The Natchitoches enterprise., 1918-11-14
NEW GAME LAWS FULLY
EXPLAINED
Alexandria CorrectS Impress
sion About Shooting Of
Birds, Animals


standing as to the intents and pur-
poses of the federal migratory game
law it has been deemed expedient by
the Department Of Conservation of
Louisiana to issue brief analysis and
synopsis of the regulations governing
the enforcement of this federal law,
pointing out just what action sports
men must take to keep themselves
within the law when hunting migratory
wild game in Louisiana. In presenting
this analysis of the law Commissioner
M. L. Alexander stated that he first of
all wished to correct several erroneous
prevailing impressions, the first being,
that under certain circumstances there
would be limited sale of game birds.
az wish to state that game birds can
not be sold at any time, anywhere, nor
under. any conditions, under the new
law.
MAY SELL RABBITS
''There is nothing in the federal law
affecting game mammals, therefore,
rabbits can be sold in the open market
ut any time. Raccoons, squirrels and
opossums can be sold only during the
open season for these species"
There is nothing in the new federal
regulations, the commissioner went on
to say, that prohibits sportsman own
ing astate hnntlng license from legiti-
mately giving to his friends any migra-
tory game birds that he may have
killed on hunting trip. But, it was
pointed out, that the right to give any
legitimately killed game must not be
taken advantage of as a means of
evading the non-sale of game previous,
as anyone apprehended in such prac-
tice will be liable to prosecution in the
United States courts and fined up to
maximum of $500.
MIGRATORY BIRDS
Briefly, the federal law declares as
migratory game birds the waterfowl,
including wild ducks and geese; rails.
including the coots (poule d'eau), galli-
mules, and rails, sometimes called march
hens. OF the shore birds only the
snipe, the black-bellied and golden
plovers, and the greater and lesser
yellow legs can be shot for sport, the
other species of shore birds being pro-
tected. Doves are also declared to be
game birds that can be hunted in their
proper season. Among the Louisiana
ducks, the only species that may not
be hunted is the woodduck or 'bran-
cLu." 1t being protected under the
federal law for five yerrs. Under the
state law woodcock may not be hunted
In Louisiana until 1928, and it is pointed
out that hunters in this state should
not be found with either of these birds
In their bags.
The open season for hunting migra-
tory game birds comedies with the
state law, it being permissible to kill
ducks, geese, coots, rails, gallinules
and snipe, also yellow-legs and plovers
only from Nov. to Jan. 81. The open
season for doves being from Sept. 16
to Dec. 81.
THE BAG LIMITS
The bag limits on the migratory
game birds are:
Ducks, 25' in the aggregate of all
kinds.
Geese, s in the aggregate of all kinds.
Rails, coots and gallinules, 25 in the
aggregate of all kinds.
plovers and yelIow-legs, Is in the
aggregate of all kinds.
Doves, Is.
= The federal law and the state law
permit game birds to be taken during
the open seasons with guns not larger
than number 10 guage fired from the
shoulder, with the aid of dog and the
use of decoys. The federal law pro-
hibits the use of an airplane, power
boat. sail boat or any other boat under
sail. This does not prohibit hunter
from shooting from pirogue or other
duck boat or from using blind on the
land or on the water. Both state and
federal law state that game birds can
be taken during the hours from one
half hour before sunrise to sunset.
FEDERAL Law PREVAILS
While the state law allowed limited
number of migratory game birds to be
sold, the federal law positively pro-
hibits migratory game birds from being
sold, therefore raises precedent over
the state law, SO that all hunters In
Louisiana should take notice that undel