48 FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



season permitting the killing of bucks from November ist to the 15th, 

 inclusive, which in effect extended the open season for all deer fifteen days. 

 That was not the intention of the author of the amendment, but has been 

 the result as evidenced by the prosecutions for violations under the amended 

 law for illegally killing does during the fifteen days and by the taking of 

 many does by hunters, campers and especially residents of the woods 

 country for which the department has been unable to fix the responsibility 

 and punish the violators. Anyone familiar with hunting and who under- 

 stands human nature and human fraility must know that many does under 

 such a law will be shot by mistake, many purposely, and used in the camps 

 and in the homes within the deer country.. There is only one way ; that is 

 to close the season for all deer at one and the same time. It would have 

 been much better to close the season entirely on does allowing only bucks 

 to be taken, than to have extended the season. This year at Long Lake 

 West, in one day, there were twenty-eight deer shipped, only one of which 

 weighed over eighty pounds. The taking of so many small deer is fast 

 exterminating the species. A law for bucks only would help save our deer 

 and in the end be much better. Forty-six days is long enough for an open 

 season in a State with nine million population and no more deer country 

 than we have. Between those who hunt (and they are legion), and the 

 lumbermen who are rapidly destroying winter cover and winter food for 

 deer, these beautiful, valuable animals are having a hard time of it. If 

 we look to the preservation of this noble game for future use (and we most 

 assuredly should) thirty days is ample for the open season. The amend- 

 ment of last winter should be stricken out, or an open season for bucks 

 only should be made. 



The Long Island duck law relating to brant and the possession of 

 duck after the shooting season should be changed. There may be other 

 and much desired amendments, but unless the necessity for amendment 

 is very plain and conclusive we believe the law should remain as it is. 

 We might better suffer a little from certain ills now experienced under the 

 law, than to be constantly tinkering with it. 



Each year we have called your attention to the work accomplished 

 and invited comparison with preceding years. We do so now. The aim 



