The Opelousas courier., 1904-08-20
New Hunting Law.

The last Legislature has passed new
hunting laws which are now in effect.
AS this parish is Que of the places M
this State where game abonnds at all
seasons of the year, and cnlst qurntiy
where many hunters are found, WE fe-
produce n summary of The law fs pub
iished IN The p~ictyunr, that the law
may be respected! and PERSONS warned
in time against its violation. The new
law il tighter drawn than the old, cov-
ers a larger field, and carries with it
more severe penalties. The following
are some of its prominent features:
st prohibits the shipping Of the song
birds to other States, andrcuts off that
terrific trade which was rapidly r0bbing
Louisiana of all its singers. 1t also pro-
hibits the selling of parts OF non-ganle
birds as trimming for hats, and even
the selling of parts of the game birds
as decorations, The law gives to the
non-game birds, which are worthless as
food, almost absolute protection. This
passed both branches of the Legislature
and has been signed by Gov. Blanchard.
To the hunters of the. State The law
giving the protection to The game birds
and animals is decidedly more attrac-
tive.
One OF the most important lew feat
ures of this bill is the establishment of
"a lax upon the hunters. The regular
amateur hunter, who has heen foot
loose he%rttofore, will in the future. bu
compelled 20 pay Il fee of $1.00 tf~s1ie
privilege of hunting 4RaA1s~ese open
season. This LICENSE goes INTO effect
upon the date the season opens, and ex-
pires when the season closes. This step
has been taken in order that the shoot
ing of gameOut of season could be made
more of an Otfense than il was formerly.
The non-lesldent-anl there are hun
dreds of them hunting in Louisiana
every winteEEin the future will have
to pay a fee Of $40, and his license holds
good only during the open season.
All hunters are prohibited from kill
ing more than seventy-tive birds in a.
days hunt, which will put an end to the
slaughter of ducks in the early winter.
A failure to secure a permit will render
the hunter liable to a fine of not less
than $25 nor more than $50, or impris-
onment. The money secured from these
licenses will go to the game fund, and
will be used finally for the employment
OF State game wardens. In the mean
time, before these wardens are appoint
ed, the sherifts OF the parishes will have
authority to appoint wardens, and the
officers appointed can search any build
ing, car, package or cold storage plant
for game out of season. If he finds this
game, the holder may be fined from 81
to $5 for every bird and game animal
found.
The bill regulates very clearly how
many birds of the various varieties can
be killed, and how many deer also.
For instance, the bill says that it will
be unlawful for any person to kill more
than twenty-five birds of any variety
in a day, excepting ducks, and the limit
on ducks is fixed at se~yenty-five, and
every bird is named in the bill. The
deer hunters will not be allowed to kill
more than six bucks in a season, from
September to February, and at no sea-
son of the year will it be legal to kill q
| doe or q very small deer of either sex.
The season for doves, rails, coots,
pOule d'eau, surf birds, sandpipers
%cherooks, curlews, plovers and grosbec
will be closed from March until August
and the snipe eas0n will close in May
and open in September. Turkeys car
squirrels from September until April
1t will be unlawful at any time to kill
turkey hen.
The shooting of American woodcocks
wood ducks and prairie chickens will bs
stopped completely for five years. This
step has been taken ia order that tht
three varieties of birds may not be con
pletely destroyed. They were rapidly
being killed out, and some very decided
action was necessary.
The hunters expect that within a few
more years Louisiana will be the great
est hunting country in America, and th.
State win have plenty of money will
which to see the game laws enforced.