that the entire 36 unhanded shot birds would have some natural hatch among 

 them. In 1959 all 1733 birds released in Whitchurch were banded. Out of a 

 total of 123 pheasants reported killed, 68 were banded. These figures although 

 small indicated 55% of our kill were from wild birds. 



As these figures were for only one township and one in which the upper 

 half is considered marginal for pheasants, we decided to branch out southward 

 into better pheasant habitat. In 1960 we solicited the help of five townships 

 namely Pickering, Markham, Whitchurch, Toronto and Chinguacousy, to enter 

 into a district project which we hoped would inform us as to which type of 

 plantings, poults or adults, would produce the best harvest to the hunter. Eigh- 

 teen hundred pheasants were leg banded with metal bands bearing number and 

 planted in these townships, half as poults, half as adults. Out of a known kill 

 of 719 pheasants harvested, 217 bore leg bands or close to 70% being from 

 natural hatch. This was indeed a surprise, although at the time we felt that 

 some human error may have entered into the figures. 



Early in 1961 we laid plans to enlarge the number of participating town- 

 ships to seven, Vaughan and King joining. We also included in our plans the 

 leg banding of all pheasants to be released in the seven townships. A total of 

 9,878 pheasants were banded. Deputy game wardens, interested sportsmen and 

 additional conservation officers patrolled the seven townships during the open 

 season, checking a total of 2,195 hunters. The results are shown below, plus a 

 chart showing completed figures on release, harvest, and percentages for the 

 year 1961. 



Figures are taken from compiled figures on our pheasant harvest and band- 

 ing reports, 1961. 



7 Regulated townships involved 



9,878 banded birds released 



993 pheasants harvested 



414 pheasants harvested were banded or, 



42% of the total harvest were from banded birds 



58% of the total harvest were from unhanded or natural hatch 



2,195 hunters were questioned 



4,647 township licensed hunters 



4.2% of planted birds harvested by 2195 hunters or, 



.19 of a banded pheasant harvested per hunter day. 



The above table summarizes the known recoveries of released banded 

 birds and natural hatch in the seven townships. Percentages of recovered banded 

 and unhanded birds are also shown for easy comparison. You will note that 

 four of the seven townships show more unhanded birds harvested than banded, 

 and that the average of the seven townships presents the same picture. 



Lindsay District Pheasant Hunt. 1961 



PHEASANT KILL 



Percentage of Total Kill 

 Cocks Hens Total 



61.9 38.1 100.0 



58.9 41.1 100.0 



60.7 39.3 100.0 



59.3 40.7 100.0 

 64.7 35.3 100.0 



62.4 37.6 100.0 



94 



