ALTERING EXISTING COVER 



641 



The disadvantages are that it has been used successfully only on certain species, and then 

 only in the late summer and early fall. When tried in the spring and early summer the com- 

 pound has been known to attract and poison deer which have been killed by the arsenite. As 

 with many newly developed techniques, the results are apt to be uncertain. The solution is 

 also potentially dangerous to handle and the poisoning tool awkward to use. Recently, a 

 poisoning axe has been developed and used successfully in the South but there is still much 

 room for improvement. 



Recently a series of translocating poisons, of which "2, 4 D" is a well known example, have 

 been developed. While potentially extremely useful in cover control, they are as yet too 

 new to have been thoroughly tested for effect on many trees and shrubs. In New York State 

 the District Wildlife Managers are familiar with test results as available and may well be 

 consulted before cover control measures are decided upon. 



Grazing 



Woodland grazing is usually highly detrimental to grouse. \^Tien long continued, it reduces 

 the variety of the plant life present. Grass is encouraged. Undergrowth and the lower 

 branches of the trees are closely trimmed. In a heavily pastured covert, food and shelter for 

 grouse are usually so deficient as to make it impossible for the bird to survive for long. The 

 parklike look of grazed woods and the "grousy nook" so dear to sportsman and bird lovers 

 alike never go together. 



There are times, however, when grazing, under New York State conditions, may prove 

 beneficial particularly with overgrown lands, \loderate grazing, long continued, tends to 

 reduce hardwoods in favor of conifers and may result in producing patches of pure soft- 

 wood cover, as well as in bringing in a few desirable food plants such as clover and apples. 

 Some plants, not palatable to cattle but of considerable importance to grouse, as thorn- 



IN BACK PASTURES, MANY A CROUSY NOOK IS MAINTAINED BY MODERATE GRAZING 



