The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1906-11-02

On account of the universal mis-
understanding of the new Code
chapter with reference to the taking
and hunting Of game and fish in
this State, it viii be of general in
terest to sportsmen to know the ex-
act facts. There has been more in
terest in this chapter than any other
Of the new Code, because Of the rad
zeal changes made from the old law,
and because Of the fact that so many
sportsmen come to Mississippi from
all parts of the country to hunt
It has been generally understood
that the new law fixes definitely
and conclusively the time and dura-
ton Of the OPEN season, or sea
son in which game and fish may be
taken But this Is incorrect. The
new law fixes only the closed :
season, defining exactly the dates
within which no game can be hunt
ed or taken in the State But the
law contains a section which au-
thorizes the Boards Of Supervisors
in the various counties to take alb
solute Jurisdiction Of game and fish
during the open" season. and un-
der this section the Board of Super
peryisors in any county may pro-
hibit the taking Of game and fish
at all, or may cut down the open "
season to any limit they may see
fit
For example, the new law pro
vides that deer shall not be hunted
or killed between March 1 and Nov.
3 Of any year This is the State
law, and applies to every county in
the State, and no hunting Of deer
can be permitted during this closed
period But section 2306 Of the law
provides that the Boards Of Super
visors have authority to regulate
the times and the places III which
and the circumstances under which
game and fish may be taken, and
by whom and in what quantities
and to what extent the same may
be marketed; but the board can not
authorize the taking Of game or fish
at a time in which doing so is pro
hibited by law.
Therefore, while the boards can
not permit the hunting Of deer be
tween March i and November Is,
they can prohibit the hunting Of
deer at any time after Nov. 10 and
prior to March or can restrict the
hunting to any one month during
this period if they SO desire This
information will be a revelation to
many sportsmen, who have been
under the impression that the new
law takes all authority from the
Boards Of Supervisors entirely, and
that the open season as fixed IN the
State law Is absolute and conclusive.
1t will be necessary therefore, for
hunters, before undertaking to enter
a county, under the State law, to
hunt or to take game and fish. to
ascertain whether the Board of SUI
pervisOrs Of such county has placed
any further restrictions on the hunt
ing season and has shortened the
open season, as they have a right
10 do. In several counties the
boards have already taken action
in the matter and have shortened
the season for hunting materially
in cases Of certain kinds Of game
The object Of the law was to enable /
the boards to protect any certain /
kind Of game which might be grow .
ing scarce or in danger Of becoming
extinct Sectary Power is receiving
scores Of letters daily concerning
what the sportsmen regard as a /
conflict in the law, but which is full
ly explained in the foregoing I'm
der the old law the State made no
closed season at all, and left to the
Boards Of Supervisors the exclusive /
right to fix dates for hunting -
New Orleans Times-Democrat.