The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1916-12-07
WOULD CUT DOWN BAG
LIMIT on CHICKENS
AND sT|EFEN UP FINES
President Reeve of Game Com.
mission Believes Violators
Should Be Jailed

Personally, favor reduction OF
the bag limit on prairie chickens from
ten to five birds per day and closed
season for two years in the First Con
gressional district" was the state
ment. made by ]. P. Reeve Of Beach,
president Of the North Dakota Game
and Fish board, in response to query
as to what he thought was the best
solution of the problem of preventing
the destruction, or prairie chickens in
North DAKOTA.
Continuing, President Reeve said:
I'm addition to the foregoing sugges-
tions, would make it a Jail sentence
instead of fine for a violation Of
the bag limit, repeal that portion Of
the law which permits the retention
of game longer than three days after
the closed season and make 1t a mis-
demeanor to place prairie chicken in
cold storage. With these measures
changed persons would not kill so
many birds and store them up and
shooters would only seek a sufficient
number for their own use.
No Statewide Closed Season.
GAS yet, scarcely see the necessi-
ty of a closed season all over the
state on prairie chickens. There are
lot of birds in the western half of
the state and believe two years pro
lection would restore the shooting i'm
the Red River valley counties includ-
ed in the First Congressional district.
Some radical action must be taken.
If the season is closed entirely there
will be many poachers, fewer licenses
will be purchased and there will be in
adequate funds for the protection of
the game. II the bag limit is merely
reduced the game and fish board will
secure the cooperation of the sports
men generally and believe there will
be general disposition to comply
with the proposed reduced bag limit
in a sportsmanlike manner, and the
Jail sentence will deter willfull VIC
lators." ,,f 4,
Enthusiastic Over New Laws.
President Reeve is great .enthusi-
asst over the provisions of the game
law enacted at the alast legislature,
making II possible to create game ref
uges. when this game refuge law
is more thoroughly understood" de.
clared Mr.. Reeve, there will be doz-
ems of game refugees established in
every county, Hunting is not permit
tied on these refugees for a period OF
ten years, NOT even by the owners Of
the land. The men who are interest
ed in game preservation and propa
cation readily cooperate with us and
many of these game sanctuaries have
been established over the, state, We
are in receipt Of many. Inquiries from
people wishing to cooperate in this
manner, and I, believe a large mum
Der will be set aside this winter"
Many Reasons Assigned.
Many reasons !, are assigned yby
sportsmen for the disappearance, ;o
prairie chickens. President Reeve has
his own rather unique solution of thai
phase of the case. "The autos are
largely responsible" was the emphat
ic declaration of the head of thu
game and fish board. "By the use O
autos hunters now go much greater
distances and reach the shootin,
grounds much more frequently ant
quickly than formerly. Localities tina
were practically unlimited in the OH
! days are now easily, accessible ant