Management of the Ruffed Grouse 369 



number of times it is covered. It is never safe to draw conclusions 

 from a single day's census. Of course tlie more times the area is cov- 

 ered tlie more accurate will be the average. As a general thing, four 

 surveys should suflBce. 



If the area for which information on grouse populations is desired 

 is large, it may be well to census portions as samples and then apply 

 the data to the whole. Again, tlie accuracy will be greatest when we 

 cover most of the area; that is, get the best sample. We well know 

 that coverts only a mile or so apart will sometimes vary widely. In 

 using samples of cover, we must also be careful to select imits that 

 are fairly representative of cover conditions on the whole area. 

 When we attempt to gauge conditions in counties or states, the dis- 

 tribution as well as the adequacy of the samples used for censusing 

 is very important. Representative units of all types of range and of 

 all geographical areas must be surveyed, each with sufficient thor- 

 oughness to yield a reliable result. What is considered "reliable" will 

 depend upon circumstances. If a close knowledge of the population 

 of the coverts is needed, a sample of a hundred acres or more out 

 of each ten thousand is about the minimum. On a state-wide basis, 

 a group of four or five samples in each range type should suflBce, 

 if well distributed. 



The application of the census information to local areas is in 

 safeguarding the grouse population during the hunting season. This 

 means hunting control. 



Hunting Control. Control of hunting implies the limitation of the 

 harvest to a predetermined number of birds— within the framework 

 of applicable state laws, of course. Such control should be based 

 upon a knowledge of the hunting season population based on 

 censuses. The need for hunting control implies a very high hunt- 

 ing pressure. Otherwise there would be no need for this particular 

 attention. And it should be remembered that under normal circum- 

 stances in good grouse range, no special local control is needed. The 

 grouse is an adaptable creature an'd has a faculty for becoming more 

 wary as hunting pressure increases. 



If the hunting take is to be held to a stated limit, the trespass 

 problem must be thoroughly under control. In most instances this 

 requires posting of the land under the legal requirements of the 

 state. It often means patrol in order to prevent illegal poaching. 



