The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-08-24
State GAME LAWS
GAME WARDEN REVIEWS NEW
STATUTES AFFECTING HUNT
ERS AND FISHERMEN.

Pierre, Aug. 24.-State Game
Warden H. s. Hedrick, in reviewing
the changes made in the game laws
by the last legislature. makes the fol-
lowing statements in a bulletin issued
by his department which contains
the laws as they stand at present:
Il wish to review some of the laws
passed by the 1917 legislature affect
ing the game and fish interests of the
state.
I'm my judgment, the most impor-
tant of those was the law giving the
game and fish commission authority
to purchase land, with the right of
eminent domain. for the propagation
of game and fish. There are a great
many places in the state where land
should be purchased by the state in
order to accomplish the results de
sired by citizens of the community.
A great many of our lakes could be
improved by being made deeper or by
the construction of dams to hold the
water back, but in many cases this
would mean hat certain lowlands be
longing to individuals would be over
flowed. OF course this could not be
done unless such lands could be pur-
chased in the name of the state,
when the desired object could be ac-
complished.
Some changes were made in the
seasons on game fish. which are now
as follows: The trout season opens
on April / and closes on October 1;
crappies. pike, pfckerel and sunfish
are protected during the months of
March and April, while the closed
season for bass is from the LIST day of
March to the 30th day of May. Pick
erel were placed in the game class,
hence, of course, they cannot be
speared as heretofore.
The law granting the commission
authority to issue permits for fish
houses on shallow lakes was changed
somewhat. Under our present law,
the commission may grant permits
for the maintaining of fish houses on
any of the lakes or waters of the
state, to parties desiring to secure
fish for domestic purposes. upon the
payment of a fee of 81 for the issu-
ance of such permit.
THE law placing a closed season
on ~fur-bearing animals vas amended
so that the season now opens on the
LIST day of December and closes on
the LIST day of April. The law also
provides for a SIS trapping license
for residents, provided hat land
owners trapping on their own land
and boys under Is years of age shall
not be required to secure such Ii
cense.
"A change in the season for game
birds seemed advisable and a law was
passed opening the season on prairie
chickens and grouse on September
and closing Ii on October 6. The sea
son on water fowl opens on Septem-
Der 7 and closes on December 20. &c
conform with the federal regulations
for the protection of migratory birds
The bag limit was also changed, SO
that the limit on prairie chickens and
grouse is now five birds per day. Is
in possession at one time. The daily
limit on water fowl is Is per day, 81
in possession at one time.
THE law regulating the transpor
tation of game birds by nonresidents
was also changed. Every nonresident
license has five coupons attached
each coupon being good for the ship.
ment of 10 game birds, by express OF
otherwise. limiting the shipment Il
SO game birds during the season OF
any nonresident license.
Section 4. chapter 223, laws Of
1913, was amended, giving the com.
mission authority to employ five ad
ditional short term wardens. which
will be quite a help in enforcing the
laws, as the territories have been sc
large In the past that il was impos-
sible for the wardens to cover then
as they should be covered"