Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-16
IOWA SPORTS TALK
sportsmen Are Awaiting With
Interest Possible Action
of the Legislature
WILL FIGHT CLOSED SEASON
Concerted Action is Being Taken to
Defeat. If Possible, the Measure to
Prohibit Duck Shooting in the Spring
Law Forbiddins Sale of All Game
Brought Forward as Compromise.

Just what the legislature IS liable to
do in the way of passing new laws or
enactins amendments to old ones. pro-
tecting Iowa's game. IS the one thing
sportsmen. There has been much dis
! e'ission as 10 what ought to be done.
Some advocate one thing. some am
other. but among Nil the proposed game
protective measures. none is encoun-
tering phe opposition like that which
has lined up against the closing Of the
spring duck season. Among those who
see in this measure the discontinue
ance of the spring sport. activity is
rife. Petitions are being circulated and
a movement is on foot TO have lobby
lists on the ground to fight 10 finish
this bill should 1t be sprung. Whether
this measure. IL IL is reached this sas-
sion. ever becomes a law. will depend
entirely upon how full realization of
the rapid diminishing of the game IS
held by members of the legislature.
If the legislature can be convinced
that this proposed step is destined in
a large measure to preserve the Wild
fowl, it Will probably become law.
The opposition. those who rold 1t bet
ter TO bag their share than assist in
the work of preservation, are
putting forward. as a sort OF
compromise, n measure prohibiting
the sale of game. regardless OF Kind.
at all times of the year. This they hold
would prove fully as beneficial in put
ting check on the slaughter as would
the closing of the spring season.
While this statement is thought to be
soverdrawn. there is every reason to
believe that We're such Il law put into
effect /. would bring good results. 1t
would put the market hunter out of
business which in itself. constitutes a
considerable item.
Take away the market and you close
the business of the hunter who has
been supplying II. unless thru years of
ruthless killing. the habit has SO grown
upon him that he would continue to
do SO. forced by that habit. 1t is
doubtless true that by such law a
would cease TO exist as such. That
would mean considerable. for only
those who have watched from close
range. are able 10 approximate the
thousands OF birds that are killed every
year by these men. Years of exper-
fence have made these meat hunters
machine like in their accuracy. and
hunting with them means killing. one
of such will destroy more game in
year than a dozen ordinary sports
men.
Just how much good would result
from such a change would depend ems
tirely upon the manner of its enforce
ment If it received the same close
attention that the law protecting
chickens does the killing and shipping
to other states would go on as a matter
of course. A law of that kind must be
rgidly enforced to become at all eff
fective for in states like Minnesota
and Wisconsin, where such laws exist.
violations are common. The one great
trouble In Iowa has always been laXity
in carrying out its game laws. This
is not to be understood as intimating
lHdl tle SdlIiS MdtlSHS iistNS CSCh
The fault has been with
the legislature. which by its niggardly
appropriations for these purposes has
made enforcement almost impossible.
900
But after all. the market shooter is
not the only game hog In the field.
Laws setting limit upon the number
of fowls to be killed in a single day
are good ones If the hunting proves
to be poor. Then they will not be dis
regarded. Let the birds come in thick
and fast however, and there is not one
in ten of the hunters of the state who
call themselves sportmen. who would
ever give the limit clause second
thought They would continue TO
How's Thisy
SHo oSpAe One Hundred Dol1ara Reward An