The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-04-12
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Viola Farmer Wants Right to Shoot
Coyotes

Not many months ago some parties
were fined $25 each for killing coyotes
without a license. We understand
that one man living near Moscow was
thus fined for killing a coyote on his
own farm. If he is like most farmers
he would rather pay the fine than to
let one get away. We are pretty sure
he felt, as some others do, that he
had a right to rid his farm of all an
imals and birds that are nuisances
without paying any man for the prvii-
lege; and more especially is this the
case since tn license fee goes to main
tain a horde of unnecessary officers.
In some districts we have herd
laws to make people keep their stock
up, or herd them, to keep them out
of other peoples fields. But we have
a game law that protects the coyote
and other predatory animals and
birds, and let's them run at large. A
great many people do not have the
bread and clothing. Others who could
spare the fee do not want to hunt at
all They only want to kill animals
and birds that are a nuisance to man.
And man should be free to do this
anywhere, and at any time, except in
public parks, etc.
Some people have no time for hunt
ing and fishing. They believe the time
can be better spent at something else. |
When I was growing up, there was a |
family or two living near, who went |
hunting two or three times a week !
Sometimes they were out all night |
and sometimes all day, with their
hounds and horns after the raccoon,
fox or deer They were the LATEST,
good for-nothing set of people I have
ever known. But of course, this shoe /
does not fit every hunter However,
we think that hunting and fishing
should be discouraged; except hunting
for predatory administration should
be encouraged, with a bounty for each
scalp-instead of being discouraged
by a license. During the past win
ter one citizen or more of the state
Of Washington was fined $25 for kill
ing coyote in Idaho. This should
not be. AS to the alien sheep herder,
he should be allowed to kill all pre-
latOry animals he can, without a IL
,ense. So we believe that certain parts
If the game law should be repealed
md that the game and fish laws should
,e administered by the sheriffs, their
wn deputies, the constables, Justices
f the peace and county judges of the
ifferent counties. Under this plan
We would have men to execute the
Avs CndC nave DooH erected by the
eople, and not by appointees, who
ways have some political rope to
ull And the greater part of all
loneys accruing from licenses, fines,
to-. should be applied to the school
nd road funds, and the balance used
Or constable fees and to maintain Il
sh hatcheries.
This plan would do away with one q
st of officials. The people would not d
e opposed to paying a fee for the
rivilege of hunting and fishing if the
reater part of the money were used =
n schools and roads. We are not d
sympathy with any man or organ =
alton of men that favors, or has
yer favored, a law for filming a man
r killing a coyote. Precious things
ow, if those who favor the present
W and it's present administration,
i'll show that the law should not be
nended, and that our present duly
ected civil officers can not enforce
e game and fish laws just as effici-
lily as the wardens and save the
xpayer some money, we will drop
is matter right here.
J. E. GRAY
P. S.-Since writing the above, we