The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1924-02-08
FORMER IDAHO
CAME WARDEN
IS CRITICIZED
Otto Jones, Head of the
Oregon Game Depart
ment Draws Oregoni-
an Fire

Otto Jones. former game ward
OF Idaho. is now a special represent
tive OF the Oregon game departmeI
Following his practice in Idaho. NJ
Jones is writing stories OF his Or
gon hunting experiences for the rea
ing public. Recently. when the du,
shooting season was coming to clos
a severe freeze in Oregon limited Il
amount OF water available for use
these wateriowls. And Mr.. Jones I,
yether with almost every other Oregc
sportsman who possessed gun. spel
some days OF exceptional shootin
Mr. Jones told of it throught the pres
And The Oregonian. not too we
pleased with what he wrote, rcmarke,
Game conscrvaiionists are. the
field broadly considered. divisible
into three clasSiiications-those
who are swaycd by sentiment.
those who are moved by practical
considerations. and those whose
opinions on the subject are a blend
OF sentiment and practically. The
later are called sportsmen. The
Orcgonian is impellcd TO offer
these brief definitions after reading
and article on duck hunting III
Oregon, written by Otto NJ. Jones.
recently appointed as state lecturer
on game and fish conservation by
the state game department. Mr..
Jones went TO the lakes the other
day. when the northern birds were
flying. His story was an cpitome
OF that outing.
The shooting was fairly good.
first came teal, wiistling in
rapid flight. to crumple and tumble
dead among the nervous decoys.
Then a drake mallard. glistening
through the fog, a ponderous bird
which fell heavily. to DRIFT in the
chill water. Only duck hunters
know the gray magic OF such a
morning. the smell OF the marshes.
the taste and tang OF the mist.
and the tense perfection OF 4 fleet
ing moment. The birds come. as
Mr.. Jones relates, like rockets out
OF the fog and the air is vibrant
with their swift wings. 1t is some
thing TO have hunted ducks on
such a day. Mark A pair OF
pintails driving toward the blind
in consummate grace, their thin.
finely modelled necks weaving as
they watch the decoys. Nowl
~Only one OF the elongated
pair" Mr.. Jones takes up the tale.
made the fatal plunge, while the
drake, wobbling a bit, staggered
through on uncertain wings as he
faded into the fog and was lost
from view He's headed for the
timber over there to cut himself
4 croutch." someone ventured.
while another conjecture was that
he would have to wash few Grim
son stains off his white shirt-front
and high. strioed collar before en-
tering any more social functions
OF the duck tribe"
There are few ducks so beauti-
ful as the drake pintail. with his
white shirt-front and high. striped
collar" The birds is neither
ornate nor specifically striking.
He is grace and beauty. as lovly
in contour as perfect vase.
Somehow. Mr.. Jones jocosity
seems an irritant. But the further
observes that 'it was OF little con-
quence TO our group whether or
not he made forced landing out
OF our vision, or whether or not
he had joined the hospital squad
and subsequently he characterizes
the incident as enjoyable. The
shooting was fair.
We do not intend to shed a
tear for that departed pintail.
which took its wounds into the
fog. to die dimally. for il is in
eviiable that in the sport OF duck
shooting some OF the birds must
be crippled and never retrieved.
But we are not prevented from re-
GREETING that the drake did not die
cleanly, cut down above the de-
coys. as was the mallard And we
are not restrained from an opinion
that it is a matter OF some conse-
quence when a wounded bird es-
capes, with crimson stains on his
white shirt-front. to cut himself
crouch in the timber Indeed.
we gravely question that il is good
form among sportsmen TO find
anything humorous in such sit
uatiOn
From either point OF view. the
sentimental or the practical. the
escape OF a sorely wounded game
bird or animal is or should not
be conducive 10 mirth. Such an
incident. inseparable as IL Is from
sport. Is bv no means enjoyable
20 sportsmen. Holding these
views. we cannot agree that Mr.
Jones has made a happy beginning
for the cause OF conservation.