Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-09-07
THE GAMELAW.

THE GAME LAW.
The hunting season is now at hand
and therefore, it would be we'll for sports
men and landowners and the general
public to inform Themselves as to recent
changes in the Virginia game laws. AT
the last session of the General Assembly,
chapter 95 of the Code was revised and
amended in several important particulars.
! The new act is along progressive lin s
and conforms substantially to the laws OF
most of those States that have adopted
thorough codes for game protection.
Some Of those States, however, delayed
action too long and endeavored to ex-
tend protection after nearly all Of their
game had been destroyed The new
Virginia law seems to be more timely,
and its provisions, and the penalties for
the violation of them, are regarded as
great improvement upon the old statutes
and should be faithfully carried out.
1t is made unlawful to hunt water
fowl or wild turkeys at night, or to use
nets, traps, or rehectors, sneak boats,
etc., in capturing or shooting wild water
fowl of any kind, or at any time, or to
shoot or hunt game birds or game ami
mails protected by law sooner than hall
an hour before sunrise or later than hall
an hour after sunset, or to hunt or shoot
any game on Sunday.
The new act forbids the hunting OF
muskrats at night in tidewatir sections
of the State. This is not for the protec-
ton OF that animal, but to prevent the
driving of water fowl from their rOosting
and night feeding grounds.
Water fowl are often shot by use OF
lights by hunters who pretend to be
hunting muskrats.
The use of gun larger than an eight
bore is prohibited in the killing of game
of any kind. In many States a No 10 is
the maximum.
The closed season west of the Blue
Ridge Mountains for partridges Quail,
pheasants, grouse, turkeys, ETC., is made
from December lst to November 1st and
east of that range, from February lst TO
November 1st.
1t is made unlawful to destroy the nests
or young of those birds, or to trap them
at any time.
The closed season for deer is from
January lst to October 1st.
The possession of any birds or animals
or parts thereof protected by law during
the Iclosed season is prohibited. 1t is
unlawful to hunt any of the above men
toned game in the snow, except turkeys.
The new law makes no change as TO
rabbits. The former county laws are
still in force. In some counties the
season opens October 18th, and in others
as late as November 18th. Some counties
are without closed season.
The new act gives Boards of Super
visors power to shorten the open season
or to prohibit the killing of game at any
time in their counties.
A violation of the provisions of this
act is made misdemeanor and is pun
ishable BY fine from So to $50, or i'm
prisonment, or both in the discretion of
the court.
The section relating to game wardens
limits their power somewhat. He can
not make search without warrant,
but be can pursue violator of the law
anywhere, when endeavoring to arrest
him, if the warden saw the Odense COM
mitted.
Under the new law, the captains Of
the oyster police boats are, ex-officio,
game wardens.
Another important feature of the new
law is that which requires non-residents
of the State to secure license from the
clerk of the county in which he proposes
to hunt. A license will cost $40.
Very few States are without such re-
quirements in some, licenses are as
high as $50, and many States require a
license for each county. The Virginia
license is for the State.
The nonresident son of a resident
landowner may, however, hunt on his
parents land just as if he we're resi-
dent of the State. A resident land
owner can also have his nonresident
guest hunt with him on his own land,
without being required to pay the tax.
The lands in the State are posted by
law, and person going thereon, when
he has not been warned against doing SO
by posted notice or otherwise, is guilty
of in trespass, and can be prosecuted as
trespasser. If he has been so warned
he is guilty of a misdemeanor and the
punishment is more severe.
The new law prohibits the shipment
of game from the State for sale, but per
mits a resident to ship a limited guam
tity as a gift. A nonresident who is
licensed to hunt in Virginia may carry
with him from the State a limited guam
tity, which, by the way, is very gen
erous bag.
The new law could be stronger il
some respects, especially in the powers
given wardens, but, IS whole. 1t Is
great improvement upon the old law. L
is generally believed that it will have
good effect upon hunting in this State
and that it will result in the better pro
af CANA