FORTY-FIRST BIK.VXIAI, RKl'OKT X^ 



missioner Van Sicklen was very mm-h iiiteivstetl in deer lnmtiii«r, and he 

 believed that by rediieino- tlie iiuniber of lions in the State, deer e(»uld be 

 increased. The deer population had not yet reeovered from the heavy 

 drain of early days bronjrht on by the hide and market hunters. In liHT 

 the original bounty of $20 was inerea.sed to $:}() on female lions. TIk- 

 Legislature in 1945 authorized a further inerease to H'fJO on females, and 

 $50 on males. 



In 1918 Commissioner Bosque reeommended tiuit .lay liniee he em- 

 ployed to devote his entire time to lion hunting. Later, Charles Ledshaw 

 was also employed. Both of these men have now retired fntm active lion 

 hunting. During their hunting days Bruee aeeounted for nearly TOO lions, 

 and Ledshaw 308. At the present time there are five lion hunters detailed 

 to different sections of the State. 



A total of 199 mountain lions was taken during tlii- calendai- year of 

 1948, and 202 in the calendar year of 1949 ; for a grand total of 401 lions 

 during this two-year period. Of these 401 lions. 109 were taken by state 

 lion hunters and 292 were bountied by ])rivate i)ersons. State trapi)ei-s 

 operate where there have been complaints by stock raneluM-s which usnallx- 

 means they get into country that is not readily accessible to the general 

 public. 



A summary of the mountain lions taken from II'OT thntugh 1!»4!> 

 will be found in Appendix B. Over half of this lion kill has been taken 

 in the northwestern portion of the State. ( )ther areas recording a high kill 

 are the four central coast counties from Monterey to Ventura, and in the 

 south Sierra from Fresno County south. Humboldt County (3,507 s<juare 

 miles) has bountied 1,080 lions, the largest numbei- taken for any one 

 county, but Lake County (1,332 square miles) with a take of 502 lions 

 has produced more lions per square mile than any (»ther county. 



CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME LANDS 

 OTHER THAN GAME FARMS 



Tehama Winter Deer Kange with 42.89fj.!IO acres was i)ureliase(l 

 from 1943 to 1950, inclusive, to protect winter range from natural food 

 depletion by heavy stock-grazing. Additional i)nrchases are pending. 



Doyle Winter Deer Range with 13,429.15 acres was purchased from 

 1948 to 1950, inclusive, to protect winter range frojn natural food deple- 

 tion. Additional purchases are pending. 



Honey Lake Waterfowl Management Ai-ea with 3.5l!»,70 a. -res was 

 purchased from 1942 to 1944, inclusive. Additional ])urehases are n(.\v 



pending. 



Imperial Waterfowl Management Area with 535.2 1 aci-r^ u;i> pur- 

 chased in 1948. Additional purchases are jx'nding. 



Madeline Plains Waterfowl .Management Ai-ea with 5.17»i in acres 

 was purchased from 1945 to 1949. inclusive. 



Grav Lodge Waterfowl Kefuge with 2.541 •'>! ;icres wjis punh.iscd m 



1931-32.' 



Imperial Waterfowl Kefuge with 2,0(J4.43 acres wa.s purchased in 



1931-32. 



Los Banos Waterfowl Kefuge with ::,(Hi() ;..res w;is pnrchase.l in 



1929. 



Suisun Waterfowl Refuge with 1.H87 acres was purcha.s.M| m 1932. 



2—49247 



