The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-02-01
WANTS.STATF
GAME LAWS LEFT
AS THEY ARE
President Parker, of State Sports.
mems Association Wants Tamper-
ing Stopped-Wardens Are o. X.

"Stop tinkering with the game laws;
leave them alone, with but few mi
nor changes, and leave the present
warden's alone-that's the whole
thing in NUTSHELL" said C. w. Park
er, president of the North Dakota
State Sportsmen's association, to a
representative of the Independent,
when interviewed, as to what changes
the hunters of the state were advocat-
ing, during the present session of the
legislature, in the existing game laws.
Continuing Mr.. Parker said, "There is
no question so little understood, nor so
greatly misunderstood, as the whole
question of bird protection and the du-
ties of the wardens. North Dakota
has but few birds of destructive ten
dency, and this is good thing. Most
of our native birds are not grain eat
ers, but their natural food is insects of
all kinds and weed seeds. Tame grain,
such as wheat, barley, etc., is not
found in their stomachs, except thru
the late fall and during the winter,
and this, of, course, is what is known
as stubble grain, already lost to the
farmer. Of course this is true mostly
of the prairie chicken and grouse, as
most of the other birds have migrated
to the South for the winter. This is
not bare assertion of mine, but is
backed by exhaustive examinations of
the contents Of many stomachs, from
birds Of all kinds, sent to the Bureau
of Biology, Washington, D. c., to
which any person disputing may refer
for proof, at no expense but two
cent stamp. l can not see why it is
that at every session Of the legisla-
ture some person wants to shove the
work Of the wardens back into politics.
The warden system was organized
first in the United States about IA
years ago, to get away from the local
officers, it being an entirely new work
and outside of the power of arrest, has
nothing in common with the duties of
any other peace officer. States that
have turned back to the local officer
system have always regretted it, and
resumed the warden system at the
earliest opportunity. Our present
laws (Sec. 81 require that all sheriffs
and other peace officers assist the
present wardens, but as before ex-
PAoAACA1 ID 0O 1ACCAC Ill SO1llIIlOI
between the duties of the two that but
little, if any, assistance is rendered.
'The present wardens have given us
as good service as could be reason
ably expected. Two years ago the
present law was entirely rewritten
to make it comprehensive and work.
able. It should be left alone now, with
but very few slight notifications
Drastic changes, such as contemplated
by House Bill 102, will only result in
disaster, and it's poor time now tc
change from trained wardens to un.
skilled men. The present board start.
+, ed three years ago last April, with.
out cent; today in the hands of the
state treasurer there is $4,000 to the
credit Of the game board, and we have
had mighty good warden service, anc
it's getting better all the time. The
wardens have extensive plans to en-
large and extend their work alone
new lines, hitherto denied, by reason
of no funds. 1t must be remembered