Ogden Daily Standard | 1918-03-02 | Page 13 | No Open Season for Duck Shooting This Spring

10 OPEI SEASON FOB DOCK SHOOTIi THISSP1G BRIGHAM CITY, March 1. Thero will be no open season for duck shooting shoot-ing this spring as suggested to state and Washington officials a few weeks ago by Brigham sportsmen, who were j seeking an open duck shooting period i in March as a means of relieving the threatened congestion of wild gamej I birds on Bear River bay west of this I city, and in the state generally. i The matter of allowing duck shooting shoot-ing in March was suggested by James Knudson of this city after a visit to the duck grounds, where he found birds by the millions. Mn Knudson, ono of the most experienced wild game men in the west, considered that it would be a benefit to have, some of the birds killed and used for food, as it would relievo the congestion "he found there and would perhaps scatter the fowl so that an epidemic of the dread disease that heretofore has killed so many birds in this district in the summer, would not be so likely this summer. Mr. Knudson, who is federal warden for migratory bird laws here, received the following reply to a communication sent to the Bureau of Biological survey, sur-vey, Washington, D. C, under date of February 21, which explains the government's gov-ernment's view of the suggestion of local men: "Mr. James Knudson, warden, federal fed-eral migratory bird law, Brigham City, Utah. Dear sir: "I have your letter of February 14, recommending that permission be granted to kill wild fowl during the month of March this year. "The bureau and the United States Food administration have carefully considered suggestions to extend the present seasons for Bhootlng wild fowl and after full consideration docided that It would be inexpedient at this time and in present circumstances to modify present gnmo protective laws. "The value of our migrator' game birds as a national food asset can be best enhanced by conserving the breeding stock and thus increasing the supply. "It ia true that many birds die each yar from poisoning on the marshes of Utah but permitting the shooting of wild fowl will only increase the slaughter and remove much needed protection. "Until a few years ago wild fowl were on tho verge of extermination. Under tne operation of the migratory bird laws, tho results of the protection afforded have shown a gratifying increase in-crease and under a continuance of existing ex-isting protection wo have reasons to hope for a greater increase in tho years to come, thus guaranteeing an ever increasing food supply. "An extension of present open seasons sea-sons would work great harm and undo tho results of years of effort in wild life conservation in that it would permit per-mit the killing off of the breeding stock. (Signed) GEO. A. LAWYER, "Assistant in Game Conservation."