Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-04-09
New Sportsmen's
Licenses viii Be
On Sale In Libby
Senator Tower Tells Advantages and
Reasons for Enacting New
Legislation.

HELENA. Mont, April 4-(Special)
The Montana Sportsman's License,
authorized by the last legislature, as
the only such fish and game docu
ment issued by any state in the Union.
is ready for distribution. According to
announcement by Robert H. Hill. state
fish and game warden, today, the first
consignment of these documents of
honor was shipped to 900 license deal
ers. throughout the state to enable
sportsmen generally to secure these s.
licenses covering all the privileges OF
hunting and fishing, before the distri-
button of the remainder of the other
licenses is completed
These licenses will be on sale at Lib
by at S. each until the supply is ex-
hausted by Scott Jaqueth and s. N.
Plummer. Ii prevailing indications may
be taken as a criterion. the demand for
the document, that indicates the keen
interest of the holder in the continu-s
alton of the program of fish and game
conservation, will prove, unusually
brisk. Hundreds of applications have
already been received at state fish and
game headquarters. Sportsmen feel
that possession of the new license and
the displaying of the attractive wind
shield is significant. Purchasers of this
license which is printed on white linen
with deer and elk tags attached, are
not required to buy any other hunt
ing and fishing license during the year.
The license folds into the size of card
for uses of Identification in card cases
and is attractively printed in three
colors
Senator Ralph r. Tower Of Lake
County, member of the senate fish and
game committee for the last four SEES
sions, is the author of the sportsman's
license plan.
when the original bill for needed
revenue for the state fish and game
department was passed by the house
it carried a flat increase of SO cents
above the So which has prevailed for
the last 10 years said Senator Tower
THE increase would have applied to
farmer and city sportsman alike.
THE farmer is indirectly responsible
for raising more birds than the city
sportsman, hence it was my belief that
the increased license fee plan should
be equalized When the farmer desires
to hunt or fish he pays the same Ii
cense fee as a city brother, yet game
is propagated on his land. despite the
fact that the game belongs to all the
people.
With this plan in mind, three resi-
dent licenses have been provided
Rather than approve flat increase, it
was agreed that reservations should be
made Thousands of men working in
the mines, shelters. farms and other
industries are fishermen and do not
hunt big game. Hence, it was argued
that the farmer, the working man and
youths should be permitted to fish and
hunt game birds at the So license fee
prevailing for the last 10 years. Then
it was provided that-sportsmen de-
sirous of hunting big game should be
required to pay an additional dollar
for a resident big game license with
elk and deer tags attached.
THE law now provides thai each big
game license holder must return the
post card attached>to the NEW license
showing in what counties elk and deer
are killed, sex, condition and other
questions pertinent to proper 6onser-
vation This information will be of rare
value to the State Fish and Game De-
partment The law declares it a mis-
demeanor for a big game hunter to fail
to attach the tag torn from the license
Immediately after the animal is killed.
The tag must remain on the carcass
until IN ic consumed
Then came the browning effort-the
formulation of plans for the issuance
of the Sportsman's License, to sell for
S5-which gives outstanding sports
men all the privileges granted under
the other licenses and at the same time
provides him with the wholesome OPP
portunity Of placing an additional So
in the fish and game fund to do some
thing near his share in aiding the re-
stocking program of fish and birds to
continue without handicap. 1t is my
prediction that many hundreds OF
sportsmen who have this problem at
heart, will purchase a Sportsman's Lii
cense before the opening OF the fish
ing season.