The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-07-10
, HUNTING RESTRICTED.
New National Game Laws As They
Affect Iowa and Adjacent States.

New National Game Laws As They
Affect Iowa and Adjacent States.
Des Moines, June 27.-OfIlcial de-
| NAL is given reports published in
| Iowa several weeks ago to the effect
that duck hunting in this state is abb
solutely prohibited at all times.
The eagerly awaited regulation OF
| the United States department of ag-
riculture, bureau of biological sur
vey, fixing the seasons in which the
| shooting of migratory birds is allow
ed, authorized under the recently en-
acted Weeks-McLean migratory bird
law, have just been made public by
! the department. They are effective
as of Oct. l, 1913.
In view of the widespread interest
| in this matter, not only on the part
of sportsmen but lovers Of wild
| life generally. the American Game
Protective and Propagation Associa-
| ton, which was active in the move
! ment for the enactment OF the
WeeksMcLean law has summarized
the most important parts involved in
these regulations as follows:
Northern and Southern Zones.
| opcdhllS, lIlc Couhliy 10
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 state included in
New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachu-
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvan-
10 Obin Indiana Illinois Micbioap
I Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North
Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska,
Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Ida
no, Oregon and Washington.
The shooting season fixed for these
two zones varies according to the
four classifcations of migratory
birds that have been made, as will be
seen later. The zones thus establish
ed take the place Of fifty similar dis
tricts now existing under the stat
utes Of the several states.
Standardization of Regulations.
BY way of standardization the fol-
lowing statements may be made:
I. 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 the open
ing dates of the shooting seasons 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.
+. 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 birds may be
shot during the period of their
greatest abundance.
When Shooting is Permitted. =
| 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:
1. Waterfowl, Sept. 1 to Dec. Is.
2. Rail, Sept. 1 to Dec. /.
3. Woodcock. Oct. 1 to Dec. l.
4. Shore birds, Sept. l to Dec. Is.
No shooting whatever is allowed
of cranes, of the columbidae-does
pigeons, etc.
A closed season until Sept. !, 1918
is established for band-tailed pig
cons, little brown, sandhill and
WhOOping cranes, swans, curleW, all
shore birds except black breasted and
golden plover, Wilson or jack snipes,
wood duck, greater and lesser yell
low legs.
Wood duck in addition are given
a closed season to Sept. 1, 1918, in
the following states: Maine, New
Hampshire, 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 pro-
lection is given the smaller shore
birds and other species which have
been greatly reduced in number.
Limited on Great Rivers.
A 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:
1. Mississippi river from New Or
leans to Minneapolis.
2. Ohio river from it's mouth to
Pittsburgh.
3. Missouri river between it's
mouth and Bismarck, N. D.
Under the provisions of the Weeks
Mclean law three 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