GROUSE LIBERATIONS 



509 



Already mentioned are the five hand-reared and -hve wild-trapped birds released in the 

 fall of 1931. Two from each group were later found dead. Three of the wild and two of 

 the hand-reared grouse survived at least until the following July. One was unaccounted for. 



One hand-raised grouse released on the Pharsalia Refuge nested the second year follow- 

 ing liberation. This is worthy of note as the only record of this occurrence. 



Of the ten additional releases, all of which were carefully followed, the results were not 

 radically different from those described above. 



In summary, of the 276 grouse liberated by the Investigation, 9.1 per cent were positively 

 known to be alive a month or more after release. Though additional birds unquestionably 

 survived, it is informative here to remember that Stoddard' ' found the hunter return from 

 2,516 imported Mexican quail, 680 native trapped and 211 hand-reared bobwhites to be but 

 6.3 per cent. Likewise, of 1,794 young male pheasants banded and released on New York 

 State Landowner-Sportsman controlled hunting areas in 1941, only 362, or 20.1 per cent, 

 were brought to bag during the subsequent hunting season. 



In addition to the above records of liberations made by the Investigation, there is a report, 

 previously mentioned (Chapter 1. p. 191, of a release of ten males and seven females on 

 Protection Island, Oregon, in 1939. The birds were followed closely and, although one 

 produced a brood the year following liberation, they gradually decreased until but one re- 

 mained in 1942. Hawks and owls apparently preyed heavily upon them and, while they be- 

 came quite wary, they remain, ". . . too trusting of mankind . . .", and '". . . have not 

 been able to withstand conditions on the island with success." 



In view of the above, there seems little room for sound conclusions based on present rec- 

 ords of survival of liberated birds. We know that some birds will survive and a few, at 

 least, will nest and raise broods. But it is yet to be determined whether or not hand-raised 

 grouse, liberated into favorable habitats, can establish themselves or boost materially the num- 

 bers of a depleted resident population. 



The general similarity of the results obtained from the release of hand-reared versus wild- 

 trapped birds is interesting but not especially significant because of the small numbers in- 

 volved. This is also true of the relationship between grouse, quail and pheasant contact rec- 

 ords following liberation. 



Additional stocking then of first-class birds, particularly of the younger age groups, as 

 previously suggested, on suitable areas must be carefully checked before one can adequately 

 evaluate the possibilities of establishing or increasing grouse populations by restocking either 

 with wild or with hand-raised birds. This is still a problem challenging to both wildlife 

 manager and the grouse-conscious sportsman. 



