The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1913-08-06
SPRING SHOOTING
TO BEf0RBLDDEN
New Federal Law Regulates Hunting
in All the States-No Duck
Hunting Prohibited.
CHANGES MADE IN THE NEW LAW
Elimination Of Spring Hunting by the
New Law Will Be Hailed With
Joy by the Real Sportsn1en

Joy by the Real sportsmen
Cnntrary to general belief regarding
a recently enacted federal statute
duck hunting is not prohibited in this
state. Spring shooting alone is abso
lutely forbidden, and hunting along
the big rivers Of the country, includ
ing the Missouri, is prohibited except
The new law is little understood
Many have declared that duck hunt.
ing is entirely prohibited AS mat
ter of fact, the federal law was framed
to conform as nearly as possible to
existing state laws, and few varia,
tons from the Iowa game laws are
noticeable.
The elimination of spring hunting
will be hailed with delight by the
| real sportsmen of this section. Many
| who hunt for the mere joy Of killing
and of loading their tables with tooth
some birds will protest, but those who
really pursue hunting as sport and
who desire to see game birds multiply
will favor the law.
The new law is known as the
Weeks-McLean migratory bird law,
and was passed at the instance of the
bureau of biological survey OF the
United States department Of agricul-
ture. The law becomes effective on
October 1st of this year.
The American Game and Propaga-
ton association, which was active in
the movement for the enactment of
the Weeks-McLean law, has summar-
lied the most important regulations of
the new measure as follows:
Summary Of New Law.
Generally speaking the country is
divided into two zones, northern and
southern, the dividing line running
wholly or in part north of latitude 40
degrees and the Ohio river.
The twenty-five states included in
the northern zone comprise Maine,
New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachu-
sets, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New
York, New Jersey. Pennsylvania, In
diana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Wis
consin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dako-
ia, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Ida
no, Montana, Oregon, South Dakota
and Washington.
The shooting season fixed for these
two zones varies according to the four
classifications of migratory birds that
have been made, as will be seen later.
place of fifty similar districts now ex-
plac of fifty similar districts now eX-
listing under the statutes of the sever
al states.
By way of summarize lion the fol-
lowing statements may be made
In Six Sentences.
1. Exceptions have been made in
both zones for numerous reasons, but
in most cases the closed seasons take
the average of the existing laws OF
the states in the particular zones in
which they are located.
2. There has been more cutting
down on the closing than on the open
ing dates of the shooting seasons as
they now exist.
g. In most cases three months of
open shooting are allowed for water
fowl and in some cases as much as
three and one-half months.
4. Spring shooting is absolutely
prohibited.
5. In no case will there be less
than thirty days when birds may be
shot during the period of their ga
est abundance.
Open Seasons.
Birds that may be shot are divided |
by the new regulations into four |
classes. These, and the open seasons |
allowed on them, follow:
Northern zone:
l. Water fowl, September 1st to De- !
cember 18th.
2. Rail, September 1st to Decem-
Der LIST.
g. Woodcock. October LIST to De-
cember 1st
4. Shore birds, September LIST to
December 18th.
No shooting whatever is allowed of
cranes columbidaedoes, pigeons, etc.
A closed season until Sept. l. 1918,
is established for band-tailed pigeons,
little brown, sandhill and whooping
cranes, swans, curley and all shore
birds except black breasted and gold
en- plover, Wilson or jacksnipes. wood
duck. greater and lesser yellow legs.
Wood duck in addition are given
closed season to Sept. l, 1918, in the
following states: Maine, New Hamp-
shire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania. Ohio, Indiana,
Michigan, West Virginia and Wiscon-
sin.
Protection for Birds.
lnsectivorous birds, including rob-
MS, larks, etc, are protected at all
lines in all states and similar portec-
ion is given the smaller shore birds
and other species which have been
greatly reduced in number
A novel and important feature is
he prohibition Of hunting on the great
'ivers Of the country except during
November and December. Prohibited
erritory as designated by the regula-
ions in this instance is as follows:
l. Mississippi river from New Or
cans to Minneapolis.
2. Ohio river from its mouth to
3. Missouri river between its mouth
and Bismarck, n. d.
Under the provisions of the Weeks
Mclean law three months are given
rom the time these regulations aer
made public until they are presented
o the president for approval and are