ANNUAL REPORT, 1941-42 



The Regulations which prescribed the open season for the taking of pheasants in 

 1941 established October 30th and 31st, and November 7th and 8th as the effective 

 dates on Pelee Island with a limit of catch of five (5) birds per day and a possession 

 limit of ten (10) birds during each of the two two-day periods, with the further pro- 

 vision that in each two-day period hunters could include in their possession 

 limit of ten (10) birds not more than three (3) hen birds conditional 

 upon the payment of $1.00 each for such hens to the Departmental repre- 

 sentative on the Island. In the Township Regulated Game Preserve Areas the dates 

 of this open season were October 24th and 25th, and two additional days, viz: — October 

 29th and November 1st, provided the municipal authorities in any township issued their 

 special hunting licenses therefor. The limits of catch provided were three (3) cock 

 birds per day. Hunters who participated in this open season on Pelee Island and in the 

 Regulated Game Preserve Areas were required to provide themselves with the special 

 hunting license which the municipal councils were authorized by the Regulations to 

 issue, as well as the hunting license required under the Game and Fisheries Act. In 

 the County of Essex (excluding Pelee Island) and the County of Kent the dates of the 

 open season were October 24th, 25th and 29th and November 1st, with a limit of catch 

 of three (3) cock birds per day. 



While in the areas in which the open season prevailed conditions have been 

 conductive to the introduction and successful establishment of this species, and were 

 sufficiently satisfactory to warrant provision of the hunting which was permitted in 

 the fall of 1941, it is quite possible that any future extension which may be contemplated 

 will be restricted to areas in which weather conditions are not too severe. Efforts under- 

 taken by the Department in previous years with a view to securing establishment of 

 these birds in areas immediately to the east and north of the section concerned have 

 not been particularly successful, and while some birds may yet be found in these 

 areas there has not been any noticeable increase in their numbers according to the re- 

 ports of our field officers stationed therein. 



QUAIL: — The only portion of the Province in which these birds are reported to be 

 found in sufficient numbers to assure any measure of success in the hunting of same 

 would appear to be in a few counties in the extreme southwestern end of the Province, 

 though a few isolated small bevies have been observed in some of the eastern counties. 

 A special open season was provided by Regulation in the counties of Essex (excluding 

 Pelee Island) and Kent on October 24th, 25th and 29th and November 1st, 1941, with 

 a limit of catch of four (4) such birds per day. 



BUCKS: — There is every indication that the several varieties of ducks which cross 

 Ontario along the route of their southerly migration during the fall of the year provide 

 a good measure of sport for those who find recreation in the hunting of this species of 

 game bird. They were fairly plentiful and appeared in increased numbers in many 

 areas, particularly those in which favourable feeding conditions exist. The various 

 provisions which govern the hunting of ducks are provided by the Federal Government 

 in co-operation with the various Provinces under the Migratory Birds Convention Act 

 and Regulations. The restrictions which have been in effect in more recent years for 

 the protection of wild ducks have undoubtedly reacted favourably and resulted in 

 creating conditions necessary for the improvement now reported and which has been 

 the objective towards which our efforts have been directed. The present desirable condi- 

 tions will probably continue providing the existing restrictions are maintained. 



GEESE: — This species is of little importance in the general scheme of hunting in On- 

 tario. Conditions remained about the same as has been indicated in Departmental an- 

 nual reports for the past several years. Successful hunting of wild geese may be en- 

 joyed only along the shores of James Bay, in the far northern end of the Province, and 

 in the extreme southwestern counties. In other sections they are observed only in flight 



