1006 GAME COMMISSION. 



The Committee therefore recommends that the present law be amended by 

 making a uniform season for duck, snipe, rail, plover and shore birds of all kinds 

 from September the 1st to December 31st. 



Blinds and Decoys in Open Water. 



In the Report for 1905 this question was expressly left open for further 

 investigation, and has been fully considered by the Board during the past year. 

 It was also considered by the Convention above referred to, which recommended 

 that blinds and decoys be not allowed to be placed at a greater distance than 100 

 yards from any shore line or rush bed. 



The method of shooting sometimes known as " running ", i. e. by placing 

 a large flock of decoys at a considerable distance from shore and then paddling 

 down upon duck alighting in or near them, has long been the subject of con-<* 

 troversy. In principle it does not greatly differ from the method adopted in some 

 places of building an artificial blind in open watei, setting the decoys near it, or 

 from the prohibited method of a battery or sink boat in open water surrounded 

 by decoys. These methods are objectionable as disturbing the open waters 

 where the duck harbor, preventing the ordinary shooter with a few decoys from 

 obtaining any sport near the shore, and as being used principally by market 

 hunters, who have large and expensive outfits and make a business of killing 

 duck for the market. 



Some years ago the Legislature prohibited these methods of shooting duck, 

 but, as the result of an agitation, which appears to have been largely fomented 

 by market hunters, the prohibitory statute was repealed. 



It is no doubt tantalizing on occasion to find duck harboring in large 

 bodies towards the centre of a lake or bay and refusing to come to decoys near 

 the shore, but the answer to such objections is that duck shooters must be pre- 

 pared to wait for favorable weather, and that if the law does not contain pro- 

 hibitions which will at times prevent success on the part of sportsmen, it will 

 not accomplish its object and afford reasonable protection to the game. 



The Board therefore recommends that the law be amended so as to pro- 

 hibit the use of stationary blinds or decoys at a distance of more than 100 yards 

 from any shore line or natural rush bed sufficiently thick to conceal a boat. 



Gun License. 



In connection with the recommendation of a general gun license contained 

 in the report for 1905, the Board has ascertained that there appears to be a gen- 

 eral tendency throughout this continent to establish a moderate license fee, 

 generally of $1.00 per annum. 



A general license for the use of guns is required from residents of the 

 following States : — 



Colorado, Missouri, 



Idaho, Montana, 



Illinois, Nebraska, 



Indiana, North Dakota, 



Kansas, Oregon, 



Maryland South Dakota, 



Michigan, Washington, 



Minnesota, Wyoming, 



