Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-09-07
SUMMARY OF
GAME LAWS

a good many changes were made in |
the game laws by the last Legislature |
and hunters will have to be very care |
ful this year that they do not make |
themselves liable to prosecution by
unwittingly violating some one of the
laws that have been revised. A sum
mary Of the game law, therefore, in
volving the new provisions as well as
the more important of the laws that
were not changed are presented hero
in convenient form for the benefit of
the American readers:
There shall be no hunting or shoot
ing on Sunday. Penalty S25.
The destruction of birds nests and
their eggs is prohibited. Penalty $50
The killing or taking OF all game
except with a gun is illegal. Penalty
$50
But one deer or fawn can be legally
taken or killed in this commonwealth
during one season. Previously two
were the limit for one season.
The open season for deer and fawn
in Pennsylvania is from the 18th day
of November to the first day of Docem-
| ber. The new law cuts the season
down to fifteen days; it was formerly
one month.
1t is illegal to make use of what is
known as buckshOt in hunting deer or
| faWn or to use gun of any kind emit
ting more than one pellet, bullet or
ball at a single discharge. The use of
buckshot was previously permitted in
hunting deer.
1t is illegal to make use of dog CT
dogs in hunting deer or fawn i'll this
state. Any dog following upon the
track of deer or fawn is declared to he
public nuisance aud may be killed
by any person, when so seen and the
owner shall have no recourse what
ever. Dogs of any description may be
killed by owner or lessee of lands on
which they are found or by any officer
of the State whose duty it is to pro-
tect the game of the State when found
pursuing game out of season.
1t is illegal to kill in any one day
more than five ruffed grouse, com
monty called pheasants, or more than
twenty of these birds in one week or
more than fifty of these birds in one
season. Previously it was legal to kill
ten pheasants in one day and there
was no limit set Cor the season. 1t is
illegal also to kill more than five Eng
lish, Mongoian or Chinese pheasants
in day, twenty in week or fifty III
! one season.
1t is illegal to kill in any one day
, more than ten woodcnck, or more thar
twenty of these birds in one week. nl
+ more than fifty of these birds in any
q one season.
? Or TO kill in any one day more than
I ten quail, commonly called Virginii
, partridge, or more than forty of these
r birds in one week, or more than sew
4 enty-fi five of these birds in one season
The limit that might be killed in on,
day before was fifteen quail.
1t is illegal to kill in any one day
more than one wild turkey or morO
F.. than four wild turkeys in one season
Formerly two wild turkeys might b
killed in one day and there was N
limit set for the season. For violating
: this provision there Is a penalty 0
not less than $50 or more than 800.
1t is illegal to kill in any one da.
= moro than six of the combined kind
of fox. black or grey squirrels Pre-
viously there was no limit.
1t is illegal to kill or capture an
. bear or cub from the first of March t
), the first of October of each year. Pre-
viously there was no restriction. Pen
atty $50 for each bear or cub killed o
possessed contrary to law.
Except rs a protection to property
" is illegal to kill any rabbits save dur
u ing the month of November of oac
" year. Penalty SO
Plover can be legally killed ilor
. July 10 TO december /. Penalty SIC
Rail and reed birds can be legally Kill
Ii ed from September l to January /.
BIackbirds of all kinds may he kill
y ed from September l to January /.
o Doves may he killed from Septembe
> ! to January |. There was prGviOusl
no law for doves.
1t is illegal to hunt pheaSantS o
81 pinnated grouse during the nig ght time
e Penalty $40.
Wolves, woodchucks, or groun ihOgs
coons, 'possums. foxes, wildcats, mink
y weasels, skunks, porcupines and musk
u rats may be killed at any time.
: Constables of wards and township
are ex- -offioio game wardens and hav
- the same powers throughout the cOun
ty wherein they are elected as hav
the protectors appointed by the gam
commission. ConStahles are liable t
fine and imprisonment when they neg
lcct or refuse to enforce the gam
IL laws. A constable where he is the pros
}. ecutor is entitled to one-half of ttI
d penalty recovered and to $40 eXtri
i. from tho county for each convlctiO
secured Any citizen Of the Common
u wealth has the right TO prosecute 70
e the violation of the game aud fish Law
!, and is entitled to onc-half of the pen
20 alties recovered. Costs can not be i'm
posi- upon officers whose duty 1t Is t
Is enforce the game laws. but mnst b
% IL !. Il .l..nnE nr