8 
REPORT OF BOARD OF FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONERS. 
field, where their indiscriminate slaughter of all kinds of song birds, as 
well as game birds and animals, is well understood. 
The reduction in bag limits on quail, dove, snipe, curlew, ibis, plover, 
rail, and other shore birds from 25 to 20, and on wild ducks from 35 to 
25, has met with the universal approval of all genuine sportsmen, the 
only exception being a complaint from some market dealers and hotels 
against the reduction in the bag limit on ducks. This complaint will 
continue so long as ducks may be bought and sold. 
The two years close season on mountain quail and corresponding 
extension of the close season on grouse and sage hens was wise and 
timely. Both birds are showing a decided increase, and when the 
present restrictions expire September 1, 1911, and provision is made 
for bag limit and season, we believe that by a careful enforcement and 
observance of the law the supply will never be perceptibly diminished. 
Our recommendation with regard to making it an offense to use any 
trained animal, except a dog, as a blind or means of approach for the 
purpose of killing wild ducks or other waterfowl became a law, and has. 
materially benefited the duck situation by putting out of business some 
of the most notorious ‘‘bull-hunters,’’ against whom a vigorous cam¬ 
paign was waged. We confidently believe this season will put an end 
to their further operations. 
While no recommendations were made by this Commission with refer¬ 
ence to a change from the season when deer could be lawfully killed 
(July 15th to October 1st), a number of bills on that subject were 
introduced in both houses. After fierce debating and many amend¬ 
ments a compromise was finally decided upon, making an open season 
of three months, from August 1st to November 1st. Unfortunately 
through a clerical error, a misprinted bill, or one that never passed the 
Senate, fixing the open season July 15th to November 1st, received your 
signature. There being so much confusion over the matter, the Attor¬ 
ney General was appealed to and in an exhaustive opinion he advised 
us to recognize the open season from July 15th to November 1st, or 
three and a half months, and we have been governed accordingly. In 
our opinion this season must be shortened at least one month, and the 
opening date fixed at August 1st, closing date October 15th. While 
this still leaves a very generous open season, we believe the increase 
in deer in all the northern and central counties, also the counties reach¬ 
ing the Sierra Nevada Mountains, due to the bounty paid on mountain 
lions, will warrant it. The exception is in southern California, embrac¬ 
ing the counties from San Luis Obispo southward, where, owing to 
devastations by forest fires, deer cover has been greatly reduced, and 
through remarkable increase in population with approximate increase 
in the number of deer hunters the deer have become scarce. 
