AS A CONSERVATIONIST 



391 



New York today the less destructive avian predators are now protected by law. The mam- 

 malian predators, with the exception of the foxes, weasels, red squirrels and house cats, are 

 protected except during the prime fur season. 



Many of these restrictions, especially those protecting various species of hawks and owls, 

 are largely unenforceable. They depend primarily for effectiveness on cooperation from 

 hunters, which in turn depends upon their "education" for its degree of success. 



Any attempt to estimate the indirect effect these laws have on grouse is mere conjecture. It 

 is the opinion of the Investigation that it is small, whether the law protects the predator or 

 not. Grouse mortality in the Northeast is to a considerable extent the immediate result of 

 predation but most of this loss seems destined to occur anyway. The primary values 

 accruing from protection of predators are other than saving game. 



Refuges, Sanctuaries and Land Posting 



A study of the value of a refuge as a game producing unit in comparison with a public 

 hunting area was made on the Pharsalia Game Refuge and Chenango Public Shooting 

 Grounds Area in central New York. 



The refuge had been established for a period of five years prior to the beginning of the 

 study. Public shooting grounds had been open to public shooting as private land prior to 

 the study and had been marked as "Public Hunting Grounds" for a year when the study 

 began in the winter of 1935. 



Hunters commonly frequent this region from the nearby cities of Binghamfon. Cortland 

 and Norwich as well as from numerous small communities in the vicinity. \^Tiile no field 

 check on the hunting pressure was made, the area lies in one of the best upland hunting sec- 

 tions of the state. The hunting pressure was at least average on this area. The public hunt- 

 ing ground was but 3 per cent larger than the refuge, thus the data obtained was essentially 

 comparable from the quantitative standpoint. 



A comparison of the amount and distribution of the types indicated no apparent impor- 

 tant differences. The cover within each area was essentially independent of surrounding lands. 

 Thus, the two survey areas may be considered for all practical purposes comparable subject 

 only to a 3 per cent correction for size. 



Three censuses were made on these areas, all in successive winters, the first being in 193.S. 

 The data on the grouse populations for the refuge and check area are summarized in table 61. 



TABLK 61. 



UUFFED GROUSE D\TA— PHARSALIA REFUGE AND CHENANGO PUBLIC 

 HUNTING GROUND SURVEYS— FEBRUARY 1935-1937 



