New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-17
Restoring Wild Game
Hon Farmers and Hunters Can
Unite on Just Laws .


70 the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: 1she proper conservation Of the
wild life OF the state ID as Important
matter to tho farmers as 30 either
the spoltsmen or any other class Of
our people. Sensible and fair methods
IN this direction will get the hearty
cooperation of our farmers. However,
the present laws governing the posting
Of private property are 50 offensive
and so at variance with fairness to
all parties concerned that that ncces-
snry cooperation upon tho part of
owners Of forest lands and the pri-
vately owned lands Of the state Is not
obtained.
Every true sportsman with real
desire to perpetuate the wild life Of
the state will recognize the unfairness
Of law which makes the furmer or
estate owner 60 to the private expense
OF printing and 20 ting signs to keepc
off hunters and trespaasors from the
lands owned by him, where he has
perhaps tried for years to protect
few birds or animals in their native
haunts. Pheasants and partridge are
dependent often upon grain fed by
land owners during winter. There is
little encouragement in such acts
when the property may be invaded
and all tho game willfully shot during
open seasons, unless the lands arc
posted.
This posting law is so unfair and so
biased that it has been and is a con-
slant source of irritation. 1t seems
PEELED to post his premises to keep off
those who have no right to be upon
the lands at all If this trespass were
done by those who scnsed the full
rights of landowners It would be much
more tolerable, but not SO when done
by wanton poachers who not only
shoot wild game, preserved with care
by the owners, but often tame fowls,
stock and farm animals, AS we'll as
destroy crops, break down fences
and open gates, with resultant dam
age. These matters have been az
gravated during tho years, and the
whole requirement of the law becomes
so annoying to owners that the fair
hunter and honest sportsman has to
suffer from the acts of the lawless.
When the posting law has been COM
piled with the signs arc often torn
down and destroyed that no action at
law might be maintained again st the
trespasser who has invaded lands
where bird or animal haven has been
maintained.
personally own q timber tract
sought to preserve within the con-
fines Of the park haven for wild life,
both animal and bird In this con-
nection I have allowed this tract to
be posted for several years, so that
the animals coming into 1t from the
state park might be safe here also.
This land has never beer hunted by
| the writer, and we have sought to pro-
tect the colonies Of squirrel and other
game within It's confines. Notwith-
standing all tho effort made in this
direction hunters persist in destroy
ing the signs posted year after year
and Invading tho property and de-
stroying the game.
Our friends OF the city, as we'll as
all lovers of the wild life, will want
to see such just and fair laws as will
operate to protect the small remnant
left in the forests and fields of the
state. This can be done only by
law making 1t misdene anor to hunt
upon the lands Of another without his
written consent. This will harm no
one, will put such proper protection
upon the wild life as TO ipsure its
perpetuation, and when it has become
numerous SO that its toll upon the
crops is harmful it will be easy to
secure permits for proper hunting. The
farmer already feeds and raises all
the wild game; it will be but fair
that he be- placed as its proper cuss
todian under such restrictions as to
closed season as will not allow him
to violate proper regulations for the
protection of the game during the
breeding and growing season.
When a law is enacted to require
permission in writing to hunt upon
any and all privately owned lands in
the state We will begin system which
will mean the restoration of the ami
NAL and bird life which was so
abundant in our forests in the child
hood of many men now living.
S. l.. STRIVINGS,
State President, the New York
State Federation of County Farm
Bureau Associations.
CASTLE, N. Z, July 10, 1920