36 
DIGEST OF GAME LAWS FOR 1901. 
Bi(f (/a me. — The bi^ gaQie of the United States is nipidly disap- 
ix^ariiitr. Butfalo are ahnost extinct; elk, moose, caribou, antelope, 
mountain sheep, and mountain croats are now found in onlv a few 
States, and deer are i-are in many places where they should be com- 
mon. To such an extent has this decrease advanced that vigorous 
measures are now necessary to prevent absolute extermination of sev- 
eral of the species, and, witli the exception of deer, big game has been 
very generally accorded protection for several years to come. To this 
end legislation has been enacted prohibiting slaughter for hides, mate- 
rially shortening open seasons, limiting the number of individuals 
which may be killed, forbidding sale and shipment at all times, and 
prohibiting shooting indefinitely or for a term of years. 
The effect of such measures is well shown in the case of deer in Ver- 
mont. One hundred years ago deer were common, but seventy-live 
yetirs of lax protection nearly exterminated them in the central and 
southern parts of the State. A continuous ilose season was then estab- 
lished, which remained in force until 189f). In that year an open sea- 
son for the month of October was provided, which in 1898 was reduced 
to the last ten days of October. Fostered by these and other strin- 
gent protective laws, deer have increased during the last quarter of a 
century until at present they have become abundant, and complaints 
are sometimes made of the damage which they cause to crops.* 
During the present year all big-game hunting has been prohibited 
in Nevada, New Hampshire, and New Mexico; close seasons for 
deer have been esuiblished or extended in Connecticut, Indiana, and 
Illinois; elk have been protected for a term of years in Michigan, 
Minnesota, and Nebraska; antelope in Arizona, Montana, and South 
Dakota, and moose and caribou in Montana. As shown in the follow- 
ing taV)le, 28 States and 4 Provinces now prohibit killing of all or 
certain kinds of big game: 
Big Game protected for a term of yeart. 
States. 
Maine. 
Deer, 
New Hampshire. 
Vermont 
Massacbuiietts... 
Indefinitely 
Rhode Island 
To Nov. 1, 
1903. 
To Feb. 1. 
I 1906. 
Connecticut i To June 1, 
1 1911. 
New York 
New Jersey | Indefinitely 
Mit-hi^an ' 
Indiana Indefinitely 
Illinois To Mav 10, 
1906.' 
Minnesota 
Iowa Indefinitely 
Nthra-ka , 
Elk. 
Indefinitely. 
Indefinitely. 
To i'iii !'.!!!' 
Moose. 
Caribou. 
Antelope. 
Mountain 
.«iheep. 
To Oct. 15, 
1 1906. 
Indefinitely. Indefinitely. 
Indefinitely. Indefinitely. 
Indefinitely.! Indefinitely.! Indefinitely. 
To i9ii! !!!.'!' To i9ii 
See Titcomb, Sheeting and Fishing, Vol. XXX, p. 289, July 25, 1901. 
