since we computed there were 1.6 hunters per boat and the average bag of the hunters 

 Interviewed was 12.4 coots and 0.11 duck, we calculated that free-lance waterfowl hunters at 

 Grass Lake took about 23,800 coots and 211 ducks on the opening day of the 1942 season. In a 

 census we made the day prior to the opening of the season, we placed the nimiber of coots on 

 Grass Lake at about 25,000. A trip about the waters of Grass Lake after sunset of the opening 

 day disclosed not over 150 visible coots. However, the next morning, when shooting again 

 commenced, from 1,200 to 1,800 coots were estimated to be on the lake. Either more coots 

 arrived during the night or many were among the bulrushes at the time of the evening census 

 and so were not counted. These censuses before and after shooting, compared with the estimat- 

 ed kill. Indicate that about 90 per cent of the coots on Grass Lake were removed the opening 

 day m 1942. 



On the second day of the 1942 season, 135 boats averaging 1.6 hunters each were 

 enumerated on Grass Lake. These hunters averaged only 4.4 coots apiece, for a total kill of 

 about 950 birds. 



On the opening day, 1942, approximately 1,920 hunters were on the 1,800 acres of 

 Grass Lake, or one hunter per 0.95 acre. Probably nowhere else on the North American con- 

 tinent is shooting pressure greater on a single day than on this lake. On the second day, 

 shooting pressure declined to 1 hunter per 8.3 acres. Thereafter hunting pressure declined 

 still more except, perhaps, for small spurts on week-ends when additional small flights of 

 coots alighted In the region. At no other time, however, did the number of hunters or coots 

 present or the kill compare with that of the opening day. Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show that the 

 number of hunters at clubs In the region declined sharply after the opening day. 



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16-22 23-29 30-5 6-12 13-19 20-26 

 OCTOBER NOVEMBER 



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4-10 1 1-14 

 DECEMBER 



FIG. 2. — Trend In kill of ducks and coots per hunter per day compared with 

 trend In number of hunters per day at private hunting clubs In 

 the glacial lakes region of Illinois, 1940. 



