46 



DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME 



PHEASANTS BAGGED ON COOPERATIVE 

 HUNTING AREAS 



Q 

 UJ 



O 



<r 

 m 



CO 



CO 



< 



UJ 

 X 

 CL 



Ll_ 

 O 



cc 



UJ 



m 



35,000 



30,000 



— 25,000 



20,000 



15,000 



10,000 



5,000 



1949 



1950 



1951 



1952 



1953 



HUNTING SEASON 



the number of hunters using these areas tallied closely 

 uith the projected number from questionnaire figures. 



Bag and population levels of the various species: 



Quail: Two successive mild winters and improved 

 precipitation in desert areas have resulted in a general 

 increase in quail throughout the State. These condi- 

 tions were reflected in the highest bag on record re- 

 ported for 1953. 



Pheasants: An e.xceptional hatch of birds in the 

 spring of 1953, as indicated by field surveys, and in- 

 creased hunting pressure resulted in the best bag on 

 record. Pheasant tag sales have indicated a continued 

 increase in the popularitv of the ringneck as a game 

 bird. 



Doves: Year after \ear doves produce the second 

 largest bag of any game species, and population re- 

 mained good during the biennium with a record made 

 in the 1953 bag. 



Pigeons: Although the 1953 pigeon bag was the sec- 

 ond best ever recorded, the previous year was light. 

 These birds show an erratic distribution pattern from 

 year to year, with marked fluctuations in the bag 

 which ma\" have no relation to the numbers of birds 

 present. 



Ducks: Ducks have consistently produced the 

 greatest bag of any of the game species, and the two 

 seasons during the biennium were no exception. Dur- 



ing the two-year period there was a marked increase 

 in ducks wintering in California, as shown by the 

 yearly census conducted jointly by the department 

 and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Reflecting this 

 increase was the record year for 1952, and a close sec- 

 ond in 1953. 



Geese: Hunter bags for geese reached all-time highs 

 during the biennium. Best year for goose hunters was 

 1953. 



Rabbits: Rabbit hunting is assuming more and more 

 importance in the state-wide picture, as shown by the 

 fact that the combined total of cottontails, brush, and 

 jackrabbits taken exceeds the number of some of the 

 more popular game species such as quail, pheasants and 

 geese. Rabbits are taken mainly in the southern part 

 of the State, where there are large numbers of hunt- 

 ing license holders and a limited amount of other game 

 close at hand. 



Bear: California bear hunters had their best year in 

 1953, although relatively few hunters seek bears, prob- 

 ably because well-trained dogs are a near-necessity for 

 successful bear hunting. Many bears are taken while 

 the hunters are out after deer. 



Deer: After the severe winter of 1951-52, the 1952 

 deer kill fell oflt sharply, although the following year 

 the bag climbed sharply to the second best season on 

 record. Recovery in deer population was especially 

 noted on the east side Sierra ranges which were hard- 

 est hit by the severe winter. Other factors contribut- 

 ing to a lower 1952 kill were the return of forked 

 horn protection in District 1 % , and mild weather 

 which kept the deer on high summer ranges where 

 hunting was difficult. Mild winters, in 1952-53 and 

 1953-54 brought about marked state-wide increases in 

 the deer herds. 



Tree Squirrels: Tree squirrels are a minor game 

 species, although 1953 saw the second highest harvest 

 on record. The previous year showed a small kill. 



Jacksnipe: Relatively few birds were bagged in 

 1953, the first open season on the species since 1940. 

 Most were taken by duck hunters incidental to their 

 main quarry. 



State-wide Game Kill-1 948-1 953 



As reported by hunters in postcard surveys 



Yearly average 

 indicated bags 



Species 



Quail --.- 



Pheasants * 



Doves 



Pigeons 



Ducks 



1948-1951 

 . 1,352,100 

 . 476,700 

 . 2,146,200 

 167,000 

 . 2,549,000 



Geese - - 310,200 



Rabbits (brush, cottontail).... 443,900 



Jackrabbits — - - - 719,000 



Tree squirrels - - 48,000 



Bears -- 3,300 



Jacksnipes (first open season 



since 1940) 



• Includes pheasants taken on licensed game bird clubs 



1952 



1,644,700 

 581,800 



2,595,200 

 177,400 



4,642,800 



490,300 



504,800 



986,700 



26,700 



5,200 



19Si 

 ,041,400 

 732,400 

 ,909,100 

 294,200 

 ,599,600 

 580,500 

 949,400 

 ,188,100 

 66,400 

 7,200 



44,200 



