The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-01-18
GAME And dashboard
WANTS open SEASON.
OPY|ONPUY NYOLAW
Would Allow Longer Cunning
for Ducks, Set License for
Deer, and Handle Fees
BOUNTY CHANGES URGED
Protection for Jack Rabbits
From Avid Fur Hunters Advo.
Gated to Save Species

Liberalization In some parts Of the
state game and fish laws. stricter reg
ulation Of other phases, will be sought
of the present legislative assembly by
the state game and fish commission.
The three commissioners now are
here on this task. They are working
out the details of their program at
their rooms at the Patterson and also
have had several conferences with the
game and fish committee of the house.
in an effort to enlist support there
for their proposals.
One Of the aims they have in view
Is to have license fee Of SO on deer
hunting enacted with provision
allowing the commission to open or
close seasons, as conditions make
either desirable, according to M. A.
Hoghaug. Devils Lake. secretary.
Ask Protection From Ducks
Proceedings Of the commission
reveal q sort Of turning Of the tables.
Laws exist to protect wild ducks and
geese from wanton hunters. Now
comes the hunter. begging protection
from the ducks and geese.
At q joint meeting of the game and
fish committees Of the house and
senate and the state game and fish
board, Thursday, representative in
troduced the problem.
Great flocks Of ducks from across
the Canadian boundary up in Burke
and Divide counties do great damage
to grain fields. They destroy thou
sands Of bushels, he declared. It Is
not fair for the farmer to suffer this
because the law prohibits shooting
the duck out Of season. In this case
the duck becomes the narauder and
the farmer the victim.
However, little encouragement for
remedy was given at the meeting. It
was pointed out that migratory birds
come under federal and not state SUI
pervision.
Members of the Isaak Walton
league in Bismarck are reported to be
preparing q bill for revision Of the
game board act so asto have a one
man commission at all times to
maintain an office in Bismarck. The
present system Of three game and
fish commissioners and a secretary,
none Of whom reside or maintain Of
fices In the capital city, is attacked.
Propose Jack Rabbit Season
Another bill which is also reported
In the making, is q measure to pro-
tect jack rabbits. It is true that
these animals have been veritable
pests In past years. Scores Of COM
munities have held rabbit hunts for
the sole purpose of DISCRIMINATING
them. Sportsmen without number
have carried rifles in their cars and
slain thousands Of rabbits annually
at all seasons Of the year, Just for
target practice.
Beginning about three years ago,
fur dealers appeared in the state Of
fering to purchase rabbit hides.
Stripping the hides from rabbits,
however. was not very remunerative
at the rate Of 30 cents q pound. Last
year the dealers offered to buy the
rabbits 1t Is cents each, skinning
them in their own shops. This year
the price has gone to 80 cents.
Throughout western North Dakota
in the past two months, hundreds Of
farmers have put In all their spare
time hunting. Farmer boys have
been well repaid for hunting. One
case is reported wherein two farm
ers have sold over $500 rabbits for
81 .066.00 In six weeks Of hunting.
As . consequence the rabbits are
actually becoming scarce, Protection
Of the rabbits except for the months
In which the fur Is prime. is to be the
subject Of q proposed bill. Rabbit
fur Is In great demand by furriers OF