Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1912-09-12
Protecting the Game Birds.
D the Editor of the Record.

10 the Editor of the Record:
In view of the near approach of the
open season, when war will be de-
clared on the game birds. especially
on the prairie chicken our own
companion prairie bird more so
perhaps than any of our feathered
tribe except the ever present mea-
dowlark may be permitted
through the columns of your paper
to offer few thoughts and sugges-
tions for their protection from a
farmers view point.
When we consider that the prairie
chickens strictly belong to the
feathered tribe that largely live on
insects and come to the rescue of the
farmer 365 days in the year as insect
destroyers, it becomes the duty of
the husbandman to zealously protect
them from the ruthless and cruel
attacks of the average sportsman
and his cur bird-dog.
While it is true that the farmer
feeds them during the year, it is
also true that most of their living
comes from the. gleanings that would
be otherwise wasted; but | think !
can safely say that during the year
they devour insects enough that
would otherwise damage and de.
stroy ten times the small amount of
grain they eat. These beautiful and
harmless birds are actually the
farmers friend and should be by
him guarded and protected. In view
of this fact, it is not only a shame.
but thoughtless and foolish act on
the part of the tillers Of the soil. to
allow their hasty and ruthless exter
mination by the sportsman and his
bird-dogs. Our game laws allow a
herd of gun-club sportsmen from
the cities to swoop down upon the
farmer with their rapid-fring guns
and their still more destructive
agency. the bird-dog- without which
slaughtering of our birds would he
reduced to a minimum at the sea-
son of the year when it is quite i'm
possible for the average farmer to
find time to hunt, if he wanted to.
is bowling farce and an injustice
to the husbandman, enacted to satls-
fly the wishes and desires Of the
sportsmen of the country only. The
fool farmer that allows them 10
trespass on his premises is lilatorv
to his own best interests ard negii-
gent of one of the most rare birds
that roam the prsiries and always
gladdens the farmers life With is
presence.
! have no objection to tia c!ty
sportsmen hunting OF my ltfiisises
if they do soduring the upsn ssassin,
without a bi,d-dog. as | l4.; hut
when they come in their autos on .
slaughtering expedition, supplied
with as many killing devices Us Our
noted ex president had on his famous
expedition into the jungles Of Africa,
then must draw the line in the in
terests of our feathered Tribe.
Another good reason why the hunt
er is very undesirable factor dur
ing the open season is the fact that
there will be tens of Thousands CT
dollars worth of thrashed and un-
thrashed grain in the fields, TO say
nothing of other farm products that
are liable to be burned up by any
careless sports. that often are sup
piled with a pocket full of matches
and cigarettes. 1t often happens
that those who are the most objec-
tionable are from the cities, who
care less for the farmers interest
than they do for their worthless
CANNES. and there are no good rea-
sons. implied or otherwise. why thy
should be tolerated for moment on
our premises to kill our game birds.
Again. ! contend that parties who
VIII enter your premises without
your permission will often leave the