76 CALIFORNIA FIRTI AND GAME 



After the first day, it was quite a feat for a hunter to ^ot his 

 limit of two birds, and many had difficulty in getting one in sections 

 where the birds were plentiful. 



Women seemed to take great interest in hunting pheasants and the 

 wardens noted many in the field. 



Very few female birds were killed. 



Northern and central California were the centers of the most suc- 

 cessful hunting. 



The interest in this new s])ort in California is indicated in a report 

 by Warden Charles Sibeck, who patrolled the delta region of the Sacra- 

 mento Valley. One excerpt reads: 



"Quail and dove seasons draw many hunters to the delta country, 

 but on o])ening day of the i)heasant season, men and Avomen bought 

 licenses to hunt these birds, making up the largest army of hunters I 

 have ever seen." 



Andy Hamilton. Redding, who has for years been active in the 

 introduction and propagation of pheasants in that vicinity, kindly 

 provided his personal reactions to the pheasant season in that vicinity 

 which are quoted here: 



"The sportsmen are well satisfied that they have a real game bird 

 in the pheasant, and one that can take good care of himself, under any 

 conditions. Unfortunately, Shasta County has a comparatively small 

 area suitable for pheasants, but what area we have is ideal and the 

 birds seem to multiply rapidly. 



"There was quite a difference of opinion as to how many birds 

 were killed in this vicinity. It is my opinion that about 1000 birds 

 were killed. To get this estimate, I personally contacted HO hunters 

 who on 146 trips killed 362 birds. These were only the hunters who 

 came in my store." 



August Bade, Superintendent of State Game Farms, says there are 

 some million pheasants in California. The kill of 20.000 would seem 

 to present no problem of depletion. Most of those avIio followed the 

 season declare that it will be beneficial to the birds left, that they 

 Avill not be so tame and will revert to the cunning that has made them 

 an outstanding game attraction in other States. 



Landowners seemed to enter into the spirit of the occasion, and 

 but few refused permission to hunt on their property if courteously 

 asked. 



Wardens reported the following kill of pheasants in these areas : 



Sacramento delta section, 1360 birds; Yuba, 500; Antioeh, 1200 to 

 1500; Vallejo, 500; Los Angeles and Chino, 1000; Eeddiug, 1000; 

 Ow'ens Valley, 300 ; Santa Clara and Alameda counties, 350 ; Tule Lake, 

 over 1000; Bayshore, below "Redwood City. 200; Modesto, 450; Tehama, 

 250; Xapa. 300; Humboldt and Mendocino counties, 400.— 0. L. 

 Warner, Division of Fish and Game, San Francisco, Decemher 20, 

 1933. 



1933 QUAIL SEASON 



The 1933 quail season seems to have been "spotty" throughout 

 the State. Early reports indicated that in southern California where 

 these birds are not as plentiful as they used to be, the hunting was 

 excellent, and experienced quail hunters had no trouble getting their 



