28 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



hunters in all counties asking that they send us a record of their kill 

 during the previous open season. At the close of the hunting season 

 these forms are mailed to those who purchased hunting licenses during 

 the past license j^ear. For 1940 nearly 11,000 returned the questionnaire 

 and for 1941 nearly 13,000. From these reports Donald H. Fry, Jr., 

 has completed an estimate of the game take throughout the State. 

 We believe that it is reasonably accurate. This information as gathered 

 each year will give valuable information as to the changes that are taking 

 place and will eliminate much of the guesswork of the past. 



The kill during the 1940 season totals 6,009,185 head of game and 

 in 1941, 5,673,282, approximately 5 per cent less. By varieties the kill 



was: 



1940 1941 



Quail 1,290,487 1,208,788 



Doves 1,711,862 1,368,464 



Ducks 1,520,207 1,579,651 



Geese 138,709 140,399 



Pigeons 116,614 123,969 



Pheasants 167,033 245,666 



Deer 46,317 48,498 



Rabbits 1,017,956 962,852 



6,009,185 5,673,282 



While the 1941 take was not as great as in the year previous 

 the drop was not enough to be alarming. War conditions entered the 

 picture and without doubt cut down the hunting effort. The 47 per cent 

 increase in the pheasant take indicates the excellent condition of that 

 species, particularly in the rice counties. Nearly two-thirds of the State 

 kill is in the Sacramento Valley. 



The success of the dove hunters of northern California depends 

 upon climatic conditions in the late summer. If in late August cooler 

 weather prevails the birds move from localities where they are abundant 

 and are not found by the hunters. In 1940 hundreds of birds were 

 taken near Tupman in Kern County. In August, 1941, in the same area, 

 doves were even more abundant but by September 1st all had moved 

 out and only one shot was fired. At best, most of the northern part of 

 the State has only two or three days of dove hunting. 



Throughout the State the take of game corresponds very well with 

 the license sales. Hunters of the populated centers spread out more, 

 hunting in practically all counties and taking game in proportion to the 

 percentage of licenses they buy. Fifty-seven per cent of the game is 

 taken by residents of the county in which it is killed. This percentage 

 varies with the species, two-thirds of the quail and doves and less than 

 half of the ducks, geese and pheasants. 



The deer kill in the biennium was the heaviest on record. In all 

 89,810 were harvested ; nearly 3,000 less in 1941 than in 1940, probably 

 on account of hunters having less time and opportunity. In certain 

 counties there are from time to time conditions arising that cut down 

 the deer population. In the upper coast counties there is considerable 

 loss nearly everj- year from abnormal development of internal parasites. 

 In other parts Of the coast, particularly in San Benito, Monterey and 

 San Luis Obispo counties, there was in 1941 a heavy loss due to screw 

 worms. 



