The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1915-08-26
Acting Chief Biological surve

The above very pointedly decides the
pussy footing proposition that was un-
dertaken by State Game Warden Jones,
last May, and pursued with activity
since that time, to have the federal
law regulating the open season on
ducks changed from October 1st to
September 1st.
The open season for ducks in Idaho
this year will be after sunrise on the
morning of October 1st, and that ac-
cords in perfect harmony with the
spirit and belief of the great majority
of sportsmen in eastern Idaho where
most of the ducks are raised
For some reason or other the state
game warden, who has little know
ledge of game conditions of the state,
and is political appointee of Gov
ernor Alexander, pursued a quiet pol
icy to have the law opened up month
earlier than set by the federal regu-
lations, and the Pocatello sportsmen,
as well as the majority of others in
the eastern part of the state, immedi-
ately entered vigorous protest to the
action of the game warden, which, it is
believed, was taken without consulta
tion with the sportsmen at large, and
at the suggestion of few private in
terests. The game warden, within the
past few days, has even suggested to
local parties that certain agents of the
Short Line could be sent east to make
the process effective and change to the
earlier season, but those who are Ia
miliar with Idaho birds and their
breeding grounds would stand for no
such unsportsmanlilSe proposition as
recommending an earlier open season
for the purpose Of permitting pot
hunters and bird-hogs to kill off the
"flappers" that could not get oil the
water. Eastern Idaho sportsmen give
the birds a fair chance to get away
Apparently the game department didn't
comprehend anything Of the kind.
The other night the sportsmen here
met and consulted regarding the pro-
position. Deputy Game Warden Le-
hrbas had written to a number of
outside points, requesting representa-
ton at the meeting, and a good many
letters were received. But one of them
favored returning to the September lst
date, and that was from American
Falls. Since that time we have talk
ed to fifteen American Falls sports
men and they took the contrary POSI-
ton and wanted no change to the ear
lier date. Deputy Warden Lehrbas and
several others took the position that II
any change was made that no earlier
date than September 18th would be
considered, and as dutch" is one OF
the best deputy wardens in the state,
and knew the conditions, he stood with
the sportsmen who were not game
hogs.
LATER a petition was literally signed
and private wires were taken up with
the biological bureau of the depart
ment of agriculture, which has juris-
diction over the migratory bird law,
and the decision is given in the wire
above. which was received this morn
ing.
The main theory involved in the pro-
test, which was against change to the
earlier season, is that the birds hatch
ed in the great areas of eastern Idaho
are unable to fly on the first OF Sep
tember and if they were it is too ear
ly to shoot them as they cannot be
kept as the weather is too warm
Aside from that it is no good sport 10
shoot at slow duck, and the big blrds
are not flying until after the first OF
October. and it is astonishing that the
game department would take the posi-
ton that early open season worked oui
the process of game preservation. The
action Of the state game warden should
be sufficient cause for his retirement
Pocatello Tribune.
One would be led to believe by read
ing the above article that Game War
den Jones had committed terrible Oh
tense and that Pocatello was the only
place in all Idaho to be considered /
when it came to regulating the op n
ing of the duck season. The Tribune
is such hide bound partisan paper
that he would like to see Game War
den Jones retired, although he has
made the best game warden the. state
has known for years and not even the
Tribune can say there has been any
graft connected with his Office as
there was under several previous ad-