Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-10
MAY CLOSE THE QUAIL SEASON
Bills in Legislature Aim at Protection
of Bob white.

| Oh Rod WhItes
If bills introduced by the fish and game
| committees In both houses of the leglsla-
! ture are enacted into law the shooting Of
| quail will be prohibited until such a time
an open season. The bills also propose TO
close the season entirely for deer and pro-
vide changes, in the open season for hsh
and some of the game birds. The quail
bill has passed the house.
Under the proposed law the open season
for prairie chicken, sage hens and grouse
has been made from September to and
including November of each year, which is
an addition of the month of September.
crane and ali game water fowls is left
as II is, from September l to April ID. The
season on jack snipe, wilson snipe and
May 10 instead of to April 15 as at present.
The open season for wild pigeons, doves
and plover is recommended to be made
from September to November 30 instead
of as at present, from April Is to october
30. The trout season Is to be changed to
instead of from June l to october 81 as
at present. Under the proposed law all
other fish may. be caught from April I to
November Is, instead of from April to
October 81, under the present law.
Deputy Game Warden Carter in his re-
port to the governor for the last two years
says:
"The increase in certain varieties Of our
game birds has been marked, notably our
former species were originally found in
great numbers in all the states from Ken
lucky on the east to the Rocky mountains
on the west, but increased population, the
breaking up OF the prairie lands. thereby
destroying their homes, and the ever ready
market hunter to XII them for n their Irt COM
| small area, namely, the prairie sections or
! Nebraska, northern Kansas and the Da-
kotas, and they are now rarely found as
! far east as Illinois.
fThe sharp tailed grouse are native of
the short grass country and nave SHOWN
an increase equal TO that Of the pinnated
| We have received many words of encour-
| agement from officers of the Department.
OF Agriculture at washington, u: -; ana n,a
| have taken for the preservation OF these
noble game birds and especially the PIN
mated. which is fast becoming extinct In
with our vast areas of prairie lands.
with strict enforcement of our game laws
| and a continued campaign against CONNER
| clalism, predict the preservation or these
| birds for many years to come, ana L pc
lieye that our enlightened people OF toaay
of the wild pigeon and the buffalo, which
We of the younger generation know only
Quail have decreased during the last
| biennial year owing to the very severe WIN
| ter of 1905, when their food supplies were
| covered with snow and sleet. They per-
| ished in countless thousands from cold and
/ starvation. These birds being more do
nestle in their habits however VIII e In
them plenty again In most LOCALITIES IN the
state. ~
considerable of these birds, and many OF
| my acduaitances have foregone the pleas-
ure of the annual outing in pursuit OF
them on account of their depleted condi-
"Song and insectivorous birds have
been the objects Of especial interest and
! study during the past biennial.
4 1.-The more we study their habits, the
more we realize their value to the agri.
cultural and horticultural interests Is. o.
| to protect them.
several violations have been prosecuted
law. I published a ieafiet. dedicated &c
the School Boys and Our Wild Birds.
and through the Kindness OF some or oui
! school superintendents distributed them
! as far as our funds would permit In the
"The result of the work was spontane-
/ Gus, and for many days after the dis
tribution of the leahet the mail brought
many letters OF commendation from
patrons Of the schools.
REQUESTS have been made BY commits
sioners OF almost every other state, from
Ofieers OF Audubon societies and news
VIM have commented on the work.
"Our game and fsh laws are generally
good. shall ask the Legislature this
sale OF our wild game; also to prohibit
the killing of the few deer, antelope and
beaver We have left and with Few cor.
rections in the penal clauses OF ouI
statutes our law will be adequate for the
present wants.
! 1T has been our poncy TO go Wheh IN
vited 10 assist in the organization OF CUR
I clubs Throughout the state. / do not
believe that our American men and boys
should be deprived OF the use OF firearms
Those who are fond OF shooting should
be provided with a way to work on theli
surplus enthusiasm during the closed sea
son and constant practice at inanimat'
targets unconsciously prepare boy
abundantly for his country's call to arms
y woans enb propery
and under good management, We have few
reports Of game violations"
The FISH and game committees of the
two houses will hold an open meeting
/ Monday night TO hear persons Interested
in the proposed game laws. The meeting
Lii h. hi In ha nllarnhAr