whether any management program would be justified at the present time. 

 We do feel, however, that in the near future the sharp-tail grouse will 

 come into its own as a game bird to both resident and non-resident hunters. 

 It has been noted already in the past two years that there has been a very 

 noticeable increase in the number of non-resident hunting parties coming 

 into the district for the sole purpose of hunting sharp-tails. This has been 

 most noticeable in the west end of the farming district. There seems to be 

 also a growing number of resident hunters taking to the fields with shot 

 guns instead of driving the roads with .22 rifles. 



If management of grouse is not practical at this time we feel it will 

 be in the near future in a minor degree at least. There are two techniques 

 which could be applied in a management program of sharp-tail grouse in the 

 Fort Frances area. These are:- 



(1) regulating the hunting season, 



(2) improved habitat. 



(1) Regulating the season could act as a means of limiting the kill or 

 increasing it. A late opening of the season would mean a low kill. Cold 

 cloudy and windy weather, young birds starting to mature, and flocking 

 tendencies starting around mid-October. All could tend to attribute to 

 wild nervous birds. Vihat ever the reason the birds do become wild as the 

 season progresses regardless of the hunting pressure. 



By opening the season earlier the kill could be increased. During the 

 first two weeks of the present season the birds will usually sit fairly 

 well for either "walking them up" or using dogs. If the season was opened 

 a week earlier the total kill would be increased. The birds at this time 

 are still in small coveys and would hold fairly well. However, we wonder 

 if the young birds would be mature or big enough at this time. Late hatches 

 wo\ild undoubtedly be fairly small. 



Perhaps because of the low kill in the district at the present time some 

 consideration should be given to opening the season earlier to increase the 

 total kill. • 



68 



