FORTY-SECOND BIENNIAL REPORT 121 



Pheasants are being released through the commission policy for dis- 

 tribution of pheasants. This policy not only provides for planned 

 releases to be made on areas open for public hunting, but also includes 

 lands that will be closed to all pheasant hunting for five years ; these 

 closed lands are to be considered as seed stock areas. It further states 

 that releases will not be made on lands regarded as totally unsuitable 

 pheasant habitat. 



A great deal of time was spent by game farm personnel inspecting 

 the large number of private game farms, and checking the operation of 

 the increasing number of licensed game bird clubs. The work on these 

 licensed game bird clubs consisted of inspection of each area, and the 

 banding and liberation of birds on these areas. 



PREDATOR CONTROL 



During the biennium a total of 5,317 coyotes and 2,436 bobcats was 

 taken by the predatory control staff. A total of 9,205 lesser predators 

 was also taken during the same period. A summary of the predator 

 catch will be found in Table 6, Appendix D. 



Mountain Lion Control 



A total of 227 mountain lions was bountied during 1950, and 133 

 during 1951 ; for a grand total of 360 lions during the two-year period. 

 Of these 360 lions, 116 were taken by state lion hunters and 244 were 

 bountied by private persons. State hunters 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 number of mountain lions bountied is shown in Table 7, Ap- 

 pendix D. 



