Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-04-06
SUBJECT OF HEARING BEFORE
LEGISLATORS.
HATTEN A HUMANITARIAN
Senator Argues Against Cruelty to
Birds and Shows that Ducks Rear
Their Young in Wisconsin-Game
Warden's Department Strongly
Opposed to Open Period.
Madison, April 2.

Spring shooting of ducks with abso'
lutte prohibition of the sale of game
at all times of the year were the pre-
vailing sentiments expressed at the
hearing before the joint committee on
fish and game yesterday afternoon.
Former Speaker Ray, appearing on be-
half of La Crosse sportsmen, argued
for an open season for a few days for
duck hunters and a few days in the
fall for those who wish to get after
the quail.
AS against the spring shooting, the
strongest argument was made by
Senator Hatten who said that while
he was no hunter he was anxious that
the game of the state. especially the
birds. should have such protection as
the state can afford them. Ii had
been argued, he said, that ducks do
not nest in Wisconsin. He had en-
quired from a number of sportsmen
from Oshkosh and in and about that
neighborhood who had told him that
the birds have been nesting in Wis
consin since the time when protection
in the spring was Afforded them.
He quoted from Chapman and Blat-
len. who are considered the best au-
thorities on the subject, and both OF
whom said that ducks, with practical
~ canvasback as the only important
exception, rear their young in this
state.
These birds, he said, have mated
some weeks before their arrival IN the
state, according to the authorities,
and it is a fact that housekeepers
often find in the birds shot in the
spring undeveloped eggs. Once upon
the waters here they seek to build
their nests and it was a serious matter
for a hunter to hunt and Kill them at
that time OF their life. man who
did il, said Senator Hatten, should re-
tire To the extreme rear and commune
with himself and ask himself If he
was doing right in taking the life of a
mother just as she was preparing to
rear her young.
State Game Warden Overlook said
that the game department was pro
nounced i'm it's opposition to spring
shooting and to shooting in open
waters and was opposed to the sale of
game in the state at any time.
Capt. c. w. Johnson of Winneconne
argued agaist the unlimited use OF de-
coys. He contended that some hunt
ers on KoshkOnong now have upwards
of 1000 decoys by the use of which
they are enabled to slaughter ducks.
In his opinion, growing out of an eX-
perience of over a quarter of a cen
fury. no hunter should be allowed to
have more than % decoys. He also
opposed open water shooting, asked
for a closed season for set lines from
r eb. l to May %, and for a limit OF
10 to the number of set lines one man
may have He asked also for a close
season for the dates above given for
surgeons. Capt. Johnson describes
the so-called sneak boats" and
monitors in use on some of the
lakes and asked that q new law give
authority to the state department 20
get after some of the men who use
appliances which are in violation of
the spirit if not the letter of the pres
ent law and which give the hunter an
undue and unfair advantage over the
game. Capt. Johnson made a strong
impression on the committee.
Puckaway and Green Lake sports
men petitioned for a prohibition of