The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-05-10
new GAME LAW
SUITS FARMERS
ELIMINATES PROVISION AGAINST
CARRYING GUN-DEPARTMENT
EXPENSES ARE CUT

EXPENSES ARE CUT
The amendments in the state game
laws, in so far as they affect the
farmers of the state, are discussed in
the following article from the Idaho
Farmer:
Agricultural interests of Idaho
won nearly all points for which they
commended in the amendments of the
state game laws, against which there
were protests from all sections and
all branches of agricultural work in
Idaho. The law as amended is far
more Just to the farmers and live
stock men. R. e. Thomas, the new
game warden, appointed by Governor
Moore, is shaping the work in hope
Of obtaining better results and it is
believed the work will have hearty
support of the farmers who were bit
terly opposed to the old laws and
refused to cooperate with the former
head of the department. The new
law, the amendments to the law
make it almost in accord with the
resolutions adopted by the state
grange, the farm bureau, the wool
growers and other farm and live
stock organizations. The most OBJ
~jectionable features of the old law
have been removed.
"Mr. Thomas, the new game war
den, acting in conjunction with
Governor Moore, has announced a
new policy for control of the depart
ment. This policy calls for retrench-
ment in expenses, reduction of salar-
led employees and greater effort to
provide permanent equipment and i'm
provements and to stock streams
with game fishes and protect the
game of the state.
Probably no part of the old law
created more opposition and actual
than the section which pro-
vided that any n carrying an "un-
cased gun in forest or field" without
first having obtained a license, cost
ing SO, could be arrested and fined
$25 and costs. It was charged by
wool and other %organiza-
tons tina this provision "automa-
tically made a criminal of every man,
woman or child who took a gun out
of his or her own house, upon his
or her own land, to shoot a coyote,
ground squirrel, hawk, owl or other
or bird hat preyed upon the
herds and 1ocks of the owner." 1t
was charged that this section was
used as an excuse for black
mailing people into buying licenses
in order to provide a salary fund for
the : hordes of employees of the game
department" (These quotations are
taken from some of the protests filed
against the old game laws.) 1t was
charged that this provision kept far
mers who were unable to or felt it
unjust to, obtain a hunting license,
men who never hunted for pleasure,
from killing jack rabbits, ground
squirrels, hawks, etc., that destroyed
their live stock, fowls or crops. An
other provision hat aroused much
opposition was the one requiring a
trapper's license to trapper's license
to trap or a hunters license to shoot
and other predatory animals
destroyed fowls and live stock
the farms and ranges. Another
provision that caused much dissatis-
faction was hat providing that pea
and muskrats could not be killed
Or trapped, even though they were
loing ~irreparable damage to irriga-
ion bitches, causing heavy losses to
crops. Men had been arrested for
trapping muskrats that were running
lllSdllOn QllShCo III oOllC " lut uiOSI
'ertile parts of Idaho, where thou
done to crops by these depreda-
ions.
The New Provisions
"The new, or revised law, gives per-
to any American citizens
Who are citizens of Idaho to carry
lncased s~hotguns or rifles on pro-
'erty owned, leased, or controlled by
hem or on adjoining property for the
urpose of pursuing, hunting or kill
ng predatory animals. Provided
hat nothing in this chapter
hall be construed to prohibit citi-
ems of the United States who are
esidents OF the state of Idaho, from
arrying arms for the protection OF
ife and property, or to prohibit any
erson from carrying side arms for
rejection of life and property"
These were the features against
'hich there was the greatest protest.
sheep herder, ii an American and
Itizen of Idaho, may carry a gun to
his flock, without being re-
uired to take out a hunters license
nd one may shoot any animal or bird
lat destroys property without hav-
Il tO secure a hunters license. Pro-
erty owners are permitted to trap
eaver and muskrats that are damag-
the property, provided this is done
lherwise legally and under the SUI
ervision or with the consent Of the
department. Women are now
emitted to fish without a Iiceae
i'd children under IA years old may
fish without a license. The
open season for killing Chinese
sasants, which have become a pest
many sections of Idaho, where they
sstroy much grain, has been leng-
ened in many counties. In fact, al