Not Included in the bag K'y]% of those picked up. 589 



Hens picked up and given to CJonservation Officers 72 



(not seized 



Unaccounted for 517 



cocks W6 (1J+J2 of those picked up) - 



hens gQ ^11% of those picked up) 

 Not included in bag 589 



Less 72 (handed in to Conservation Officers) 



Net 517 (cocks M-6 - hens ^71) 



The 517 were picked up but net included in the bag and not handed over to 



Conservation Officers - disposition unknovn. 



Crippling Loss 



Data for 1958 and 1959 compared. 



This is presented in an attempt to throw some light on the perennial 

 problem of the crippling loss. The percentage of the bag involved in each 

 category in the years compared, is wortl^ of note, and certainly indicates that 

 this method of collecting information from hunters has value. If gross errors 

 are present, they are at least constant from year to year. This is supported 

 by other factors - hunting pressure which was constant and weather whicsh has 

 been remarkably good for the past five years. 



The percentage of birds reported hit and not retrieved is practically 

 the same as for the total number seen dead in the field. The unknown number 

 here are those cripples showing no evidence of being hit which die later, and 

 the dead birds which are never found. 



Hunters find and pick up birds equal to 12^ of the total bag. No 

 doubt many more hens would be picked up if h\mters were encouraged to do so. 

 The problem is a choice between wasting birds and opening the door to excessive 

 shooting of hens. 

 Tabulation Data follows : 

 Crippling Loss Data for 19'?8 and 19^9 Compared 



47 



