The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-01-14
CHANGES IN GAME
LAWS PROPOSED

LAWS PROPOSED
e. c. Rummcl, we'll known sport
man of Boise, wants to see some
changes in the game laws that will
more effectively protect and increase
10th fish and game. He has outlined
for the Capital News some recon-
mendatios which he says will be Sec
onded by all good sportsmen. The
first is for the appointment of real
sportsman as head of the fish and
game department, and careful en-
fOrcement of the laws about screen
ing of bitches and placing of fish lad
ders over dams, SO that trout might
reach the hee headwaters for spawn
ing. Another suggestion is for the
changing of the season to give more
chance for the young to thrive. He
pleads for much better protection for
quail and grouse.
Mr.. Rummel's suggestions are as
follows:
Every sportsman In this section
Of the country knows that game has
been slaughtered night and day and
out of season, and has been sold to
resta rants in Boise. l have been
informed that the cafes of Salt Lake
are supplied with fish and game from
Idaho. We need a fish and game
warden who is a practical man; who
is a hunter and sportsman; who
will so out and see that the game
is being protected throughout tho
state County officers ought to be
empowered to act as game wardens,
and if necessary every man with q
. ~ E0nnCA ch hDv kh<> pi<r1>k -
arrest and search anyone found vio-
lating the law.
eve have soma Of the best streams
In the state for trout, but because
mining chemicals and sawdust have
been emptied into them the fish have
almost disappeared. Six or years
ago a number of young trout were
sent to Boise and dumped into Shafcr
creek eight or ten miles from the
headwaters. But sawdust has been
running down this stream for years.
and between it and the old fish, the
young have disappeared. II all the
streams of Idaho were properly stock
ed and the laws regarding bitches
being properly screened and all dams
provided with fish ladders were en-
forced so the trout could pass up
the streams to the headwatcrs for
spawning, and if everyone would use
hook and line we could have just as
good fishing as any state in the in
termcuntain country. l would like
to see perch and bass mentioned on
the licenses, too, prohibiting fish less
than fish inches being caught, limit
ing the catch to ten pounds of perch
or Is of bass in a day
'F'or deer l should think the season
ought to open and close about twen-
ty days later than at present Some
change of 20 days would pass the
running season, and our supply stead
lily Increase each year.
The present state and federal laws
for migratory birds are all right, and
II they were but observed the ducks
would hold their own But the night
shooting is still being practiced. Give
us a practical game warden and plen-
ty of deputies, and l think ell good
sportsmen will do their utmost to
enforce the laws that is meant for
game hogs. This will help to keep
men from sitting up till ~ p. M to
kill a few ducks
But l believe grouse at the pres
ent time are suffering hardship
The young grouse and sage hen ma
ture about the same time, and as the
season is now grouse too young for
killing are slaughtered and then call
ed sage hens. The grouse get little
protection between the sage hen hunt
ers and the game department. nat
urally like to see the season chang
ed to the first Sunday in August.
Farmers regard it crime to
kill quail. They are one of the most
useful birds that exist, helping to cl-
inmate the cut worm and other
pests destructive of crops. If the
season on mountain and California
quail might DO closed the whole year
in this section of the country, per-
haps in G. few years we might have
a good supply, especially if ell were
good sportsmen and respected certain
laws. l would like to see 2. fine of
$50 imposed upon anyone who kills
quail out Of season.
"The Chinese pheasant, however, ]
think is somewhat of a pest to the
farmer. The male pheasant threshes
the farmers wheat, digs potatoes, de,
stroys young quail and runs them a
way from their feeding grounds,
and has no good features. as fer as
l can learn. Perhaps an open sea-
son from tho first to the Bird Sunday
in November would benefit all con-
ccrned, with the bag limit two males
in one day or four males at any one
time.
81 wish, by the way that all open.
ing days came. on Sunday, SO that
each and every hunter would have an
equal chance"