ANNUAL REPORT, 1938-39 13 



All of these factors were taken into consideration in devising the scheme of 

 Township Regulated Shooting Areas. 



What are the advantages of such regulated areas? In the first place, the 

 control exercised through limiting the number of non-residents who may hunt in 

 the area, and the protection afforded the farmer, as well as the wild life, through 

 the closing of the area to all hunting except during a small portion of the year, 

 has brought about a better spirit of co-operation between the farmer and the sportsman. 

 The former is willing to open his lands to such reasonable demands, and the latter 

 has reasonable assurance that when he has bought a license he will not be embar- 

 rassed by being ordered off the land, unless it is privately posted against trespass, 

 and that through the extensive planting of birds within the area he will be reasonably 

 sure of at least the opportunity of obtaining some game. 



Reports received by the Department from Municipalities which have had the 

 opportunity of trying out the scheme are unanimous in designating it a success. 



This experiment in controlled areas for hunting, particularly in regard to 

 pheasants, received a great deal of publicity. Some fifty townships were involved 

 in 1938 and in order that there might be sufficient pheasants to justify an open 

 season, the Department distributed within the regulated areas close to 16,000 of these 

 birds in such proportions as the size of the area warranted. Here it should be noted 

 that the birds were raised or purchased for the purpose of providing a shoot, by 

 means of funds supplied by the sportsman himself in the form of licenses of one 

 kind or another. The pheasants released in each township, added to the existing 

 natural stock, created a supply sufficient to warrant an open season and give 

 the hunter reasonable assurance of good sport. 



For the benefit of those who may be under the impression that such extensive 

 shooting would probably result in near extinction of the species it is pointed out 

 that under the conditions involved the birds should become more numerous than ever 

 before. To appreciate this contention it is necessary to remember that the pheasants 

 released by the Department were in almost equal proportions in so far as sex is con- 

 cerned. During the open season only cock birds were included in the bag limit, which 

 left the hen birds, amounting to fifty per cent of the additional stocking, for breeding 

 purposes. 



The pheasant is a prolific breeder, each nest consisting of from fifteen to 

 twenty or more eggs, and two hatches per year being quite common. Obviously, 

 therefore, if suitable habitat is available the stock will replenish itself, despite the 

 toll of the hunter during a brief open season. 



In view of all the facts, as disclosed by these reports, it is apparent that 

 regulated shoots can be organized without in any way providing a menace to life 

 or property or seriously interfering with the development of the species concerned. 

 It is essentially a matter of co-operation. In this respect the Department acknowledges 

 with pleasure the splendid co-operation of the municipal authorities, the landowners 

 and the sportsmen in making the scheme an unqualified success from the standpoint 

 of order, good will and recreational pleasure. 



The following is a schedule of the Townships which were included in this 

 scheme of Regulated Game Preserve Areas, during 1938: — 



The Townships of Markham, King, East Gwillimbury and Scarborough in the 

 County of York. 



The Townships of Caledon and Chinguacousy in the County of Peel. 



The Townships of Nelson and Trafalgar in the County of Halton, 



