The Opelousas courier., 1904-10-08
New Hunting Law.

The last Legislature has passed new
hunting laws which are now III effect.
As this parish is one Of The places 10
this State where game ab0unds at an
seasons of the year, and consequently
where many hunters are found, we re-
produce a summary Of the law rs pup
iished in the Picayune, that tho law
NAV be respected and persons warned
in time against its violation. The ne"
law is tighter drawn than the old, GOV.
ers a larger field, and carries with IT
more severe penalties. The following
are some of its prominent features:
sit prohibits the shipping of the song
birds to other States, and cuts oil that
terrific trade which was rapidly robblng
Louisiana of all its singers. 1t also pro-
hibits the selling Of parts OF nom game
birds as trimming for hats, and even
The selling Of parts of the game BIRDS
"a decorations. The law gives to the
non-g game birds, which are worthless as
food. almost absolute protection. TINS
Dassed both branches of the Legislature
aud has peer signed by Gov. Blanchard.
To the hunters of the State the law
giving the protection to the game BIRDS
and animals is decidedly moro attrac-
tive.
One of the most important new feat
ures of this bill is the establishment of
a tax upon the hunters. The regular
amateur hunter, who has been foot
loose heretofore, will in the future be
compelled TO pay a fee of $1.00 for the
privilege of hunting during the open
season. This license goes INTO effect
moon the date the season opens, and eX-
hires when the season closes. This step
has been taken in order that the shoot
ing of game ont of season could be made
more Of an offense than it was formerly
The non-resldent-and there are hun
dreds of them hunting in Louisiana
every winter-in the future will have
to pay a fee of $40 and his license hold'
good only during the open season.
All hunters are prohibited from kill
ing more than seventy-ive birds in /
DAYS hunt, which will put an end to tis
slaughter Of ducks in the early winter
A failure to secure a permit will rendeI
he hunter liable to a fine of not les
than $25 non more than $50, or imprls
onment. The money secured from thes'
licenses will go to the game fund, an
will be used finally for the employment
Of State game wardens. In the mean
time, before these wardens arc appoint
ed, the sheriffs Of the parishes will hay
authority to appoint wardens. and tn
officers appointed can search any build
HE. ChEN puShURO OE NOiu otoAuS P'usA
for gam out of season. 1t he finds thi
game, the holder may be fined from y
to $5 for every bird and game anima
found.
The bill regulates very clearly hoy
many birds of the various varieties Ca
be killed, and how many deer alst
For instance, the bill says that it wi
be unlawful for any person to kill NOR
than twenty-five birds of any variet
in a day, excepting ducks, and the limi
on ducks ia fixed at seventy-ive, an
every bird ia named in the bill. TIL
deer hunters will not be allowed to XII
more than six bucks in a season, fror
September to February, and at no sea
son of the year will it be legal to kill
doe or a very small deer OF either SCI
The season for doves rails, coot
poule d'eau, surf birds, sandpiper
cherooks, curlews, plovers and grosbe
will be closed from March until Angus
and the snipe season will close in Me
and open in September Turkeys ca
be shot from December until April. an
squirrels from September until Apri
IG will be unlawful at any time to kill
turkey hen.
The shooting of American woodcock
wood ducks and prairie chickens will |
stopped completely for five years. Tn
step has been taken in order that I'll
three varieties of birds may not be con
pletely destroyed. They were rapid
being killed out, and some very decide
action was necessary.
The hunters expect that within a fe
more years Louisiana will be the grea
est hunting country in America, and Il
State will have plenty of money wi
which to see the game laws enforced.