52 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



plants being conducted in cooperation with the University of California ; 

 Project 22-R, an investigation of pheasant management problems; and 

 Project 24-R, a survey of the critical summer and winter ranges for deer 

 within the State. 



Development Projects: Project 14-D, providing for the construc- 

 tion of approximately five miles of drift fence on the western boundary 

 of the Tehama winter range was completed early in 1944 and has since 

 provided that critical deer range with much-needed protection from 

 livestock trespass. 



Project 18-D, the live-trapping and transplanting of beaver, com- 

 menced in May, 1945, was still in operation at the close of this biennium. 

 To date, approximately 170 beaver have been transplanted at 44 locations. 



Land Acquisition: In spite of soaring land prices that have 

 doomed extensive acquisition projects to almost certain failure, it was 

 possible to complete certain phases of two existing projects and to obtain 

 preliminary approval of projects that will be carried through to com- 

 pletion just as soon as conditions return to something approximating 

 normal. 



Under Project 10-L, the Tehama Winter Deer Range, three addi- 

 tional parcels totaling 3,500 acres were added to 25,000 acres already 

 under State control. 



In Madeline Plains, Lassen County, under Project 17-L, approxi- 

 mately 4,500 acres, including the Tule Lake Reservoir, were acquired 

 for waterfowl management purposes. Half of this area will be available 

 for public shooting. 



As this biennium came to a close, preliminary approval had been 

 obtained for the acquisition of 131,000 acres in the critical Doyle Winter 

 Range area in southeastern Lassen County, and 640 acres of deer range 

 in the vicinity of Bald Mountain, Shasta County. 



THE UPLAND GAME BIRD PROGRAM 



As a result of studies conducted under auspices of Federal Aid in 

 Wildlife Restoration, Project California 6R, many management problems 

 concerning valley quail have been solved and the results published in 

 a University of California Bulletin entitled ' ' Increasing Valley Quail in 

 California" by John T. Emlen, Jr. and Ben Glading. This bulletin points 

 out that valley quail management is strictly a problem of local land man- 

 agement ; that quail only can be increased to the advantage of quail by 

 improving local habitat conditions, such as water, cover, feed and preda- 

 tion. It is emphasized that merely raising birds in pens and dumping 

 them into unsuitable habitat is worthless. 



One method for improving quail habitat has amply proven its value 

 on an experimental basis. This device, known as the "Gallinaceous 

 Guzzler" provides water in dry areas without the benefit of springs, 

 seeps, pipelines, etc., by collecting rainwater and storing it underground 

 for quail use. In all, 13 of these outfits have been installed to date : Five 

 in San Benito County, three in Fresno County, three in Riverside County, 

 and two in San Bernardino County. All have proven their value by 

 establishing centers of quail population in areas formerly devoid of these 

 birds. Other states, including Arizona, New Mexico and Oregon have 

 become interested in similar devices and are highly enthused as to their 



