ANNUAL REPORT, 1935-36 



DKER: — In the eastern portion of northern Ontario these animals are not too 

 plentiful, and little, if any, improvement was in evidence. In the western portion 

 of the northern division, including Rainy River and Kenora Districts and the west- 

 erly half of the District of Thunder Bay conditions are splendid and the animals 

 quite numerous. So far as the easterly portion of Thunder Bay is concerned, while 

 conditions are not as favorable as in the westerly portion, reports indicated that 

 their numbers are increasing. In southern Ontario or south of the French and 

 Mattawa Rivers and Lake Nipissing, they appear to be increasing in the counties 

 in the western and eastern sections where the protection of an entire closed season 

 has been effective in recent years, particularly in those areas in which favourable 

 habitat is available. They do not exist in the most southerly counties of the central 

 portion of southern Ontario, in which there has not been the same protection, and 

 which areas are of course quite closely settled. In those sections of southern Ontario 

 in which these animals are subject to the most intensive hunting during the open 

 season, reports indicate that speaking generally, existing conditions are favourable 

 and somewhat improved. 



MOOSE: — Are found in fair numbers in various parts of the north and appar- 

 ently increasing in the eastern portion, though in southern Ontario they are very 

 scarce and may be found only in scattered and remote sections. 



OARIBOU: — These animals are extremely scarce. The herds are few and 

 scattered and reported only in the eastern and western districts of the far northern 

 part of the Province. 



ELK (Wapiti) : — As stated in previous reports this species has been introduced 

 here by the importation of these animals from western Canada, with the co-opera- 

 tion of the Federal Authorities. Herds were previously liberated in the Nipigon- 

 Onaman, Chapleau, Goulais River-Ranger Lake, Burwash and Pembroke Game Pre- 

 serves, while transfer was undertaken of some of the animals at Pembroke to 

 Algonquin Park and the Bruce Peninsula. While the animals may possibly be 

 increasing in number nothing of a reliable nature may as yet be stated as to the 

 success or otherwise of this experiment. 



RUFFED GROUSE (Partridge): — These birds according to all reports were 

 considerably less than normal in number in practically every section of the Prov- 

 ince, particularly the north. 



SHARP-TAILED GROUSE (Prairie Chicken): — Found only in extreme north- 

 western and northeastern portions, and there only in reduced numbers. 



PTARMIGAN: — Conditions as they apply to this species are very similar to 

 those reported for Sharp-tailed Grouse. 



QUAIL: — Generally speaking, these birds may be found only in the extreme 

 southwestern region, principally Essex, Kent and adjacent Counties, and reports in- 

 dicate some improvement in this area. They are also noted as existing in some 

 isolated spots in a few eastern Counties. The Department liberated live birds of 

 this species, numbering 200 in all, principally in the Counties of Essex, Kent and 

 Middlesex, in which the special open season prevailed. 



DUCKS: — About the same as a general rule, with varying conditions in evid- 

 ence in different sections, i.e. improvement and diminished numbers in intermingled 

 areas. 



GEESE: — Good along the James Bay shore, particularly in the vicinity of 

 Moosonee. Conditions about the same along the routes of migration which follow 

 through the north, and thence along the Counties bordering Georgian Bay, Essex 

 and Kent, or through eastern Ontario. 



