136 REPORT OF THE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



coast region was changed at the last session of the legislature so that 

 for the most part the killing of deer when the horns are in the soft 

 velvet is prohibited. 



With scarcely an exception the law giving protection to spiked 

 bucks has been conceded hj sportsmen to be one of the best that has 

 ever been passed by our legislature. Young male deer are practically 

 always found with the females. On account of this fact, and on 

 account of the impossibility of telling the sexes apart, even at a short 

 distance, it is essential that the hunter be most certain as to what 

 he is shooting. There are, unfortunately, many careless hunters who 

 shoot at the first sign of moving brush, with the result that frequently 

 some other hunter is killed or dangerously wounded. This law com- 

 pels the deer hunter to be certain of the character of the deer he is 

 shooting and will, without doubt, save the lives of many of his fellow 

 sportsmen. Reports show that the present year has been an excellent 

 breeding season, as does w'ith two fawns are the rule. 



During the winter of 1915-1916 many deer w^ere found dead in the 

 northern coast counties. Investigations carried on by the commission 

 did not reveal any new light on the cause of the deaths, but did con- 

 firm the belief that an abnormal number of internal parasites are 

 probably largely responsible. It is possible that the deer are weakened 

 on account of the severe winter weather and are unable to throw oft" 

 the parasites. It is interesting to note that in no other part of the 

 state has there ever been any epidemic of even minor importance 

 among the deer. It is the intention of the commission to study these 

 occasional epidemics and to endeavor to save the hundreds of deer 

 that are lost each winter. 



Quail. Quail have had an excellent summer. Young broods of both 

 mountain and valley quail are seen commonly in the haunts fre- 

 quented by these birds. Making the seasons during which both species 

 can be taken the same has been of great benefit in this district. Very 

 little complaint has been received on account of the later opening of 

 the mountain quail season, for it is uniformly realized that the breed- 

 ing season is the same and it is not right to kill the young birds before 

 they are fully grown. Although there is a great difference in the 

 plumage of the two species, there has been considerable confusion 

 among hunters as to which species they were shooting. In certain 

 instances, unintentional violations have occurred. 



Waterfowl and Shore Birds. Duck shooting in the bay region was 

 very poor during last year although there Avere many more ducks bred 

 on the eastern side of the bay than usual. Shooting in all sections 

 was below normal. Even in the San Joaquin Valley birds were not 

 as abundant as in former 3-ears. The state law was changed at the 



