WITH UNCLE SAM'S NATURALISTS Friday, April 10, 1931. 



( NOT FOR publication ) 



Speaking Time; 10 Minutes. 



AN?TOUNCE!.'ENT; We will now hear from our Wildsman, as to the results of his 

 most recent visit with Uncle Sam's Naturalists. This time he has secured 

 information of importance to hunters who are even now looking ahead to the 



opening of the open season on migratory game birds next fall Well, Mr. 



WMsman? 



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I suppose all you hunters have heard ahout the new hunting regulations 

 under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Tliere are some important changes in 

 the regulations on waterfowl and other migratory game "birds this year. 



Colonel H. P. Sheldon, of the Division of Game and Bird Conservation 

 of the United States Biological Survej'', has just "been explaining them to me. 



Of course, you all know, one of the chief reasons for the changes is 

 the damage the drought did to duclcs and other waterfowl. Sportsmen and game 

 protectors in nearly all parts of the coimtry seem to agree that the numhers 

 of waterfowl have "been very much cut down "by food-supply conditions over much 

 of the breeding range of our chief game birds. The pools don't all have to 

 dry up completely to kill off many cf the waterfowl food plants. Changes in 

 the water level and condition of the water have a very decided effect on some 

 of the Water plants these birds depend on. 



Anyway, our bird protectors figure the new regulations will save a 

 good many birds, and give them a better chance to come back. Tliroughout the 

 coijuitry, fifteen days has been lopped off the open season. The season was 

 shortened at the end in nine of the Northern States; at the beginning in seven- 

 teen of these States; and at both the beginning and the end in four States. 

 In the southern part of the country, the fifteen days has been talcen off the 

 end of the season; so the season will end fifteen days sooner than heretofore. 



The open season under the new Federal regulations will be from October 

 the first to December 31 in the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, 

 Massachusetts, Rliode Island, Connecticut, all of New Yorlc except Long IslaJid, 

 Pennsylvania, >7est Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, V/isconsin, 

 Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraslca, South Dalcota, North Dalcota, 

 Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Idalio, Nevada, California, Oregon, and 

 Washington. 



