Headquarters for the staff employed on the various projects is the Southern 

 Research Station at Maple but most investigations are conducted in the field where 

 populations of animals or their environment allow the best possible conditions for 

 research. As a result, the distribution of research projects is widespread but, as in 

 past years, a significant number of studies were carried out in the Wildlife Research 

 Area of Algonquin Park. In this experimental area, almost complete control over 

 human interference is possible and research does not interfere with trapping and 

 hunting as it may in other parts of the province. 



A number of research projects are done in co-operation with the field staff 

 of the Fish and Wildlife Branch. In addition, co-operation arrangements with the 

 Ontario Agricultural and Veterinary Colleges of Guelph University, the University 

 of Toronto, the Ontario Research Foundation, the Indian Affairs Branch of the 

 Department of Citizenship and Immigration and other organizations supplement 

 the Department's research program and assist these organizations with their related 

 research. 



Big Game 



White-tailed deer, moose and woodland caribou are among the principal big 

 game species in the province although the last, because of closed seasons, is not 

 utilized by sportsmen. Caribou, however, form an important food source for natives 

 in northern Ontario and are, therefore, included in the research program. 



White-tailed deer, which are the primary big game animals in central Ontario, 

 are at the northern extreme of their range in this part of the province and are 

 greatly affected by changes in their environment, and particularly by severe winter 

 weather conditions. Research on deer and the factors which are affecting them has 

 produced methods for estimating the effects of winter weather on populations, and 

 of predicting hunter success in subsequent years. Continuing studies of their 

 requirements for food and shelter have shown that high population levels cannot 

 be maintained as forests reach maturity and that manipulation of deer range, 

 through logging, fire or other techniques, to provide a continuing supply of palat- 

 able shrubs and coniferous shelter is essential to good deer management. Pilot 

 projects in southeastern Ontario and close liaison with the Fish and Wildlife and 

 Timber Branches and other forestry agencies on stand improvement programs in 

 central Ontario are continuing. 



Moose research has been directed mainly to studies of methods for estimating 

 populations, movements and the effects of hunting on productivity. For several 

 years, Ontario has enjoyed high moose populations and every effort is being made 

 to develop or improve census techniques to measure changes in numbers in 

 anticipation that peak populations will not continue indefinitely. Analyses of the 

 results of aerial photography as a census technique have been carried out with the 

 assistance of the Timber Branch and the necessary characteristics of aerial cameras, 

 films and flight patterns have been determined. Planning was completed for testing 

 an air-borne infra-red detector for censusing big game and experiments are 

 scheduled for the coming year. A detailed study of reproduction and productivity 

 in moose herds of western Ontario was completed and publication of the results 

 is in progress. 



Woodland caribou research is conducted under the Resources Development 

 Agreement with the Indian Affairs Branch of the Department of Citizenship and 

 Immigration. The objectives of this research are to ascertain herd sizes, distributions 

 and movements, estimate productivity and the carrying capacity of the range, and 

 measure the effects of native hunting and predation; with a view to increasing their 



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