12 
FINS, FEATHERS AND FUR 
THE SPORTSMAN’S POINT OF VIEW 
Many Minnesota sportmen responded to an 
invitation of the District Inspector, Migratory 
Bird Law to report on conditions affecting 
migratory birds last fall, and their reports are 
interesting and valuable. There was a general 
agreement that ducks were on the increase but 
that there was little apparent increase of the 
wood duck. The woodcock is all but extinct in 
this state. A general approval of the Federal 
Migratory Bird law was expressed, and the law 
was given credit for the apparent increase in 
ducks, spring and winter shooting farther south 
having been decreased by the operation of the 
law. Following are a number of the reports, 
much condensed and abbreviated owing to lack 
of space to print them in full: 
F. D. Noble, Brooten—Birds more plentiful 
than for several years. Mallards plentiful and 
fat. Kill was smaller than usual as birds moved 
but little. Sundown law unpopular. 
J. J. Waddell, Mankato—Ducks unusually 
plentiful at Swan Lake, even at the opening of 
the season—all local hatch. There were thous¬ 
ands of them, a large percentage being redheads. 
Plenty of celery for them. Wood duck 
prarticaly extinct here—used to be thousands of 
them. September 15th opening interferes with 
our teal shooting. Half hour before sunrise 
shooting wanted. (This has been granted.) 
Alvin Landru, Granite Falls—Federal regula¬ 
tions approved. Many local ducks—country filled 
with bluebills during flight. Few wood duck, 
woodcock and quail. Ditching has destroyed 
prospects for future shooting. 
P. B. Gaass, Red Lake Falls—Greater number 
of ducks, more apparent than real, as they came 
down in a bunch. T t'hiink the number was actual¬ 
ly just about average. No wood duck and few 
geese. All heartily in favor of the Federal 
regulations. Minnesota laws ahead of other 
states. Shooting season in the south should be 
shortened. 
J. J. Maloney, Heron Lake—Not over 500 can¬ 
vas, redheads, and bluebills bagged here this 
year owing to storm and freezeup at the time of 
flight. Noticeable increase in wood ducks. Our 
sportsmen go the law one better and don’t shoot 
after 2 o’clock p. m. 
R. W. Stanford, Willmar—More ducks on the 
opening day than for 10 years and northern 
flight larger. A few swan seen—saw one wood 
duck. All for the Federal regulations. 
R. E. Fisher, Minneapolis—Scarcity of birds 
around Bemidji at opening of season. Hunters 
violate sundown provision of the Federal regula¬ 
tions. Reckless killing of game under guise of 
war necessity condemned. 
F. E. Anderson, Red Wing—All birds showed 
a decided increase including woodcock and wood 
duck. Conditions favorable. 
O. N. Hole, Alden—Birds more abundant 
than for several years. 3,000 killed on Bear 
Lake. Saw more wood duck than ever. Sunset 
and sunrise regulations well observed. 
T. J. McElligott, Appleton—Twelve to 15 lakes 
near here all full of ducks. Hunters like the 
migratory bird law. Some wood ducks acci¬ 
dentally killed. 
T. L. Porter, Atwater—Many birds. Our 
grievance is the controlling of shooting grounds 
by clubs, the members of which fail to observe 
the laws. 
Dr. C. I. Oliver, Graceville—Ducks very tame 
in the spring owing to being unmolested— 
birds plentiful-laws well observed. Much atten¬ 
tion to protection and encouragement of song 
birds. 
Dr. C. W. Daye, Shakopee—More ducks than 
for 5 years. Hope for effective enforcement of 
Federal regulations. 
F. E. Ware, Morris—More mallards and pin¬ 
tails this year but fewer redheads and canvas- 
backs on account of low water. 
Dr. G. R. Melzer, Lyle—Sunset shooting does 
much harm and regulation is not well enough 
enforced. Much evidence of good effect of 
Weeks-McLean law. 
Geo. J. Bradley, Norwood—Many ducks this 
year and geese more plentiful. Jacksnipe plenti¬ 
ful but season too short and too early. Migra¬ 
tory law well lived up to. 
Earl Simpson, Winona—One of the best sea¬ 
sons in years in the Mississippi Valley. Many 
local ducks and continued northern flight. More 
food than usual. Spring shooting sentiment has 
died out. 
H. J. Loud, Bemidji—Game refuge proving 
successful in increasing local game and dem¬ 
onstrating its efficacy as a game conservation 
measure. Federal protection and increase of 
refuges will save game from extinction. Game 
plentiful here this fall. 
F. Anderegg, Faribault—Agrees with others as 
to abundance of ducks. Uncertain as to cause. 
Duck season should be continued open until end 
of December, same as farther south. 
Richard B. Kent, Faribault—All agree as to 
increase of waterfowl and shore birds. Two or 
three times as many bagged as last year. Trying 
to improve duck feeding grounds by planting 
rice and celery. 
Jared Burton, Wheaton—Transient hunters 
came and went by the dozens, all seemingly well 
loaded with ducks. Ducks as plentiful as usual. 
N. D. March, Litchfield—No mention of in¬ 
crease of ducks. Feed abundant. Constant 
shooting with no time to rest drives the birds 
out of the country. Remedy, no shooting after 
noon. 
TWO MORE GAME REFUGES 
Two small game refuges have been established 
recently, as follows: 
Anoka County Game Refuge —This refuge 
comprises approximately nine and a half sections 
of land or 6,080 acres, located between the Miss¬ 
issippi River and the Great Northern Railway 
tracks and extending from the north line of 
Hennepin county to the city of Anoka on the 
east bank of the river. The area comprises some 
excellent bird cover and has at times harbored 
many quail. It is the idea of the promoters of 
the refuge that the tract shall become a bird 
sanctuary and that the quail will be restored. 
This refuge was establisher under Section 2 of 
the act after a public hearing. 
Second Morrison County Refuge— This is a 
small refuge comprising only 1,060 acres three 
miles west of Little Falls in township 129, range 
30 west. This refuge was established under Sec¬ 
tion 1 of the law, all land owners joining the 
petition. 
Many petitions for refuges have not been acted 
upon owing to the doubt as to the advisability 
of increasing the number to a great extent until 
more warden patrol can be provided. 
