The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-17
GIVE THEM ASHOW
Geo. Helder Speaks in Defense
of Prairie Chickens.
Opposes Proposed Extension OF
the Open Season. !.
KILLING HAS BEGUN.
Chickens May Be Shot Until
October To-, A
KILLING HAS BEGUN.
Many Parties Going Into the
Western Kansas Fields.

With the opening Of the hunting
season in Kansas as far as prairie
chickens are concerned there has. been
a general exodus of nimrods from the
eastern to the western portion of the
state where the birds are said to be
unusually plentiful this season.
Though the season did not open until
Sunday more or less shooting has
been INDUCED in by hunters living in
the part of the country where the
birds are plentiful as many of them
feel that! the law places the opening
season fifteen days later than 1t
should.
.sThen again they know that as soon
aSathe season opens that the country
will fairly swarm with hunters from
the eastern counties of the state with
their trained dogs and automatic guns
to comm ence the slaughter. Western
Kansas is a natural breeding place for
the big birds which furnish some of
the best shooting to be found in the
United States as far as small game is
considered.
Some idea of the amount of hunt
ing done in the state may be gained
from the fact that nearly $4,000 has
been paid into the state treasury since
the hunting license law went, into ef-
feet July /, 1905. Twenty-Five hum
dred and four licenses were. granted
by the county clerk in Shawnee coun-
ty and many of these were granted to
parties who hunt exclusively in the
western portion of the state for prairie
chickens.
According to the provisions of the
law the open season on protected
game the state is: Prairie chicken
from September Is to October Is;
doves from August l to September Is;
plover from July Is to September 15;
ducks and geese from September 1 to
April Is; quail from November Is to
December 25.-
Gearge H, Helder, secretary of the
Fort Hays experiment station, which is
located in the heart of the chicken
country, has taken up the cudge1 on
behalf of the birds and has written the
State Jouranl as follows:
Doubtless some influences, not alto
gether truthfully informed as to exist
ing conditions. have been working On
State Game Warden Travis, especially
with regard to the habits of the prairie
open season. L have been residing rs
years, in a western county that claims
to furnish excellent sport with this
grand game bird, and for four years
have noted different things that con-
firm an earlier study OF, the bird-rr
1.-THE prairie fowl matches it's clutch
during May and early June; the exact
time depending greatly on spring con-
ditions, which conditions govern tn
mating season. have seen young
birds, hardly able to fly, as late as July
90. These 'broods remain as q family I
until winter sends them to Join other
families in protected places in which
to pass the cold season; that is, unless
the hunter, the coyote, polecat, or 9TH
er enemy have succeeded in partially
or totally annihilating the family. The
chickens do not thus .congregate until
very late in the fall or early winter,
when compelled to do so by snow and
storm, then they seek a place where
feed is obtainable, even though that
place be the farmers corn shocks. cor
rails or barnyard. Here on the state
experiment station I have often seen
as many as 800 prairie chickens scat
tered over a snow covered field, feed
ing off Kaffir corn shocks, flying to
trees inxthe woods when disturbed, or
scratching the snow to obtain any food
that might be found.
Nov as to the open season. 1t was
stated that September 1 seems to be
a more, preferable date for it's com
mencement. 1t depends altogether on
the. season.. If the birds hatch early,
they Will be able to take care of them
selves by that date. But I have OBJ
served that in the last four years but
one season beginning September 15)
have they been really matured. strong
flyers; with the consequent result that
the hunter does not bag the number
his sense of killing desires. The