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assemble in flocks, sometimes containing "many thousands of in- 

 dividuals," and to a man who has any genuine hunting spirit it 

 is not easy to resist the temptation to indulge in a little sport. 

 Dove hunting, before the laws of 1908 went into effect, was gen- 

 erally practiced late in the afternoon up to about half an hour 

 after sunset, during which time the birds are returning to their 

 roosting places. Their flesh is considered a delicacy, and is pre- 

 ferred by those who can get both to that of quail. 



Most of the states now offer partial or complete protection to 

 doves. The latter in those states where they are not found in 

 sufficient numbers to warrant good hunting; and partial where 

 they are hunted as a game bird. In the latter case, protection 

 varies in the several states. New Mexico has a closed season 

 of only two and one-half months, i. e., from May 1 to July 15, 

 while Colorado gives but twenty days of open season. This vari- 

 ation is much to be regretted, if for no other reason than that it 

 gives an unfair advantage to the residents of those states where 

 the season opens earlier and where there are no sale or export 

 laws prohibiting shipments to other states. Uniformity of all 

 fish and game laws, especially in states that are neighboring, 

 should be secured, since it would simplify to a large extent the 

 complications now arising in the exporting and importing of 

 game. Above all, game birds especially ought to be protected 

 throughout the breeding season, and even till the young have at- 

 tained mature size. The following table, compiled from the laws 

 of the several states, shows at a glance the variation of the laws. 

 In some states, Arkansas, Maryland, North Carolina, South Da- 

 1 3ta, each county has its own closed and open seasons, in some 

 of which, although the state allows an open season, the county 

 does not. In these, also, the legitimate number that can be killed 

 by any one person in a day varies in the several counties. The 

 limits allowed in the different states ranges from six in Maryland 

 to thirty in Tennessee, while some ascribe no limit further than 

 to restrict the hunting by entirely prohibiting the sale of game 

 hirds. 



