This Day in History: 1909-03-14
A new deer hunting law was described by the Ramsey Journal as “about the casuist piece of game legislation ever enacted.” The paper explained that about ten years ago the deer population had declined so alarmingly that deer hunting was banned in the state except for Wednesdays in November. Since then the deer population has multiplied and requests to open a longer season have been ignored. Instead this new law which forbids the use of anything but buckshot in a 16 gauge shotgun has been passed. The fine is $500. An additional fine of $100 is levied on anyone caught killing a doe or a fawn. The Journal explained that buckshot is impossible in a 16 gauge shotgun and that such a charge is capable of maiming but not killing a deer.
(Bristow)