102 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION, 



slaughter, if not murder. He is guilty of violating the law and also 

 grossly careless, and if that carelessness results in the death or injury 

 of a human being he certainly should be held responsible and made to 

 pay the penalty. 



In September, 1921, a sixteen-year-old boy was shot by a hunter near 

 Mount Hamilton. That boy is lying on his death bed today hopelessly 

 paralyzed. The man responsible for the shooting has never been to see 

 him and has not contributed one cent to the hundreds of dollars paid out 

 for medical treatment. 



Another shooting occurred in Trinity County. A draftsman 

 employed by the government was on his vacation and was shot in the 

 arm by a companion. This man shot into the brush only a very few 

 moments after the man who he had shot had disappeared from view. 

 Fortunately the man's arm was saved but he had to give up his occu- 

 pation and it is a question as to whether he will ever regain full use 

 of the arm. 



These two instances of many are cited in order to call the attention of 

 readers to the fearful penalty that is frequently paid on account of the 

 gross carelessness of an irresponsible individual. Careless hunters have 

 also caused a great deal of complaint on the part of stockmen, setting 

 fires, leaving gates open, killing and frightening cattle from water holes. 

 ]\Iany cattlemen estimate that an actual loss of several dollars per head 

 can be attributed to thoughtless hunters. 



It is a serious question as to whether the deer supply, and in fact 

 the supply of game and fish, will continue with our present laws. The 

 development of the automobile, the construction of roads in the out of 

 way parts of the state has caused such a drain on the game that it will 

 probably make it necessary to have still shorter seasons. In the east, 

 great benefit is gained by prohibiting Sunday hunting. This Sunday 

 law is not a blue law but a game law that is necessary in states having 

 heavy population and where there would be so great a number of hunters 

 out on Sunday the game would have no show. Fortunately in Cali- 

 fornia such a law is not necessary at this time, but we may have to come 

 to it in time. 



Suggestion has been made that it would be well to shorten the season 

 for the taking of deer — primarily to reduce the number of deer killed 

 and to assist in preventing the great number of forest fires that occur 

 every year during the latter part of the summer. It is argued that by 

 having a shorter season it would be easier to keep watch of the hunters 

 who set fires and kill illegal deer. 



It is quite probable that a short season would have just an opposite 

 effect and make more violations and more fires. A short season would 

 crowd the hunting grounds and all deer hunters would be in the field 

 at the same time. The unscrupulous hunter knowing that there were 

 so many others around and his time limited would be even more willing 

 to shoot and look afterwards. There would be a great increase in the 

 number of people wounded and killed and also a great increase in the 

 number of does and spike bucks left in the hills to decay. Also the 

 individual who unlawfully starts a fire would be more inclined to do so 

 in order to better his chances in getting a deer in the limited time 

 allowed by law. 



