Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-03-18
State Warden on
Game Law Changes

AZ a recent lecture at the Page
Theatre in Medford State Game
Warden Finley made the following
explanations of the changes in the
game laws made by the legislature in
its recent session:
Probably the most important
change" said Mr.. Finley, sis reduc-
tion of two weeks in the deer season.
The season under the present law
opens on August l. Under the new
law it will open August Is. The
closing date will be October 81 as at
present.
The legislature also opened the
season on female Chinese pheasants,
but no bag of five Chinese pheasants,
grouse or native pheasants can con-
tain more than one female Chinese
pheasant. No more than five such
birds can be killed in one day and no
more than ten in any seven consecu-
tive days. No bag of ten birds can
contain more than two female Chi
nese pheasants."
Mr.. Finley also enumerated some
of the other important changes in the
game code. An open season of ten
days-October l to October 1O-was
declared on Chinese pheasants in
Jackson and Union counties. No
other eastern Oregon county will be
open. Josephine, Coos and Curry
counties, in western Oregon, also will
remain closed on these birds.
Although the legislature pretended
to change the season on ducks,
geese and other migratory birds, Mr..
Finley declares that these supposed
changes cannot be effective, inasmuch
as they conflict with the federal stat
utes.
The season on these migratory
aquatic birds" he says, will remain
September l to January Is, despite
the legislative enactment. The fed
eral law takes precedence. The fed
eral law, however, now is being tested
in the supreme court, and unless it
should be declared invalid it will pre-
vail over the state law"
Under the new law it will be per-
missible to sell geese killed in Wasco,
Sherman, Morrow, UmatHla, Crook
and jefferson counties, a privilege
that was not allowed under the old
law.
Quail of all kinds, including Bob
White, California, mountain, valley
and plumed quail, are protected un-
der the new statute, except in Klam-
ath county, where killing will be per-
mitted from October to October 0
and in Jackson and Josephine coun-
ties, where they may be killed from
October 1 to October 81.
The season on silver gray squirrel
was fixed from September l to Octo-
Der 81. The present season is Octo-
ber l to 81.
Prairie chickens may be killed in
Wasco, Sherman and Union counties
from October l to Is.
Sage hens will be in season from
July Is to August 81. The present
season is August l to 81.
The trout-fishing season remains
the same as at present. Closed until
April l on trout under ten inches in
length,
The law governing hunting with
dogs is changed slightly. 1t will be
permissible to hunt birds with dogs.
If dogs are caught in pursuit of deer
it must be proved that the owner was
directing them before the owner can
be held guilty. The old law made
pursuit of deer by dogs prima-facie
evidence against the dog owner.
In addition to the changes in the
game code, the law governing the
fish and game commission and the
collection Of licenses also was
changed.
No licenses will be required by
women, either to hunt or to fish. No
license will be required to fish in the
Pacific ocean or its salt water trib-
utaries for other than game fish.