104 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



Madera Comity. A few hunt in the upper coast coTinties and a greater 

 nnmber in the mule deer section in the northeastern part of the state. 

 Few San Francisco and Oakland hnnters find their deer to the south 

 of INIadera County, Most of them hunt to the north. Modoc County 

 furnished deer to residents of 51 of the 58 California counties. Sacra- 

 mento and San Franei.sco were the only counties in which no deer were 

 taken last year. San Francisco is the only county where no deer have 

 been killed during the past three years. Los Angeles County supplied 

 the surprisingly large number of 691 deer in 1929. This is remarkable 

 when it is considered that there is a very limited hunting area and the 

 population of the county is well over 2,000,000. Apparently deer are 

 even increasing in Los Angeles County. 



As a trade stimulant deer in California are a wonderful success. 

 Los Angeles hunters killed 2199 deer and San Francisco and Oakland 

 hunters 2048. These were taken in nearly every county. Every deer 

 represents several hundred miles of travel ; probably on an average of 

 not less than 300 miles, and to this add the travel by unsuccessful 

 hunters and the grand total will be millions of miles. 



In California there were issued in 1929, 115,472 deer tag licenses, 

 there were killed 21,222 deer. On the average, one hunter in a little 

 better than five secured a deer. There are without doubt thousands of 

 hunters who do not have a chance to hunt and many others that do 

 very little hunting, but even with the low average our kill is much better 

 than that in New York state, where 77,735 licenses were issued with a 

 kill of 6620 deer — an average of one deer to practically twelve hunters. 



There is still a great deal of information that we do not have regard- 

 ing the range of the different species and subspecies of deer in Cali- 

 fornia. It is essential that this information be secured. Judging from 

 present conditions, our laws relating to deer are very satisfactory but 

 with additional information it might be possible to improve them. 



ELK 



A solution of the elk problem in California has not yet been reached. 

 From a nature lover V point of view, we are fortunate in having three 

 species of elk. From the standpoint of the agriculturists in the sections 

 of the state frequented by these animals, we are not so fortunate. 

 California elk still range in the Buttonwillow section of Kern County 

 in numbers estimated approximately 400 head. During the past year it 

 was necessary to employ a ranger to keep them from damaging growing 

 crops. Another band of this species is the cause of some complaint in 

 Yolo County. This herd of not less than 75 is the result of a transfer 

 of animals that were first moved to Monterey County from Kern 

 County and later taken to the Swanston property in Yolo County. A 

 change in the ownership of the land upon which they ranged has made 

 it necessary that some action be taken regarding their future. 



The herd of Koosevelt elk in Humboldt and Del Norte counties 

 numbering approximately 150 head, have caused considerable complaint 

 from ranchers near Orick. This herd ranges for the greater part of the 

 5'ear in that section between the Redwood highway and the coast and 

 between Redwood Creek and the north line of Humboldt County. 



The Jackson Hole elk so far have caused no complaint. These ani- 

 mals range in the mountains of eastern Shasta County. This herd of a 



