Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-12-05
IOWA SPORTS TALK
Report of G. A. Lincoln, State
Fish and Game Warden, Con
tains Recommendations
TO SAVE THE PRAIRIE CHICKEN
TO SAVE THE PRAIRIE CHICKEN
Advocates Closed Period of Three
Years to Prevent Determination
Wants Closed Spring Duck Season
No Sunday Huntins-snipe Should
Be Protectod-Resuit ofProsecutions.

| 1iae biennial report of George A.
| Lincoln. % Cedar Rapids, state fish
and game warden, has been made pub
He and contains much that viii be OF
interest to Iowa sportsnen. In it ara
ii number of wise recommendations
With a View toward the protection OF
fish and game that will appeal 10
every thinking lover of the river and
woods. Mr.. Lincoln. like Others who
have held the office before him. is
handicapped with the lack of funds to
property carry on the work. This will
always be the case until the legisla-
ture recognizes the Importance OF
game and fish protection. Sixteen
thousand dollars is asked for the next
period, but this amount will probably
be considerably lessened before the
appropriation is finally made.
Lincoln has wisely noted the rapid
rate at which prairie chickens have
disappeared in Iowa during the past
two years, and has recommended that
for period of three years. beginning
July l, 1904, they be protected. Two
wet seasons, and persistent hunting of
the remaining few. has brought about
this condition. The idea of three
closed years is good one, but it will
have no lasting effect. The time has
passed when these fowls will he other
than scarce in Iowa. Three years Of
protection will not do It. AS the coun
try has settled up the prairie chicken
has disappe AIRED. and by nature will
rot return to a country too thickiy
populated. A few years ago a similar
plan was tried in Illinois. The birds
increased. but the first few weeks of
the fourth season witnessed such an
awful slaughter that the number was
soon reduced to about where 1t was
before protection was IN force. So 1t
would be in Iowa. Every hunter
able to pack gun would be wait
ing for the first open year when the
slaughter would be on, and months
time would witness such killing that
no lasting good would be accomplished
$50
Another recommendation. that should
NEE. with support sufficient to cause
1t TO become a law. is the one which
ends the open season for ducks with
Jan. l. This would do away with the
srring shooting so disastrous to the
wild fowls. This movement has been
advocated before in this column, and
would have become reality several
years ago had It not been defeated by
bunch OF meat hunters In north
western Iowa. This Is one of the surest
methods of preserving the ducks be-
fore their numbers are so decreased
as to make 1t not worth while. BY
spring protection they can be induced
to breed in Iowa. and by so doing bet
ter the fall shooting to such an extent
that closing the now open spring sea-
son would not prove serious loss to
the hunter.
While 1t might prove a hardship to
some, the recommendation to prohibit
Sunday shooting is. In many ways, 4
wise one Many there are who, busy
on the other days of the week. take this
one day in which 20 follow game. 1t
is noticeably true, however. that on this
day, of all others, is the one on which
the greatest slaughter occurs. The pot
hunters and ignorant classes invariably
choose this day to be abroad, and Kill
not only game birds but song birds
in great numbers. This is another of
the causes that has a considerable
bearing on the determination OF game.
Sunday hunting on the farmers land
also is one of the principal reasons for
friction between the hunter and the
rural resident Many farmers have re-
'spect for the Sabbath, and to see some
city chap trodding over his land. while
he himself is on his way from churcn
Is liable to cause his wrath to rise.
Mr. Lincoln would recommend an
open season for snipe from Sept. to
April Is. This is another species OF
Iowa game birds which has little IL
any. protection and is deserving of
preservation. The Jack" or Wilson