REGULATION OF THE GROUSE HARVEST 673 



for long. Naturally, as the distance between coverts increases, the likelihood of restocking 

 them by dispersion decreases. While little indicative information is available, it seems doubt- 

 ful that much natural transfer of population is likely to occur when the distance exceeds four 

 or five miles. 



Such natural movement may obviate the expenditure of effort and money involved in a 

 restocking program, fndividual circumstances may occasionally arise, however, which will 

 justify this expenditure. 



How TO Restock 



Providing the conditions outlined at the beginning of this section are met. and one takes 

 due care to avoid the causes of the many previous failures, successful restocking should not 

 be too difficult an undertaking. The birds should be liberated in the best habitat possible 

 in groups of not less than 20 to 25. It is important to repeat the liberation annually for at 

 least three to four years to permit the birds to receive additions to their numbers to make up 

 for a normal loss incident to their establishment. 



The best period for liberation is believed to be in the summer or early fall, which corre- 

 sponds to the time when artificially propagated birds seven to nine weeks of age could be 

 secured. Wild birds are more easily trapped in the wintertime and are. therefore, usually 

 liberated as adulls. Since they lose weight consistently between early January and mid- 

 March it would seem wise to liberate them either as early in the winter as possible or in 

 April. Unless they are in poor condition at the time appointed for liberation they should 

 not be kept in captivity any longer than is absolutely necessary lest they lose additional 

 weight. 



Young hand-raised birds may be fed at the point of liberation though their wild-trapped 

 brethren will pav but little attention to such efforts. The carriers from which they are liber- 

 ated should be placed so as to make it diffit ult for the birds to fly upon emergence. This will 

 encourage the birds to remain as long as possibh- in the immediate vicinity of the liberation 

 point. 



REGULATION' OF THE GROUSE HARVEST* 



Regulation of the harvest itself in acronlaiue with the relati\e abundance of the species 

 from year to year represents the concluding phase of a management program. In America 

 the taking of non-migratory game is governed by what('\ cr limitations the various state legis- 

 latures see fit to lay down in their game laws each )ear. Within the limits thus established, 

 however, it may become desirable for the administrator as well as the individual game inan- 

 ager to make additional adjustments to fit particular situations. Thus, if the grouse crop 

 should fail on a managed area, it would be logical to set up on it further restrictions than pro- 

 vided by the current state-wide laws. 



The regulations adopted should be directed toward maintaining a sustained yield. Neither 

 too many nor too few of the species should be harvested. This means that in years of plenty 

 the crop should be adequately utilized, whereas, in years of scarcity, the grouse should re- 

 ceive sufficient protection to provide the greatest possible hunting opportunity and at the 

 same time insure the preservation of a sufficient breeding stock. A reliable means of meas- 

 uring the crop, or shootable surplus, is therefore a jiriniarv requisite to attaining this goal. 



* Bv Frank C, Edminster 



