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a 
- subjected ; that the deer are driven out of localities which they would otherwise 
inhabit; that much loss of life is caused by the chasing of does heavy with 
young, and that the almost invariable method of killing dog-chased deer is by 
shooting them through the head whilst in the water, a procedure which is 
neither sportsmanslike nor clever. 
Those, on the other hand, who believe in the use of dogs, assert that the still 
hunter’s bullet too often wounds without killing the deer, allowing the animal to 
escape and die in agony in lonely places where it can never be found, and where 
the flesh is never recovered to be eaten. They assert further that the still-hunter 
does more damage single-handed, and kills more deer than any party of hunters 
could possibly do. 
These sides of the question were so strongly put before your Commissioners, 
and your Commissioners themselves were so evenly divided in their opinion of 
the merits of the case that, after long and careful consideration, they have 
decided to recommend— | 
Ist. That the present open season from 15th October to 20th November be 
shortened five days, so as to be from 15th October to 15th November. 
2nd. That the hunting of deer with hounds shall only be lawful from Ist to 
15th November inclusive in each and every year. 
This, if adopted, will, it is thought, be found highly beneficial, inasmuch as 
it will shorten considerably the present open season, thus affording a better 
- chance to the deer ; besides which the hunting of deer with hounds will stop with 
the eud of the season. 
Your Commissioners find that the illegal killing of deer is practised by all 
classes of the community, and the laws regulating the number of animals to be 
killed each season by each hunter and which is popularly known as the “ party 
clause” is entirely and utterly disregarded. By sub-dividing iuto smaller par- 
ties, and by joining more than one party ina season, sportsmen are enabled easily 
to avoid the law in question and many more deer are therefore killed than the 
law allows. 
Your Commissioners recommend therefore that the “party clause” be 
abolished and that instead thereof, sportsmen be allowed to kill two deer each per 
season, and no more. 
With regard to the shooting of deer in Ontario by foreign sportsmen, your 
Commissioners have found a very strong feeling against allowing the continu- 
ance of this practice, nor is this feeling unreasonable, when it is borne in mind 
that the deer are annually becoming scarcer, and that there is a danger that few 
may be left in the near future to supply the wants of the home market. 
On the other hand it must be remembered that foreign sportsmen put much 
money into circulation and very materially help the residents and business men 
in sporting localities and your Commissioners have therefore to recommend that 
if it is not thought wise to entirely prohibit foreigners from killing deer in the 
_ Province, a permit should be obtained and a fee paid for the privilege. 
Your Commissioners also unanimously and very strongly recommend that 
all dogs found running deer out of season should be allowed to be killed at sight 
Your Commissioners are of opinion that the wanton slaughter of deer could 
be very largely curtailed by the appointment of an efficient force of Game War- 
dens. At present the enforcement of the law is not the particular duty of any 
