In:1938, 16 pheasant nests were recorded on 2,077 acres .of 
orchard and hay crops in Calhoun County. On 750 acres of mowed red 
elover there were five nests, a.density of one’ nestiper 150) aches. 
Five pheasant nests were recorded on 243 acres of cut alfalfa fora 
density of one nest per 48 acres... Highty-four acres cf sweet clover 
contained two nests, one nest per: 42. acres. .0n 1,000. acres) of fiawed 
ground cover in orchards there were four pheasant nests, a density 
of one nest per £50 acres. 
Nest Density 
ine 
Ring-necked pheasants redehed a.nest density in alfalfa 
relatively high for Calhoun County. Sweet clover contained a larger 
number of nests per acre, but the acreage involved is considercemcoo 
small to be representative. 
Mortality 
Two.of the four pheasant nests -in orchards hatched; one of 
the five nests in.red clover hatched; not) one of the five meses win 
alfalfa was successful; and both nests found in sweet clover fields 
were destroyed. All known pheasant nesting losses were the direc 
result ‘of mowing. One nest was successful) in rod clover: sor magemed 
before the field was mowed. Two nesting hens and one adult cock 
pheasant were killed in the mowing of 84 acres of sweet clover. 
Like the bobwhitc, pheasants attained a higher aesting suc- J 
eess in orchards than in any other area under cultivation. Adtewtea 
DEOVicd FO be any important nazard to the mesbung  suce esis om sume 
pheasant through its attractiveness to nesting, birds and the ensuing 
heavy, mortality of nests duc to mowing. 
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS 
Although this study deals largely with conditions in 
Calhoun County, the writer believes that some of the principles set 
forth in this paper are applicable to regions elsewhere, particularly] 
where apples predominate among the farm crops. 
The quail population in Calhoun County and many southern 
countics is high, but a few simple management practices, that are re-§ 
lated to nesting and that can be correlated with sound farming 
practices, might make it cven higher. The same practices may reason- 
ably be expected to benefit the pheasant population. 
Apple orchards offer the greatest possibilities for in-= 
ercasing the nesting success of bobwhites and pheasants in Caihoun 
County. It is commonly rccognized that mowing in many orchards takes 
place when there is a lull in*other farm activities.< §Ef, withowsuema 
convenience, cutting of the ground cover were delayed until after 
July 4, the majority of the quail nests in orchards would escape 
destruction from mowing. Such a delay scéms feasible, especially in 
those orchards containing varicties of apples not picked until late 
August or Scotcmber 
