FORTY-FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT 33 



inissioner Van Sieklen was very iiiiicli iiiterT'stcd in deer linntiii<i', and he 

 believed that by reducing' tlie Jimnbei- oL' lions in the Stale, (h'cr couhl be 

 increased. The deer population had not yet recovered from the lieavy 

 drain of early days broujiht on by the hide and market hunters. In If)] 7 

 the original bounty of $20 was increased to $30 on female lions. The 

 Legislature in 1945 authorized a further increase to $60 on females, and 

 $50 on males. 



In 1918 Commissioner Bosque recommended that Jaj^ Bruce be em- 

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

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

 hunting. During their hunting days Bruce accounted for nearly 700 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 the calendar 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 private persons. State trappers 

 operate where there have been complaints by stock ranchers which usually 

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

 public. 



A summary of the mountain lions taken from 1907 through 1949 

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

 in the northwestern portion of the State. Other 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 square 

 miles) has bountied 1,080 lions, the largest number 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 other county. 



CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME LANDS 

 OTHER THAN GAME FARMS 



Tehama AVinter Deer Range with 42,896.90 acres was purchased 

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

 depletion by heavy stock-grazing. Additional purchases are pending. 



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

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

 tion. Additional purchases are pending. 



Honey Lake Waterfowl Management Area with 3,519.70 acres was 

 purchased from 1942 to 1944, inclusive. Additional purchases are now 

 pending. 



Imperial Waterfowl Management Area with 535.24 acres was pur- 

 chased in 1948. Additional purchases are pending. 



Madeline Plains Waterfowl Management Area with 5.176.10 acres 

 was purchased from 1945 to 1949, inclusive. 



Grav Lodge Waterfowl Refuge with 2,541.51 acres was purchased in 

 1931-32." 



Imperial Waterfowl Refuge with 2,064.43 acres was purchased in 

 1931-32. 



Los Banos Waterfowl Refuge with 3,000 acres was purchased in 

 1929. 



Suisun Waterfowl Refuge with 1,887 acres was purchased in 1932. 



2—49247 



