It is felt that experience gained this year in handling the cannon net 

 should make future efforts run more smoothly and thus produce more 

 satisfactory results. We also felt that with the use of burlap bags 

 there could be a greatly reduced number of dead and injured birds. 

 Nes1^i^S 



Ten nests were located around the six dancing grounds previously 

 mentioned. These nests were checked periodically. 



Listed below are the results of these checks. 



Nest No. No. of Eggs No. Hatched 



1 12 9 



2 : 8 8 



^ 



iV 10 



IP,. , , 10 



5 12 destroyed 



7 13 11 



8 9 9 



9 11 8 



10 Hf^j •<:- destroyed 



Average number of eggs per nest - 11.2 „■/ :, 

 Percent of hatch - 66;^ 



Number 5 nest was completely destroyed, from indications it appeared 

 to be skunks. . 



In nest number 10 three eggs were broken and the nest was deserted 

 as a result. It is not known if any renesting occurred. 



We were unable to keep track of individual coveys after they were hatched. 

 It is believed at this time greatest mortality occurs. 



If future nesting work is done it may be of some value if coloured 

 bands were placed on nesting hens or coloured tail feathers attached to 

 identify individual broods. Perhaps in this way it would be possible to 

 ascertain the mortality rate after hatching occurs. 



The crops of 21 sharp-tail grouse were examined during the fall of I960 

 in an effort to establish if any changes in their food habits occurred as 

 the season progressed. 



Twelve of the twenty -one birds examined were taken in the first two weeks 

 of the hunting season. 



66 



