MONTANA STATE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



17 



I tliiuk it is the dr.;y of tlie sportsman to drive up to the farmer's home 

 and ask permission to fi<h or hunt. Usually he will gladly grant the permis- 

 sion. After all, the farmer raises the liirds and he is entitled to some considera- 

 tion. It is the duty of all sportsmen to preach this gospel — respect the property 

 of others. 



If we do not, we will soon find conditions in Montana the same as they 

 are in the eastern states where hunters have to pay a certain fee for the right to 

 hunt. I am certain we do not want that sort of a situation in Montana. In the 

 state of Wisconsin hunters pay $3.00 for a pheasant. How many of us could 

 afford such a sport? Remember the property owner and help him — he will help 

 us and be our friend. 



There have been numerous complaints concerning the bag limit of three 

 cock Chinese pheasants and no hens. The foes of the present system tell of 

 shooting hens by mistake. Any person who shoots a hen for a cock is a 

 'mistake". 



I do not think there is a chance for a mistake. The trouble is that some 

 hunters are over-anxious and do not take time to look. All they think of is 

 shooting when they hear the explosion of a covey, the whir of wings, and the 



shooting when they hear the explosion of 

 a covey, the whir of wings, and the sight 

 of birds darting into the sky before them. 

 There is as much difference as a woman 

 and a man on the street. 



If the game commission would change 

 the bag limit to two cocks and one hen, 

 every hunter in the fields would shoot at 

 the first bird in the air, feeling that the 

 law was being obeyed. The same situation 

 would embrace the entire hunting season. 

 On the second shot — who knows what will 

 happen? There would be a flagrant abuse 

 of the law. Hens would be slaughtered on 

 the impulse of the first shot — or the second 

 — or the third. 



Let us save the hens for a few years, 

 as they are the foundation of this wonder- 

 ful sport. When the time comes that we 

 have too many birds, I am certain the 

 commission will grant you a longer season, 

 and I will help in its advocation. 



Always remember, you will have a good 

 number of cocks and still have plenty for 

 I)reeding purposes. 



I know they can hide and protect them- 

 selves when the hunting season is on — we 

 have instructed them in taking care of 

 themselves before leaving the farm. 



The Hungarian pheasant, one of 



Montana's sportiest game birds, 



ready to "explode" on a second's 



notice. 



