Page 300 - Our Vanishing Wild Life

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278 OUR VANISHING WILD LIFE
will question either the value or the honest sincerity of Mr. Wallace's opinions. Thefollowingparagraphsarefromthatarticle:
The enactment of a model and modern game law for the State of Florida is abso- lutely imperative in order to save many of the most valuable species of birds and game of that State from certain depletion and threatened extinction. The question of the protection of the birds and game in Florida is not a local one, but is national in its scope. Birds know no state lines, and while practically all the States lying to the north of Florida protect migratory birds and waterfowl, yet these are recklessly slaughtered in that state to such an extent as to be appalling to all sportsmen and bird lovers.
So alarming has become the decrease of the birds and game of Florida that unless a halt is called on the campaign of reckless annihilation that has been ceaselessly waged in that state, the sport and recreation enjoyed by primeval nimrods will linger only in history and tradition.
It is the sincerest hope of all lovers of wild life of the American continent that a strong and invincible sentiment, relative to the imperative necessity of real conservation legislation, be crystallized in the minds of the members elect of the Florida Legislature, to the end that the next Legislature will spread upon the statute books of the State of Florida a model and modern law for the preservation and protection of the birds and game of that State, which when put into practical operation will elicit the thanks of all good citizens, and likewise the gratitude of future generations.
Georgia:
Prohibit late winter and spring shooting, and provide rational seasons for wild fowl.
Reduce the limit on deer to two bucks a season, with horns not less than three inches long.
Protect the meadow lark and stop forever the killing of doves and wood-ducks. Prohibit the use of automatic and pump shot-guns in hunting.
Extend the term of the game commissioner to four years.
We are glad to report that Georgia has already begun to take up the whiteman'sburden. TheprotectionofwildHfeisnowagentleman's proposition, and in it every real man with red blood in his veins has a duty toperform. ThestateofGeorgiahasrecentlyawakened,andunderthe comprehensive law of 1911 has resolutely undertaken to do her whole duty in this matter.
Idaho:
The imperative duties of Idaho are as follows
Stop all hunting of mountain sheep, mountain goat and elk.
Give the sage grouse and sharp-tail ten-year close seasons, at once, to forestall' their extermination.
Stop the killing of doves as "game."
Stop the kiUing of female deer, and of bucks with horns less than three inches long. Enact the model law to protect non-game birds.
Prohibit the use of machine shot-guns in hunting.
Extend the State Warden's term to four years.
Like Montana, Wyoming and Colorado, the state of Idaho has wasted her stock of game, and it is to be feared that several species are now about to disappear from that state. I am told that the sage grouse is almost "gone"; and I think that the antelope, caribou, and mountain st.eep are in the same condition of scarcity.