1961 and 1962. The number of hunters using Darlington is restricted by the 

 small size of this marsh and the number of hunters was similar to the previous 

 year. Hunting was more efficient or hunting conditions were better, since the 

 bag per hunter rose from .33 in 1961 to .51 in 1962. 



At the Long Point Controlled Hunting Area, the number of hunters increased 

 by about 20% from 1961. This was a result of increased publicity of the shooting 

 at Long Point and hunter acceptance of the philosophy of controlled hunting. We 

 can expect a further increase in 1963 after which time there may be difficulty in 

 handling hunters, especially on weekend days. The bag of waterfowl increased 

 substantially in 1962, almost doubling the total harvest on the area. The ducks 

 per hunter increased from .58 to .84, a result of better hunting techniques as 

 well as improved management of the hunters and the waterfowl by the Unit staff. 



On the free zone on the Long Point Waterfowl Unit, the number of hunters 

 using the zone decreased as did the total number of ducks harvested. The bag per 

 hunter remained about the same as in 1961. Consideration will eventually be 

 given to the elimination of this free zone at Long Point. 



At Rondeau Park, the number of seasonal licences increased slightly as did 

 the number issued in 1962 at Holiday Beach. At Presqu'ile Provincial Park, there 

 was a slight decrease in the number of seasonal licences issued. 



Increases in numbers of hunters were experienced on the pheasant hunting 

 unit operated during 1962. The increase was in the order of 173% for the three 

 hunting areas operated. Table No. 2 indicates the increase in hunters, pheasants 

 released and pheasants bagged for each of Darlington, Presqu'ile and Sibbald's 

 Point Hunting Units. 



Although the number of hunters almost tripled, the number of pheasants 

 required to be released was only slightly more than twice the number used in 

 1961. In 1961, the percentage of birds bagged in relation to the numbers released 

 varied widely between the three areas. In 1962, our objective was to provide for 

 a greater return of stock birds to the hunter. This was successfully done and an 

 average of 83% of all birds released was bagged by hunters. 



In addition, the bag per hunter was low in the Sibbald's Point Unit and 

 high in Presqu'ile and Darlington in 1961. Our aim in operating these Units 

 was to provide hunters with approximately 1.5 birds per hunting day. In 1962, 

 as a result of experience and better management by the Hunting Unit Managers, 

 the bag per hunter was maintained throughout the season at between 1.3 and 1.5 

 birds per hunter. 



Although the Presqu'ile Unit is not operating at full capacity, both Darlington 

 and Sibbald's Point are attracting more hunters than they can accommodate. On 

 Saturdays, hunters are turned away in almost the same numbers as they are 

 accepted. It is obvious that larger Units are required in order to accommodate 

 the numbers of hunters desiring this type of pheasant hunting in southern Ontario. 



The results of 1962 indicate that excellent hunting can be provided and 

 excellent returns of stock pheasants may be obtained. It is rarely possible in a 

 pheasant stocking program to account for more than 50% of all the adult birds 

 stocked or more than 10 to 20% of the poults released. The experiment at our 

 three pheasant hunting Units indicates that the use of older birds in restricted 

 areas in Ontario is well justified and that hunters are willing to pay a nominal 

 fee for improved pheasant hunting. 



The controlled waterfowl areas offer duck hunting of high quality since 

 competition between hunters is reduced to a minimum. We expect an improvement 

 in the average bag of waterfowl on the Long Point Unit as it becomes better 

 established and hunters become better acquainted with the proper methods of 



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