State

And Here’s Mr. Poll’s Opinion Another prominent citizen gives his views in connection with conserving €|iinil in North Carolina. Mr. Pou offers sonic reme¬ dies which he believes will prove effective in promoting better hunting. By J AMES II. РОС HAVING been a quail hunter since I was a hoy. the articles deploring the rapid disappearance of the quail and suggestions for its salvation have in me struck a responsive cord; so responsive, in fact, that 1 feel that 1, too. must write upon the subject. During my thirty years of bird hunting 1 have arrived at some definite conclusions, many of which may be fallacious but, nevertheless, they are conclusions that I am willing to subject to critical consideration. I am strongly of the opinion that the seasons for all kinds of hunting and for all kinds of game, whether by gun and «log or by dogs alone, should open on the same day and close on the same day. The short season for taking migratory fowl, fixed by Federal statute, must be an exception. Why should the season for squirrel and dove open so early in the fall? Unless they are more easily killed at that early date and are more tender and therefore better to eat, there seems to 1k« no logieul answer. The seasons for rabbit, quail, deer, etc., o|>en at various dates later in the fall. The temptation to shoot quail out of season while lawfully hunting rabbit and dove is great. More serious, however, is the inability of the game warden to enforce the law against hunters who have the right to be afield with gun and dog. Л Change in Habits Our quail, if my experience can be called n guide, are gradually changing their habits, not from desire hut from necessity. Birds are not found in the open fields as formerly. Most of their time is spent in the woods and swamps. Those found now in the open are on the edges of the fields and tLcir feeding periods seem to be shorter than in years past. One reason advanced why birds are spending most of their time in heavy cover is that they are constantly harassed by bird, rabbit and fox hunters. It is a matter of self- protection. The great increase in grain and cover crops enables them to feed quickly and dart hack into their refuges. More hunters are afield in North Carolina today than ever before — the increase being greater in pro- C'on than the increase of the State’s population. le interested in every class of sport seem to have united against the quail. Good roads and automobiles have opened new territory to the hunters of the state, territory that a few short years ago was available only to its natives. The birds of the state aro at the mercy of every man who owns я dog, a gun, and a car. I know of a section near Raleigh where quail had almost become extinct. Several years ago the property owners banded together and agreed to post their land. A private preserve of many thousand acres was created. Rules governing hunting on this territory were agreed upon. The first and most important rule adopted was that hunting of any kind should be permitted only on Wednesdays and Saturdays of each week. The second was that the bag limit should be five quail. After three years this territory abounds with birds; and the bird- are spending much of their time in the open as they did of old. Many such experiments could be narrated. What is Actually Happening What is happening to the birds? My answer to this question, will no doubt, bring forth protests and denials. The quail of this state are suffering during the closed season from the depredations of foxes, hawks, stray dogs and cats, ami from the inconsiderate owners of dogs who allow them to run loose during the spring and summer months. This latter especially applies to the owners of packs of rabbit and fox hounds who let them run loose during the nesting and rearing periods. Up to a few years ago I never hail seen a fox in the field except while fox limiting. Recently I have seen two while bird hunting and one running along the highway. This pest which had once about been exterminated is now definitely on the increase. Hawks- I have killed two with quail in their claws. I shall provoke no argu¬ ment when I say stray cats should go. In season, the “pot hunter’’ is the great exterminator of quail. Much has 1чч>п said about the Northern hunter. Ho worries me not! He pays well for his fun and kills few birds. I think quail hunting in North Carolina could be improved if: 1. The same season for all game be adopted; 2. We permit no hunting of any kind, during day or night, except on no more than three specified days a week; 3. We encourage private and public game sanctuaries; 4. We exterminate foxes, hawks, stray dogs and cats, and “pot hunters"; 5. We require dogs to be kept up during the nesting and rearing seasons; nnd 6. We stick to the Bob White and leave the Mexican alone.