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SPECIAL PROBLEMS. 

 COOPERATION. 



It is axiomatic that the statutes of a State have no force outside its 

 boundaries, and it is unusual that a State should declare the statutes 

 of another State of force and effect within its domains. Such is the 

 effect, however, of certain features of the laws of Michigan, Minne- 

 sota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin. Minnesota provides that 

 it shall be unlawful for any person to have in his possession or under 

 control any game or birds or parts thereof which have been unlaw- 

 fully taken or killed in another State or unlawfully shipped from such 

 State. Wisconsin prohibits the shipment into or through the State 

 of am^ game the shipment or transportation of which is prohibited 

 bv the laws of anj- other State, and makes it the duty of the officers 

 of Wisconsin to seize such game. The Michigan statute is somewhat 

 broader and is as follows: 



No person shall at any time have in possession or under control any bird, game, or 

 fish caught, taken, or killed outside of this State, which was caught, taken, or killed 

 at a time, in a manner or for a purpose forbidden b\'the laws of the State, Territory, 

 or country where the same was caught, taken, or killed, or which was shipped out of 

 said State, Territory, or country in violation of tlie laws thereof. 



The statute of Oklahoma is much to the same effect, and Nebraska 

 declares it unlawful for an}^ person or corporation to bring into the 

 State any game from any other State during the season when such 

 State prohibits the export thereof. It would seem that similar action 

 b}^ all the States would be productive of much good. 



'SOONERS.' 



Close seasons will usuall}, if not invariably, be found to cover the 

 period of reproduction of game and a sufficient time for the young to 

 mature. These, indeed, are the chief purposes of such seasons, and 

 upon their strict observance largeh" depends the maintenance of the 

 game suppl3\ Realization of this fact has led the game departments 

 of several States to make unusual effort to prevent the killing of 

 game in close season. The close season is generally respected until 

 near its end, but a certain class of hunters, appropriately termed 

 •"sooners,' often begin shooting a few days in advance of the legal 

 opening of the hunting season. The temptation to be first in the field 

 and to get the pick of the game is so strong that it is often necessary 

 to enlist an extra force of deputy wardens to deal with this class. In 

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