The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-09-25
24O NEW STATE GAME
LAWS ENACTED IN 1915
Much Local Legislation to Protect Birds
and Big Game--Nine States Bring
Closed Season Into Agreement With
Federal Migratory Bird Law.

than 240 new game laws were enacted
fduring l9l5--a larger number than In any
year since 1911, according to farm
ers' bulletin 692, "Game Laws for 1915
Forty-three states held regular legisla
tive sessions, and in all of these states
except Arizona, Georgia and Nebraska
some changes were made in the statutes
protecting game. The largest number OF
new game laws passed In one state was
81, in North Carolina; but in California
Connecticut Maine, New Jersey, Oregon
! Pennsylvania and Wisconsin the number
reached 10 or more. Several measures
were vetoed, including a general game
bill in Idaho, the first bill appropriating
the hunting license fund in Pennsylya,
mia, a bill protecting bears in California,
and three sections of the game bill in
Washington. A number of bills were in
troduced for the purpose of harmonizing
the state laws on migratory birds with
the Federal regulations. In at least
nine states changes were made which
brought the seasons into substantial
agreement. viz, California, Connecticut,
Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ten
nessee and West Virginia. In Illinois
the seasons for migratory birds except
coot and waterfowl, and in Washington
for the small shore birds, were made to
conform with the regulations under the
Federal law. Uniformity was also Sc
cured by provisions in the law of Con-
necticut, Maine, New Mexico, North Da
kota, Washington and Wisconsin, prohib-
iting hunting between sunset and sun
rise. On the other hand, Delaware
adopted resolution opposing the mi
gratory bird law, and Ohio and Rhode
Island, which had harmonized their sea-
sons in 1914, changed the seasons on
waterfowl this year.
As a result of the decision Of the Su-
preme court of the United States on
January 10, 1914, sustaining the alien
hunting law of Pennsylvania, legislation
prohibiting aliens from hunting or own
ing shotguns or rifles was enacted in at
least four states, Massachusetts, New
Jersey, North Dakota and West Vir-
GINA but certain exceptions based on
property qualifications were made In
Massachusetts, and New Jersey.
Closed seasons extending for several
years were provided for certain kinds of
big game and also for game birds. Hunt
ing mountain sheep was suspended in
Idaho, Montana and Washington, and
goats were protected until 1918 in Mon
tana, Moose were protected for four
wears in Maine, the first absolute closed
season on this species for 35 years-since
the suspension of hunting from 1878 TO
1850. Antelope were given indefinite
protection in New Mexico and Montana.
In Michigan, New Mexico and Oklahoma
prairie chickens were protected for sew
eral years Michigan extended complete
protection also to quail, imported pleas
ants. grouse and wood ducks for five
years. Minnesota protected doves,
woodcock, plover and wood ducks until
1918 New Mexico gave protection TO
pheasants, bob-whites, pigeons and
swans. Oklahoma protected doves.
grouse, wood ducks and curlew. Sew
eral birds were removed from the game
list and protected through the year.
Oklahoma gave such protection to peli'
cans, gulls and herons Tennessee de-
clared ring.neck pheasants, bullbats,
robins and meadowlarks TO be non.game
birds. In a few cases protection was
removed from certain species-notably |
the turkey buzzard in Delaware, Flori-
da and North Carolina, owls and start |
lings in New Hampshire, and cormorants |
in Illinois and North Dakota.
For the first time in ~ years moose |
hunting is permitted in Wyoming, and
for the first time since 1907 prairie
chicken shooting is permitted in Indiana.
Novel Features of State Laws.
Among the novel features in the laws
this year may be mentioned the declara-
tion in the Florida law that ownership ]
Of game Is vested. in the respective
counties; the provision in the California
law protecting spike bucks, or deer with
horns, instead Of deer with
horns Of certain length; and the Wy
Dming experiment Of allowing the kill
ing Of 80 bull moose under 500 licenses
instead Of an indefinite number during
| limited season. Methods of hunting
were restricted in Michigan by prohibit
ing the use Of automobiles in hunting
cartridges, and in Indiana by prohibiting
ne use Of searchlights or other artih.
,ial lights attached 60 autos for hunt
ng game on or or near a highway. Sew
raj new restrictions on shipments ap.
,eared for the first times Illinois pro-
iibited importation from points outside
he state Of any game except deer le.
yally killed. Pennsylvania prohibited
.hipments Of game by parcel post, and
shipment under an alias. Con-
iecticut authorized the commissioners Of
fisheries and game 10 grant permits 10
ring in game lawfully killed outside
ne stsse, provided such game il not Of
cred for sale.
Quail
Notwithstanding the agitation In ia
.or Of protecting quail for several years
n come sections. % bills II this Kind
rers passed this year. and - states
till provide quad shooting. The seasons
rsre shortened ak weeks in oklahoma ,
ma two weeks IN Nevada Limits were ,
established for TIE first time in Arkan- I
a. and Ssp Hampshire. redue-d IN lows .
rom q b. IS per day. IN uklaheua from
IS 20 81. n Aliupesots from IS % %.
nd increased in Ne,ads frosn is - n.
M ut IL sfstes vtish permit quad
uniting ngw have i.ut q = birds o.
80 ~ day.
Al fis sistss nv aiiew waterfowl .