The San Francisco call., 1909-06-13
SPORTSMEN READY
TO TEST MARIN
COUNTY LAW
Hunters Believe That New Or.
dinance Conflicts With the
State Ruling


The recent action of the Marin coun-
~ board OF supervisors. in declaring
a closed season on valley quail in that
county for period of three years, and
in cutting down the open season on deer
to 3 days. has caused no end of COM
ment among sportsmen in the hay
counties. Since the action was taken
sportsmen on this side of the bay have
been trying TO ascertain whether any
OF the wealthy sportsmens clubs in
Marin county intend to test the validity
Of the law, bat nothing definite on this
point has thus far been fearned. 1t is
generally believed however, that the
members Of the various c1uos in the
county viii not relinQuish what they
consider their rights under the state
law. without a struggle in the courts.
II is even stated by some who ire in
a position TO know that If the super
visOrs stick TO their guns and refuse to
rescind heir action the validity of the
ordinance viii be tested in the courts
during the coming deer season, which
opens August !.
The supervisors claim that ii is inn
perative that something be done to
protect the supply Of game. which is
every year. Sportsmen say that wnat
has been done by the supervisors is un-
reasonable, and in direct conflict with
the state law. The restriction on deer
hunting. while considered unjust, sinks
into insignificance when compared with
the attempt TO prohibit quail shooting
for term of years. In addition TO the
club members and individuals holding
leases on good shooting land in the
rossufx thousands Of snort Sf17era n this
city and adjacent bay towns are TAX
ing a keen interest in the question,
while hotel keepers and others who
profit by the annual influx of city hunt
ers into the county, are naturally in
clined tO condemn the action of the
supervisors.
The clubs that VIII suffer under the
new ordinance are the Point Reyes
sportmen's club, the Country. Laguni
tas. and Tamalpais clubs and various
other organizations with headquarters
north of san Rafael, whose member
ship is made up chiefly of local resi-
dents.
While it is true that there is a grow
ing scarcity of quail in Marin county.
and that independent hunters have had
very little real good sport there dur
ing the last few years. the boards
action IS generally considered a drastic
4
of protection for the game and a cam
paign against trappers and other vio-
lators of the game law would result
in preserving and increasing the sup
ply and make it unnecessary to deprive
every one of sport.
Among the great army of unattached
hunters there are some. of course. who
are pleased to think that members of
exclusive sporting clubs will be de-
~,
selves. but they are in a minority. 1t
were displeased with the encroach-
ments of the gun clubs and the large
number of NO Shooting Allowed" no.
tices displayed and showed their dis
pleasure by clapping on a CLOSED sea-
SON lid far the purpose of discomflt-
ing exclusivist sportsmen.
Under the state law county govern
ing boards are allowed TO shorten the
open season. but they may not lengthen
it. 1t is claimed that an ordinance
abolishing the open season altogether
conflicts with the state law, which de-
crees that the people be allowed the
privilege OF hunting within specified
period. Sportsmen base their hopes Of
having the Marin county ordinance in
validated on a decision rendered in the
superior court Of Los Angeles county
last year. The supervisors of the
southern county passed an ordinance
limiting the dove season TO one day.
test was made and the court decided
that the board was unreasonable and
wrong in limiting the open season to
so brief . period.
The supervisors meet July g. and it
is not impossible that they will re-
scind their action if public opinion
warrants ii.