ANNUAL REPORT, 1940-41 ^^^i^'^Q 



I 



been small there has been but little mortality among the animals which were originally 

 introduced. 



BEAR: — These animals are reported to be quite plentiful throughout the various 

 Northern Ontario Districts, and in the Districts of Parry Sound, Muskoka and Haliburton 

 and in the County of Renfrew. They may be hunted or trapped under the authority 

 of the proper licenses and there is no doubt many enjoy the pleasure which the hunting 

 of these animals provides. During the spring bear season of 1940, that is from April 

 1st to June loth, the Department issued one hundred and sixty-one (161) non-resident 

 hunting licenses, and it may be of interest to say that since the inauguration of this 

 particular season, some four years ago, there has been an increasing interest displayed 

 by non-resident hunters in the possibilities for recreation and relaxation thus made 

 available. 



RABBITS: — Reviewing reports with reference to rabbits it would appear that with the 

 exception of a very few counties the various species continue to be fairly plentiful in 

 the southern areas. In general terms the prevailing species in the extreme southern 

 and southwestern portions of the Province are cotton-tail rabbits and European hare, 

 the latter commonly known as the jack-rabbit, — while the snowshoe rabbit, or varying 

 hare, exists in the eastern counties and in the areas to the north. Conditions applicable 

 to rabbits were quite favourable throughout the season, except in Northern Ontario, 

 where these animals were reported to be not too plentiful though probably increasing 

 in number. Rabbit hunting is a favourite sport of Ontario hunters during the late fall 

 and winter months, and a large percentage avail themselves of the pleasure which Is 

 to be derived from this splendid type of healthy exercise. The restricted daily catch 

 of cotton-tail rabbits which is now effective in several of the southwestern counties 

 has probably assisted in some measure in the increase which has been reported from 

 these areas. 



PARTRIDCJE: — The improvement which has been observed in more recent years con- 

 tinued during the period covered by this report, and considerable increase was reported 

 from many sections principally in the case of ruffed grouse. The sharp-tailed grouse, 

 or prairie chicken, is confined to the extreme northern and northwestern portions, 

 though their numbers could not be described as plentiful. However, general conditions 

 throughout were sufficiently satisfactory to warrant the declaration of a short open 

 season. Two periods were included in this open season, viz: — October 1st to October 

 15th, inclusive, and November 4th to November 16th, inclusive. Limits of catch were 

 five birds per day, and twenty-five birds in all during the two periods. This open 

 season did not apply in the Counties of Essex and Kent nor in the Townships established 

 as Regulated Game Preserve Areas. In these last mentioned Counties and Townships 

 the open season for partridge coincided with the open season for pheasants. 



PHEASANT: — Climatic conditions restrict the area in which pheasants can be 

 successfully introduced with any certain hope of permanent establishment therein. 

 While it is not native to the Province it has been possible through intensive re-sto3k- 

 ing in areas providing favourable conditions to sufficiently develop the pheasant pop- 

 ulation in such areas to assure such a measure of successful hunting as to warrant 

 a limited open season for the taking of this splendid game bird. In recent years the 

 Department has proceeded with a scheme of Regulated Game Preserve Areas in 

 which all hunting is controlled and where these birds are liberated, and which scheme 

 in 1940 included some seventy-one Townships or parts of Townships situated in the 

 Counties of Lambton, Middlesex, Elgin, Oxford, Norfolk, Brant, Haldimand, Welland, 

 Lincoln, Wentworth, Wellington, Halton, Peel, York, Ontario and Prince Eldward. 

 Conditions favourable to the propagation of these birds also prevail in areas other 

 than these Regulated Townships, particularly in the County of Essex, including Pelee 



