One fly in the ointment is—­spring shooting; which for ducks, geese and brant continues from September 1 to April 20.  Unfortunately the law enacted in 1875 against spring shooting has been repealed, and so has the resident hunting license law (1911).

In view of the impossibility of imagining a good reason for the repeal of a good law, we recommend: 

  That the law against spring shooting be re-enacted.

  That the resident hunter’s license law be re-enacted, and the
  proceeds specifically devoted to the preservation and increase of
  game.

  That a force of regular salaried wardens be provided to enforce the
  laws.

That the bag limit on quail should be 10 per day or 40 per season, instead of 12 and 96; and on ruffed grouse it should be 3 per day (as in New York) or 12 per season.  One wild turkey per day, or three per season is quite enough for one man.  The visible supply will not justify the existing limit of two and six.

WISCONSIN: 

In spite of the fierce fight made in 1910-11 by the saloon-element game-shooters of Milwaukee for the control of the wild-life situation, and the repeal of the best protective laws of the state, the Army of Defense once more defeated the Allied Destroyers, and drove them off the field.  Once more it was proven that when The People are aroused, they are abundantly able to send the steam roller over the enemies of wild life.

Alphabetically, Wisconsin may come near the end of the roll-call; but by downright merit in protection, she comes mighty close to the head of the list of states.  Her slate of “Work to be done” is particularly clean; and she has our most distinguished admiration.  Her force of game wardens is not a political-machine force.  It amounts to something.  The men who get within it undergo successfully a civil service examination that certainly separates the sheep from the goats.  For particulars address Dr. T.S.  Palmer, Department of Agriculture, Washington.

According to the standards that have been dragging along previous to this moment, Wisconsin has a good series of game laws.  But the hour for a Reformation of ideas and principles has struck.  We heard it first in April, 1911.  The wild life of America must not be exterminated according to law, contrary to law, or in the absence of law!  Wisconsin must take a fresh grip on her game situation, or it will get away from her, after all.

Not another prairie chicken or woodcock should be killed in Wisconsin between 1912 and 1922.  When any small bird becomes so scarce that the bag limit needs to be cut down to five, as it now is for the above in Wisconsin, it is time to stop for ten years, before it is too late.

  Wisconsin should immediately busy herself about the creation of bird
  and game preserves.

  For goodness sake, Wisconsin, stop killing squirrels as “game!” You
  ought to know better—­and you do!  Leave that form of barbarism for
  the Benighted States.