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Wisconsin. State Conservation Committee (1915-27) / Biennial report of the State Conservation Commission of Wisconsin for the years 1915 and 1916
(1916)
Deer, pp. 53-56
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Page 55
BIENNIAL REPORT 55 time. During the eighteen years which have since elapsed bucks only have been killed, with the exception of the years 1909 and 1910 when an open season for does also was granted. This open season in 1909-10 was given solely for the reason that deer had become too plentiful and it was deemed wise to reduce their numbers. "During these eighteen years official figures show that 23,265 deer have been killed by sportsmen. During the first half of the period, or from 1897 to 1905 inclusive, 2,855 deer were killed. During the second half 20,410 deer were killed, an increase of over 800 per cent. These figures prove * * * that under a buck law the deer increase in the woods at the same time that greater numbers are being taken by the hunters. The state- ment seems paradoxical, but there can be no denying the figures. "It is interesting to note also that during the first four years of the open season, or from 1897 to 1900, inclusive, only 460 deer were killed, an average of 115 deer per year. This was the best that could be done after a nineteen year closed season. During the last six years the number taken averaged 2,763 deer per year. The great increase in Vermont deer there- fore has taken place not under the protection afforded by a closed season, but under the buck law. "Vermont, as stated before, is the state which has given the buck law the longest test. It is the only state in the Union today which complains with reason of having too many dear. In proportion to its hunting area more deer are killed under a buck law than in any other state under any kind of law. The deer are also the heaviest and finest specimens of the Virginia deer to be found in the United States. Hunting accidents are characteristically infrequent and the kind of accidents in which a man is shot at by mistake for a deer are almost unknown." The one buck law has its friends and its foes-both equally pronounced in his praise and condemnation of the law, but viewing it from the stand- point of a conservation law, both as to humanity and deer, its first year's trial has demonstrated that it has conserved both. There was not a single fatality last winter from one hunter shooting another, mistaking him for a deer. A very unusual circumstance, for this is the first year in a score that several hunters have not lost their lives being shot to death by a reckless hunter that did not stop to see what he was shooting at. This law has demonstrated that the hunter stops and looks before he shoots. He looks for the horns, and does not shoot at the first sight of a moving object. It has made the hunter more cautious, and has added much to the sport for the hunter feels that his life is not in constant jeopardy. With all of the points favorable to this law, it should have but one amendment to make it complete. The law should specify that no deer may be taken without horns at least six inches long. We refer those who believe that the one buck law is not a conservator of deer to the following schedule which shows the total number of deer shipped from the various counties during the years 1913, 1914 and 1915. This gives only the number of deer shipped and does not include those that were taken by private conveyances, which were many: U I I S I I S I I S I I S I I S I I S I I S I I S I I
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