River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1919-02-13
Rod & Gun Club
Annual Banquet
Game Conservation Problems and
Plans Discussed by State OF
fetal and Members
Annual Business Meeting at
CITY Hall Tomorrow (Fri.)

Chairman w. E. Barbour, of the
State Conservation committee, gave
cut some startling facts concerning
Wisconsin's fish and game resourc-
Is, making a profound impression on
the one hundred or more members
who gathered for the third annual
banquet of the River Falls Rod &
Gun Club at Syndicate hall last We'd
nesday evening.
Mr.. Barbour first took up the
defense Of the lone buck law, "
which is being urged again in the
legislature, by his committee. His
strong argument was based upon
the case of the state of Vermont,
where, after nimrods had killed off
every deer, the state turned loose a
herd Of 20 and prohibited the hunt
ing of them for 19 years, then open
ed again under the one.buCk law.
The deer are now so numerous that
every few years they are able to
take off the one-buck restriction for
a season. His figures proved that,
under present conditions, Wlscon-
sins forests will soon be as deer
less as Vermont's were, but with
the immediate introduction of the
one buck law, which has previously
shown it's value in this state, the
deer may be not only preserved, but
greatly increased so that, as in Yer
mont, we may occasionally have the
open seasons for all deer.
The speaker then made a plea for
at least two more closed seasons on
cartridges and prairie chickens.
He scoffed the idea of hard whit
ers being responsible for the alarm
ing decrease of these valuable birds
they had survived many hard
winter before hunters became so
In this connection Mr..
Barbour brought up the subject OF
the four game refugees in Wisconsin
and upon the suggestion Of DIR. Z.
A. Dawson that the lower Kinnlc-
kinnic region offers an excellent
site, he read the law concerning
them and it appeared SO acceptable
that the local club may urge the
conservation committee to take over
this tract. Making game refuge
Of this land would in no way inter
fere with the rights of the farmers
living thereon, except in the matter
Of hunting, and that would be pro-
libited 10 everyone, giving game an
opportunity to live there unmolest-
ed for at least five years.
In regard to the Waltonian pur-
suit, Mr.. Barbour stated that the
hatcheries and the activities of loo
al clubs assure a goodly supply of
game and rough fish for years to
come. He gave some very valuable
pointers regarding the planting of
trout fry, and also touched upon
the subject of harmony between
angler and property owners. He
called attention to the fact that the
law~allows the angler right to wade
the stream, but it is seldom that the
law should needs be called upon in
his matter, for the true sportsman
will not disturb property or conduct
himself in an Objectionable manner,
while it is hardly conceivable that
an owner would post his place out
of pure meanness Or sel6shness.
Such matters can be, and are, we'll
handled by local clubs. Mr.. Wiger
made an excellent suggestion on
this point in proposing that the lc-
cal club furnish fands for the erect
ion of stiles over fences where most
convenient for fishermen.
NJ. Barbour was very earnest in
emph ASKING the fact the Conserva.
ton ,.numission, instead of being
the enemy of sports@en in the ca
pacity of sleuths, is working to
aid the sportsmen to preserve their
sport, and instead of any attempt to
make a record list of arrests, they
use every other means first to en-
force the laws, and they arrest no
one who errs unless absolutely GER
tain that there is malicious intent.
Mr.. Barbour said the early efforts
of agricultural colleges and the
manner of their reception by those
who ridiculed the idea that schools
could teach practical farming, was a