The sun., 1916-12-10
DESPITE BUCK LAW
s GUNNERS KILLED
Act Intended to Save Human
Life; Toll Might Be
Greater.
j. B. BURNHAM SAYS

uuhl convention OF Jne STATE fOTeSt. f1sU
and Game League held In this city on
Wednesday and Thursday last the kill
Ing Of hve persons. mistaken for deer"
wa discussed. and the conviction seemed
60 be that II Il was not for the buck
law many more gunners would add to
the annual toll OF those who do not wait
TO see what they aim at.
This Is the fourth year Of the buck
faw. or the thirty-six States that hava
ope season for deer seventeen prescribe
that only male deer nay be killed. These
States include Vermont. New York. New
Jersey. Pennsylvania. West Virginia,
Wisconsin. Missouri, Utah. Idaho. Ore
gon. Georgia. Alabama. Texas. Okla
homa, New Mexico. Arizona and Cali
fornia. Alaska alho has a buck law.
The man most instrumental in having
the buck law placed upon the statute
books Of the Empire state is John y.
Burnham. president Of the State Forest.
Fish and Game League. which repre-
sents 40 900 organized sporismen.
Probably more than any one else he ID
competent to discuss the law. which -
irst met with great opposition. and In
now acknowledged TO be OF beneht t.
runners and to the STATE.
what are the salient features Of bu y
law legislation" Mr.. Burnham was
asked yesterday by a reporter for THE
Sun.
Act Z q So eg uard Haman Life.
They are four" said Mr.. Burnhar
Tt Is In successful operation In a ma
1ority OF important deer produc ng
States Human lives are not lost IN
States with a buck law except infrs
Quently. whereas dozens Of gunners axe
killed In States without the buck law
3--the buck law IN based on oommo,,
sense breeding principles employed ~
the farmer with his live stock &-the
State OF Vermont has Increased nor
stock Of deer from seventeen in 1878 20
a number worth at present market fig
ures more than sl.250.00o.
There must be some good reason for
the fact that IN the majority OF the
States where there is deer hunting the
law permits the killing OF only the
bucks. the does and lawns being per-
petuRlly protected. II IL not customary
20 add restrictive measures to the laws
I'LL their necessity has been demon
strated. LEGISLATURES do not 60 of at
half cock in such matters. II may
therefore he ssumed that there IL q
substantial basis for the buck law.
primarily II IS a measure to safe
guard human life. At the same time II
IL designed to insure the Terpetuatlon of
n species which not only furnishes sport
IN the hunter, but also provides a vaiu-
able food supply for the people Of the
State.
at recognizes the common sense
homely principle adopted by farmers
everywhere of preserving their female
domestic animals for breeding stock.
The farmer sells his bull calves and
wether lambs and saves the he.fer calves
and ewes. and similarly under n buck
inUv ekA Haas aaA EtlAA aa cha INAs
saved so that the future Of the supply
will be assured.
Hunters Increase, Game Decreases.
..r,.r. .,u. 4, a.. ~
,ro,an,i,o hia,o.v go 80
IL 4. ann,rnn, la, ,ho c,m. 10 ho;nv
Eiued an over tho yrea,er n,r,,or ~ The
bunting territory faster Than II increase
fhis is the signal for new and more
restrictive laws such an proh,bltlne the
sale OF game. reducing the bag limits
and shortening the omen seasons.
Such time honored methods have
been. of the greatest value In preserving
our game, but SO far as bag limits and
shortened seasons are concerned there
are conditions under which these restric-
lions are useless in the face Of u tre-
mendous increase In population.
For example. the danger to human
lie In greatly increased by shortening
the deer season to a few days duration
IN a section where great numbers OF
hunters are accustomed 10 pursue tne
sport TINS because. IN ordO mat All
IN 'ne heId ~ s'Nen uay, a"o ose~use
shorter season more reckless shooting Is
INDUCED in to get a deer. Human life
is worth more than the game. and under
such conditions II 10 desirable rather to
lengthen than to shorten the open sea-
0oa
There are aho q srowing number OF
instances where . bag limit OF one deer
only will not q the game from exter-
mination. 1t Ia perfectly evident then
that some other method must be IN.
ployed to save the seed which shall pro-
duce the next seasons crop.
With deer the law protecting AL AMI
mails except those bearing horns exactly
meets the situation. Where such a law
In in force q longer open season can be
given. with the resultant advantage Of
less crowding In the woods at airy one
time and a fair bag limit can b. per-
United without endanserins the supply.
THE experience OF States which have
tried this law demonstrates conclcsively
that where there are large forest areas
and efficiently enforced laws the future
OF the Virginia deer In this cour try 10
assured. In States where this law haze
been longest In force not only has the
breeding stock increased In number but
more deer are being killed.
Protectiau doe Protects Favvu..