FORTY-THIRD BIENNIAL REPORT 



55 



This \ields additional important data relative to deter- 

 mining the over-all waterfowl hunting success b\- year. 



6. Wood Duck Nest Boxes. A study is in progress 

 in order to determine the feasibility of putting up arti- 

 ficial nesting sites for wood ducks as a luanagciuent 

 aid in increasing this species in California. 



Big Game Studies, Project W41-R: Development of 

 management techniques for sound management of 

 California's big game species is the aim of this study. 



1. Deer Herd Studies. This phase of the project 

 conducts studies of deer populations in specific areas 

 throughout the State. The scope of the studies include 

 population numbers, herd composition counts, herd 

 productivity, migration patterns, effects of hunting 

 pressure, range use and condition, trapping methods, 

 food habits, predator relationships, and agriculture and 

 livestock conflicts. Successful management of the herds 

 would be impossible without the information gained in 

 the studies. 



2. Antelope. Studies on methods to increase pro- 

 duction of antelope herds is a new phase of the proj- 

 ect. Particular attention is directed toward evaluating 

 the effects of predation on antelope kidding grounds 

 and determining other causes of kid mortality. An an- 

 nual aerial count of antelope numbers is conducted to 

 keep close tab on any rises or falls in the over-all pop- 

 ulation. 



3. Bighorn Sheep. Preliminary work on determin- 

 ing the population of bighorn in California is the in- 

 itial phase of this study. Possible management of this 

 species through spring development in desert mountain 

 ranges where this species occurs is being investigated. 



Effects of Economic Poisons on Wildlife, Project 

 W45-R: Another project under service agreement 

 with the University of California, its purpose is to 

 determine beneficial and detrimental effects of those 

 chemicals and methods of application used in agricul- 

 ture, forestry and other related fields. 



Particular attention is being paid to chemicals hav- 

 ing toxic eff^ects on wildlife, and in developing safe 

 practices in use of these agents. 



Project W46-R Game Range Restoration: This 

 project is being conducted under a service agreement 

 w ith the California Forest and Range Experiment Sta- 

 tion. 



Its purpose is to develop practical means of increas- 

 ing desirable deer browse species on depleted ranges. 

 Particular emphasis is being paid to east side Sierra 

 areas where problems of deer browse shortages are 

 especially acute. Propagation of range plants by seed- 

 ing and cuttings are under experimentation. Bitter- 

 brush, an important and highly palatable range plant, 

 is receiving special attention. The possibility of intro- 

 ducing new species into the area is also being investi- 

 gated. 



Effects of Brush Removal on Game Ranges in Cali- 

 fornia, Project W31-R: Under a service agreement 

 with the Universitx' of California, sound management 

 of brush lands in California is being investigated, and 

 methods of improving deer and quail productivity on 

 these lands studied. Results of these investigations and 

 experiments are a definite improvement of carrying 

 capacity for wildlife, not only on the burned and 

 cleared areas, but on surrounding territory. Increased 



Results of a controlled burn in Tuolumne County. This area has been reseeded with orchard and Harding grass. The thicli stand of grass tends to retard 



re-invasion of brush. 



