The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-08-07
GOVERNMENT NOW TO PROTECT
GAME
National Law Regulating Shooting
of Birds

| Inc eagerly awaited regulations
of the United States department OF
agriculture, bureau of biological sur
| vey, fixing the seasons in which the
shooting of migratory birds is allow
| ed, authorized under the recently
enacted Weeks-McLean migratory
| bird law, have just been made public
by the department They are effec-
tive as of October 1, 1913.
In view of the wide spread inter-
est in this matter, not only on the
! part of spOrtsmen but of all lovers
of wild life generally, the American
Game Protective and Propagation
association, which was active in the
movement for the enactment of the
law has summarized the most impor-
tant points involved in these regula-
tons as follows:
! Two Zones Established
Generally speaking, the country
is divided into. two zones, northern
and southern, the dividing line run
ming wholly or in part north of lati-
tude 40 degrees and the Ohio river.
The twenty-five state included in
the northern zone comprise Maine,
New Hampshire, Vermont, Massa-
chusetts Rhode Island, Connecticut,
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvan-
ia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan,
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North
| Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska,
Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho,
Oregon and Washington.
The twenty-three states included
in the southern zone are Delaware,
Maryland, District of Columbia, Vir-
ginia, West Virginia. North and
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, AL
ALBANIA, Mississippi, Tennessee, Ken
lucky, Missouri, Kansas, New Mexi-
co, Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Cali
fornia, Nevada and Utah.
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. The zones thus estab-
lished take the place of fifty similar
districts now existing under the stat
utes of the several states.
| standardization of Rules.
| BY way of standardization the fol-
lowing statements may be made:
| 1. Exceptions have been made in
both zones for various 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 the open
| ing dates of the shooting season as
| they now exist.
3. 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. Shooting of migratory birds
| between sunset and sunrise is like
wise prohibited. ~~
6. In no case will there be less
than thirty days when the birds may
be shot during the period of their
greatest abundance.
When Shooting is Permitted.
Birds that may be shot are divid-
ed by the new regulations into four
| classes. These and the open seasons
| allowed on them follow:
| l. Water Fowl.
Northern Zone Southern Zone
| Sept dec. Is Oct. Jan. Is
| g. Rail.
Sept Dec Sept. Dec. l
g. Woodcock.
| Oct. Dec. l Nov. Jan. l
4. Shore Birds.
! Sept. dec. Is Sept. dec. Is
No shooting whatever is allowed
! of cranes, or the columbidae-doyes,
pigeons, etc.
A closed season until Sept. 1, 1918
! is established for hand-tailed pig
| cons, little brown, sandhlll and
\ whooping cranes, swans, curlew, all
shore birds except black-breasted
and golden plover, Wilson or jack
| snipe, wood duck, greater and less
| yellow legs.
Wood duck in addition are given a
| closed season to Sept. 1, 1918, in the
| following states: Maine, New Hamp-
| shire, Vermont, Massachusetts,
| Rhode Island, Connecticut, New
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
| Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, West Vir-
ginia and Wisconsin.
1nsectivorous birds, including rob-
ms, larks, etc., are protected at all
times in all states and similar shore
birds and other species which have
been greatly reduced in number
Limited on Rivers.
4 novel and important feature is
the prohibition of hunting on the
| great rivers of the country except
| during November and December.
Prohibited territory as designated by
| the regulations in this instance is as
follows:
l. Mississippi river from New Or
leans to Minneapolis.
2. Ohio river from it's mouth to
Pittsburgh.
3. Missouri river between its
| mouth and Bismark, N. D.
Under provisions of the Weeks
Mclean law months are given from
the time these regulations are made
public until they are presented to
the president for approval, and are
finally adopted. 1t is also provided
that public hearings may be had if
deemed proper and it is assumed
that these very probably will be held.
nnn,f 20 Road Hoo