New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-31

Why He Demands Protection From
the Trcspassing Hunter
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.


To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: There is a general feeling of
irritation and resentment among farm
ers because of the custom which many
city sportsmen have in trespassing
upon farms without the consent Of the
owners in order to hunt wild game.
For some reason hard to explain,
much of the hunting is done without
regard to the rights or feelings Of the
owners Of the land. The damage
caused by the hunters Is considerable.
Valuable fruit is taken from the trees;
crops, especially heavy growths of
grain and hay, are waded through in
such a manner that it is difficult and
at times impossible to harvest any,
thing where the paths were made.
Gaps in fences are made and gates are
left open, making it possible for the
cattle to get through on to the rail-
roads or into valuable crops. Farm
ers feel that the game has been pro-
tected and fed on their own land and
by their own crops, and they naturally
feel that little courtesy and respect
for the rights Of others should be
used by those who hunt.
The law endeavors to protect the
owner of the land against damage by
giving him the privilege Of posting his
farm with signs. Unfortunately, this
does little or no good. Where the
farmer takes the trouble and goes to
the expense Of having signs painted
and posted on his farm, they are usu-
ally ignored entirely or are torn down
and destroyed.
All Of this increases the growing
misunderstanding and bad feeling be-
tween those who live in the city and
those who live on the farms. A few
well-to-do sportsmen, not repre- enting
the great mass of city folks who be-
lieve in a square deal, come to the
country and give farmers a wrong
opinion Of the real city dweller.
Putting ourselves in the farmers
place, city folks would have the same
feeling If strangers came into their
stores or shops or Offices and without
permission helped themselves to the
material on the counter, destroyed
other property that they did not use
and left the store, with the owner hav-
ing no opportunity to take action
against them
Aside from the Importance of doing
something to rectify the injustice, in
convenience and loss to farmers caused
by careless hunters, there is also the
important problem of conserving the
game, and in this not only are the
city sportsmen interested but also a
majority Of farmers who want to see
the wild game conserved. Yet unless
there can be some cooperation for an
adequate and just trespass law, the
average farmer will feel that the game
on his land cannot be protected and
fostered, because it is a menace to his
peace Of mind and to his property.
The remedies for the situation are
simple. In the first place, most farm
ers are reasonable, courteous and hos
pitable, and there should be more of a
tendency on the part of those who
hunt to go to the owner of the land
and ask his permission to do so. For
those who have not enough regard for
the rights Of others to do this there
should be a trcspass law with teeth
in it. Because farmers feel this so
keenly, they will ask the next Legis-
lature to amend the law so as to give
them protection to which they are ell
titled.
1t is to be hoped that there may be
full cooperation between those who are
interested in conserving the game and
keeping it from going the way of the
buffalo and the passenger pigeon and
those who own the land in the sup
port of law that Will correct the
present situation.
E. r. EASTMAN,
Editor Dairyman's League News.
New York, July IS, 1920