Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1915-10-14
STRCTER LAWS FOR THE PROTECTION
Of GAME ENACTED BY MANY STATES
24O New Game Laws Were Passed by Legislatures Of the Various
States in %1e15-Nine States Bring Closed Seasons Into Agree
ment Will Federal Migratory Bird Law-Four States Bar
Aiens-Some Novel Features of State Game Laws.

Washington, ID. C.-More than 240
new gam laws were enacted during
| 1915-a larger number than in any pre-
vious year except 1911, according to
Farmers Bulletin 692, Game Laws
for 1916" Forty-three states held reg
ular legislative sessions, n III all
of these states except Arizona, Geor-
gia and Nebraska some changes were
made in the statutes protecting game.
| The largest number of new game laws
passed in any n state was 6l, IN
| North Carolina; but in California,
| Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, Ore
gon, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin the
number reached ten or more. Sew
eral measures were vetoed, including
a general game bill in Idaho, the hrst
bill appropriating the hunting license
fund in Pennsylvania, a bill protecting
bears in California, and three sections
of the game bill in Washington. A
number of bills were introduced Tor
the purpose of harmonizing the state
laws on migratory birds with the led
eral regulations. In at least nine
states changes were made which
brought the seasons into substantial
agreement, viz: California, ION
necticut, Maine, Michigan, New Hamp'
shire, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
In Illinois the seasons for all migra-
tory birds except coot and waterfowl,
and in Washington for the smaller
shore birds, were made to conform
with the regulations under the fed
eral law. Uniformity was also Sc
cured by provisions in the laws OF o
necticut, Maine, New Mexico, North
Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin.
prohibiting hunting between sunset
and sunrise. On the other hand,
Delaware adopted a resolution oppos-
ing the migratory-bird law, and Ohio
and Rhode Island, which had harmo-
nized their seasons in 1914, changed
the seasons on waterfowl this year.
Aliens Barred Out.
AS a result of the decision OF the
Supreme court of the United States
OH January 10, 1914, sustaining the
alien hunting law of Pennsylvania, leg
islation prohibiting aliens from hunt
ing or owning shotguns or rifles was
enacted in at least four states-Mass-
achusetts, New Jersey, North Dakota
and West Virginia, but certain ex-
captions based on property qualifica.
tions were made in Massachusetts and
New Jersey.
Close seasons extending for several
years were provided for certain kinds
of big game and also for game birds.
Hunting mountain sheep was suspend
ed in Idaho, Montana and Washington,
and goats were protected until 1918 in
Montana. Moose were protected for
four years in Maine, the first abso-
Lutte close season on this species for
IS years-since the suspension of
hunting from 1878 to 1880. Antelope
were given indefinite protection in
New Mexico, and Oklahoma prairie
chickens were protected for several
years. Michigan extended complete
protection, also, to quail, imported
pheasants, grouse, and wood ducks for
five years. Minnesota protected
doves, w%oodcock, plover and wood
ducks until 1918. New Mexico gave
protection to pheasants, %bobwhites,
pigeons and swans. Oklahoma pro-
tected doves, grouse, wood ducks and
curlew. Several birds were removed
from the game list and protected
through the year. Oklahoma gave
such protection to pelicans, gulls and
herons. Tennessee declared ring
neck pheasants, %bullbats, robins and
meadowlarks to be nongame birds. In
a few cases protection was removed
from certain species-notably the tur.
key buzzard in Delaware. Florida and
North Carolina, owls and starlings in
New Hampshire, and cormorants In
Illinois and North Dakota.
For the first time in IL years moose
hunting is permitted in Wyoming. and
for the first time since 1907 prairie
chicken shooting is permitted in In.
diana.
New Features Of state Laws.
Among the novel features in the
laws this year may be mentioned the
declaration in the Florida law that
ownership of game is vested in the
respective counties: the provision of
the California law protecting spike
bucks, or deer with unbranched horns,
instead Of deer with horns of a GER.