Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-09
IOWA SPORTS TALK
Sportsmen Take Sides For Or
Against Proposed Measure
Closing Spring Season
PRESERVATION VS.. EXTINCTION

Prohibiting Spring Duck Shooting Be-
lieved to Be One Way to Stop Awful
SlauehterOpposins Faction Claims
Il Would Be An njustice-Reasons
Supporting Both Assertions
AS the time for the ASSEMBLING os
the next legislature draws nearer at
hand increased interest is being taken
by sportsmen turnout the state Goa
corning the talked of radical changes
in several OF Iowa's game laws. The
one that has aroused the greatest com
ment and discussion is that having. 20
do with the closing of the open spring
season for ducks. Another that has
received considerable attention from
those interested Is the one prohibiting
the sale of all game. Still another.
but less likely to become a law, is that
one prohibiting the hunting of wild
game on Sunday. Whether anyone o..
all of these, is believed to be for the
best depends entirely upon the view
point of the Individual.
George A. Lincoln, state fish and
game warden, in his report to the
governor recommended the closing Of
the spring season for ducks. and since
that was made public, arguments both
for and against have not only been
widely published but have been show
cred upon him. He has gathered much
information on the subject and is led 20
believe that the concensus of opinion
of the majority of sportsmen is that the
season should be closed. This is not
to be considered as stating that there
are no objections, for there are many,
coming from some of the best known
sportsmen OF the state. Neither is TO
be taken that the sportsmen who OPP.
pose. are any the less sportsmen for
SO doing, than those who uphold this
idea. Looking at it in the broades.
sense 1t would seem that the open
spring seasons hold within itself. that
which to large extent. was doing
more to exterininate the water fowl
than all other things combined.
In Iowa the spring season. is as a
rule the big season for ducks. During
those months the hunting is generally
the best of the year, and as a resu,,
the slaughter is greatest. II this be
true. and it can scarcely be denied. why
does 1t not constitute the one strong
plea for closing that season, and thus
to a certain degree. perpetuating the
life of the wild fowl. To those who
foresea determination in the present
method the closed spring season Is be-
lieved to be remedy. To those others
who wish to get their share while thu
birds last. an injustice Is claimed. To!
those who are familiar with the ways
OF the migrating flocks, there seems to
be- but little doubt that the indirect
OF that seasons killing are
greater than that OF the fall. Specially
will this hold true IL the season has
been late one, and the fight over
Iowa does not commence until the las;
Of March or early April. The death of
q female duck in spring. and especially
late spring, means the destruction OF
her next brood. Many of the already
mated birds, when the other Is killed,
will not again select u partner for the
In opposition to this, those who hold
for an open season, do so on the ground
Of the personal injustice done to Iowa
hunters. 1t is asserted, and the state
ment stands as an undeniable truth, |
that the spring slaughter begins in the |
marshes OF Texas and Louisiana long
before the season has opened here. |
Tho opposition claims 1t should be al
lowed the same privileges that their
southern brothers enjoy. What good
would 1t work. they say, to prohibit |
spring shooting in Iowa when the
slaughter is still going on far to the
south? The birds are due to become
almost entirely or totally extinct in the
course of time. and they hold that such
being the case. they should be entitled
10 their share OF the bag while 1t
asts. A similar assertion is made, and
probably truthfu!ly. OF the hunters of
Dakota and Minnesota. where the kill
ng begins. while the birds are still in
pin feathers.
To preserve and protect the game
hat the possibility of extinction be
educed to the minimum should ever be
he thought uppermost in the mind of
he true sportsman. Two wrongs do
lot make right Because slaughter
,oes on IN the salt marshes of the
ruff border, is that any reason why
owa should allow 1t? If 1t is possible
or Iowa to enact laws that will tend
o project the game, Should il not do
20. rather than cater to the desire of /,
hose who wish the defamation to con-
inue? While in sense an injustice
night seem to be done to some, would +
lot the benefits conferred upon the
Whole tend toward ultimate good?
spring shooting In Iowa each year
means the destruction of thousands of
Iueks. If this is fact would not law
this lead toward preserva-
ion?
To those who object to the idea of
he closed season 1t appears to only
urnish birds for even greater slaughter
arther south. Whether this would
rove true or not is to be doubted. /,
Minnesota has closed spring season,
8 has also Wisconsin. Michigan. Ohio