Evening journal., 1916-04-03
MAY OPEN Season
FOR CAME earlier
Delaware SportSmen Urged
to Give Reasons Against
Bird Law
GOVERNMENT WANTS
TO HEAR ALL SIDES

Those sportsmen OF Delaware who
have been loudly complaining Of what
they deem TO be unjust provisions in
The Federal Migratory Bird law. and
particularly that section Of the law
which shortens the open seasons for
wild duck woodcock. plovor and jack
snpe. viii now have an opportunity
70 air their grievances where il viii
be likely to do the most good If
thoy are able to advance sufficient rea-
sons 20 show that the open seasons for
lhcsc game birds should be extend
ed in this State. there is strong
probability thar the Federal authori-
ties Will adopt new regulations with
hat idea Inc view
Captain John r. LcFeyre. OF Dover.
chief game warden of the State has
Just received a letter from District
Inspector Thomas Z. BlCxam, in which
The latter states that the government
Is securing data relative TO migratory
game birds. preparatory TO revising
and amending the Federal Migratory
Bird law to allow moro hunting
throughout the country. Inspector
BloXam invites suggestions and rec
lamentations from sportsmcn and
sporting organizations of Delaware
bearing upon this subject, and the ac-
ion taken by the government rela-
tive 10 this law will undoubtedly de-
pend largely upon these recommends
lions
Captain LeFevre urges that all per-
sons living in Delaware who are
Interested in game birds TO write TO
The inspector and give their reasons
why they believe the open seasons
should be extended As the subject
Is one that has been greatly agitated
in this State. owing TO the rather
peculiar manner in which Delaware
figures In the Federal Migratory Bird
law. there is every reason to believe
that Inspector Bloxam will receive
many communications from Delaware
ans
Delaware sportsmen have com
planned particularly about the open
season provided in the Federal law
for waterfowl. or wild ducks which
constitute the chief waterfowl 10 be
found Ia this State They declare
that the duck season is too short and
begins too late in the fall Under this
law the open season for duck hunt
ink in Delaware begins on November
l. whereas In thirty other States Of
The Union il begins on October /. one
month earlier and in three other
States. il begins on September l5 In
three OF the extreme Southern States,
Florida Georgia and South Carolina,
the season does not open until Novem-
.ber 20. but Delaware gunners contend
hat as the season opens on October ]
In Pennsylvania. New Jersey and
other surrounding STATES. there is no
logical reason why il should not open
IN this State on that date
This reasoning also applies to wood
cock. With only four exceptions. one
~ which IS Delaware, the w0odcock
season opens In various states
throughout the country on November
IN West Virginia ii opens on Oc-
t0bef I. IN Delaware and Louisiana on
November IS. and IN Georgia on De-
ccmber l. With tho season opening
In f0rty-four States OF the Union on
November !. Delaware gunners see
no reason why they should have TO
Taii until November 49,. Similar con-
diiions exist in the case of plover and
hcksnipe many sportsmen believing
that the seasons for these game birds
Should also be changed.
II the many Delaware sportsmen
who have been complaining so Nigor-
ously against this law will get to-
rether and present their views on the
subject in a convincing and intelligent
manner there is a strong likelihood
that they may start cunning for Mr..
Wild Duck on October J. and Mr..
Wo0dcock on November !. next fall.