
officers might use this power in a man
ner that would cause great injustice to
be done to innocent parties.
C. L. Benedict, G. E. Wise, ]. A. Luis
dorff and G A. Lewis were appointed
committee to 60 over the proposed game
law and suggest such changes as may
seem desirable. The committee will
forward its views to the Blue Earth
county delegation in the legislature, who
will be asked to use their influence to
have the measure amended as desired.
The club did not transact any other
business, except to take in one new mem
Der. If the weather permits, the first
weekly shoot of the season will be held
at Sibley park Friday afternoon.