The Calumet news., 1911-12-06
SOME PROPOSED CHANGES
IN The STATE GAME LAWS
SUGGESTIONS TO BE PRESENTED
BY STATE GRANGE.
Outline Of Amendments Compiled by
Local Hunters and Sportsmen.

A movement has been started 10 nave
the state grange use its influence 70
secure some important legislation at
the next session OF the state legisla-
ture in the way of amendments 10 the
existing game laws. The grange holds
a meeting in Lansing i'm the course of a
few days, and at the request OF some
of the Baraga Changers. a wen known
local sportsman, a member Of the ex-
eCutiYe committee OF the Hancock
Sportsmen's club, has compiled a num-
Der Of suggestions that have the ap-
proval Of many copper country hunt
ers TO whom they have been submitted.
The state grange has a wide oppor-
tunity for influencing legislation and IL
is thought that by having the pro-
posed amendments submitted with
their endorsement they would have a
good chance Of adoption by the legis-
lature.
Petition Circulated.
The proposed changes have been
embodied in a petition which was cir
culated yesterday for signatures. as
follows:
To protect the hunters and game
Of the Upper Peninsula we ask that
the game laws be changed so that:
a license be required Of every hunt
er
An examination be required Of every
applicant for a license.
That an age limit be put on hunt
ers.
That deer season be placed later in
the year.
That the season be made shorter.
That bird season be made earlier.
That all hunters be required to act
as fire wardens.
That hunters be not allowed TO hunt
deer on public highways.
Suggestion Comprehensive.
The first proposison is very COM
prehensive one, the idea being to COM
pei every person going into the woods
with a gun to take out a hunting IL
cense The presumption is that IL a
man goes into the woods carrying
gun he is going hunting for some-
thing. unless he is a timber cruiser
and requires a gun fer protection
against wolves. In the latter case IL
is argued that he would be willing to
pay the license fee. Many persons go
into the woods near town and shoot
promiscuously at anything In sight. Of
ten endangering persons who may hap
pen to be in the vicinity. Such per-
% falra "A HganQAI
II the amendment suggested is passed
Some persons apparently don't know
the appearance OF deer and wouldn't
know one II they saw one. Hence the
frequent fatalities resulting from per-
sons being mistaken for deer, and the
oft reported shooting Of farm animals
by mistake. The Chicago Record Her
aid recommends that any applicant for
a deer license be compelled to visit a
menagerie or a zoo and familiarize
himself with the general appearance
OF members Of the deer family and be
able 10 answer questions relative to-
the animals.
Many immature and irresponsible
persons have done much harm in the
woods and II Is proposed 10 make II
unlawful for boys under a certain age,
say about seventeen or eighteen. TO
secure a hunting license OF any kind
The Deer Season.
A shorter and later season would
result in fewer hunters and diminished
slaughter and better conditions for
hunting as under the present law the
early part OF the season, by reason OF
lack OF snow, is poor for shooting. The
bird season, opening earlier, would
end earlier and be over before the deer
season begins This would result In
bird hunters with small calfber rifles
or shot guns with buckshot being out
OF the woods when the deer hunters