Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-07


Spanker. in Dion
Boucicaults play
London Assurance" ~.
The enthusiasm for the hunt WIN
which English ancestors have impueo
both their posterity in the old country
and in the United States has never dleo
out Though the American may feet
that the still, cool woods. carpeted with
balsam needles, the stealthy footsteps ana
cracking underbrush, mingling with the
sharp crack Of rife to disturb the seren-
ity. are qualified to match the old Eng
lish music Of Lady Gay, the spirits OF
both are in unison when the first tinee
of frost comes with the early September
nights.
The American hunter has such enor-
nous range of territory and so great
variety of game that it is to be expected
he will lend himself to hunting among
other outdoor activities when the season
presents itself. Then, too. the hunter IN
the United States may indulge his taste
in so many different kinds of game and
under such totally different conditions OF
life and atmosphere that it is not remark
able the masculine hand Is itching Tor
the rifle and the masculine nature long.
the woods or fields. when the first au-
tun1n days approach.
The great wooded northwest, with
antelope, caribou. elk. goat and sheep;
the north Atlantic states with deer and
moose Astounding: the central states well
stocked with small game, rabbits ana
squirrel; and the bay shores harboring
the finest teals and mallards-it is small
wonder that the American sportsman is
in a class by himself!
But ne is not allowed to recklessly pill
lage the woods and flats for personal
qualification. Laws are made to limit
the shooting season to protect the game
from danger of extinction. The pitiable
sight OF the frontier days on the western
plains when the buffalo was slaughtered
promiscuously at any or all times-so
that few remain even to stock, preserves
is not calculated to be repeated II the
game wardens Of the country know them
selves.
Game wardens have but one thing to do.
enforce the game laws. and they are left
absolutely to themselves to do it. 1t Is
said that sheriffs and constables. even
though they see game laws broken under
their very noses, are loath to do any
thing in the way Of usurping the au-
thority Of the warden.
Different states have different ways Of
lations. The majority leave the work to
q single officer; others intrust it to COM
mission Of several members; and in
few the duties are performed by. local
bama is elected by the people; elsewhere
state game officials are appointed by the
governor. In some of the commissions
the duties are restricted to game only,
in others the protection of fish and for
ests is included.
The forestry service has lately been at
work stocking some of the mountain
streams with fish. The hunter will feel
the immediate benefit of this. Venison
or bear meat is apt to become tiresome
II continued too steadily in the diet and
a smoking trout. freshly caught from the
clear water, will on more than one oc-
casion compensate the hunter for a fruit
less tramp over barren trail and calm
his rufied spirits.
Slight changes have been made in the
laws covering the open and closed season
for big game. The sportsman may plan
his trips with little difference as to their
duration from those Of previous years.
New England laws show a lengthening
of the open season on deer. In Maine
and Massachusetts seasons are to be
opened In few counties that were late
~ closed, SO that now shooting is per-
mitted throughout the territory Of these
states. In New Hampshire. the season
has been extended two weeks in Coos
county.
Colorado and North Dakota have closed
the season on deer within their boun-
daries for a short term of years. but
South Dakota has removed the protection
afforded to female deer in 1911, and al
lows them to be killed during the open
season. Utah and Wyoming have short
ened the season all over the states from
two weeks to two months, varying In
different localities. Michigan has re-
stored deer to the open season for TWEEN
~ days in November. beginning with the
10th.
Taking these changes all together. it
means that while one locality has closed
down on the hunter. another has ia
vored him. change in the locality
of his happy hunting grounds Is all that
results.
Four states. Ohio, Pennsylvania Della
ware and Florida. have added to their
game regulations requirement that resi-
dent and nonresident hunters obtain
hunting licenses. There are but eight
states now in which the sportsman may
hunt without personal license. The
French method by which landowners are
permitted TO hunt on their own premises
and property without a license is in vogue
in twenty-four states: the oilers require
that every one who hunts must secure a
license. This Is the English method.
There are parts of the United States
where in mountain districts hunters are
paid to rid the country OF devastating
animals. The season is open on them
always The mountain lion. coyote and
timber wolf are allowed to be killed all
the year round. Their meat Is not pala-
table, but their hides are valuable,
especially II procured in the winter. so
killing them of is not altogether unproft-
able slaughter.
The national preserves OF buffalo are
interesting from the hunters point of
view. They show by the limited num-
bers within their confines just what can
happen to a species by injudicious hunt
ing. The season on bison is always
closed and will continue so for a great
many years before the ranges Of the west
will be rcamed over as freely by these
picturesque beasts as in the days Of 40
The life Of the woods, where one fol-
lows the trail for miles and miles through
thick underbrush in the shadow OF tall
forest trees does not allure some hunters
with its appeal. They prefer the birds
Of the marshes and the excitement Of
stealing shots at them fror. behind the
reeds OF Tn overgrown swamp. One
hunter has remarked that he never feels
SO proud of his craftsmanship as when
he succeeds In bringing down a duck
caught on the wing.
Creeping out of bed in the early morn
ing before II is light. padding In a fiat
bottomed boat to one Of the sequestered
hooks Of vantage among the tall grasses
childhood's imagination to recommend
such sport to the man In search OF
enough fun to nourish him during the
winters grapple with business.