

■^-C^' 



i>^^- 



A cannon net trap, fired over pigeons watering of a spring, a successful 

 method of capture for banding. 



numbers of deer, quail, and doves have resulted from 

 controlled bums. 



Experiments were made in controlled burning, 

 mechanical clearing, chemical treatment, and in re- 

 seeding of cleared areas. Burning appears to be the 

 cheapest and most effective method when followed by 

 reseeding. 



Project W47-R Upland Game Investigations: This 

 project has several phases as listed below. 



1. Pheasant. Studies involve evaluation of the ef- 

 fects of releasing game farm birds; brood counts to 

 determine the yearly production of pheasants in the 

 wild; effects of agricultural practices on pheasant pop- 

 ulations; and investigations into effects of hunting 

 pressure. Hunting season controls as they apply to 

 hunters and land uses are being studied to facilitate 

 farmer-sportsmen relationships. A new phase of the 

 project is concerned with evaluation of the effects of 

 the licensed game bird club system on pheasant hunt- 

 ing. Studies already have indicated that where habitat 

 is suitable, planting of game farm birds shows small 

 return in the matter of total increase. 



2. Quail. A general evaluation of the effects of 

 past development work on quail is under way in order 

 to provide basic data for future developments. This 

 is concerned mainly with the water development or 

 "guzzler" program. Quail have thrived in areas for- 

 merly without water as a result of this program. 



3. Chukar partridge. The initial phase of this study 

 was a state-wide surve\- of chukar populations. An 



immediate result of this investigation was the deter- 

 mination that enough chukars are now present to call 

 California's first chukar season for 1954. Continued 

 investigations into the possibility of further expansion 

 of chukars into suitable range not now occupied by 

 the birds is being made. Wild birds trapped from es- 

 tablished populations supplemented by game farm 

 birds are used for stocking new areas. Other phases 

 of the work involve nesting studies, brood counts, 

 developing more efficient trapping methods, and food 

 habits. 



4. Band-tailed pigeons. A detailed state-wide study 

 of the life history of the band-tailed pigeon is being 

 made with special emphasis given to setting seasons, 

 bag limits, and agricultural depredation problems. The 

 department has been very successful in trapping and 

 banding this species. Band returns show an intensive 

 migration with interstate movements between the 

 three Pacific states. 



Other Pittman-Robertson Projects 



Other Pittman-Robertson federal aid in wildlife 

 restoration projects in force during the biennium in- 

 cluded maintenance, land acquisition and coordination 

 projects. 



Generally, development and management projects 

 were carried out on a regional basis, while survey, in- 

 vestigation and coordination projects were the func- 

 tion of the central office staff. 



Project W37-IVI provides for inspection and main- 

 tenance of quail guzzlers constructed under Project 

 W26-D. Four land acquisition projects, initiated dur- 

 ing the decade 1940-1950, provide for a small amount 

 of money to add to any of the following areas should 

 the need arise and land be available. 



Project WIO-L, Tehama Winter Deer Range— 42,- 

 897 acres acquired. 



Project Wll-L, Honey Lake Waterfowl Manage- 

 ment Area— 4,820 acres acquired. 



Project W17-L, Madeline Plains Waterfowl Man- 

 agement Area— 5,176 acres acquired. 



Project W21-L, Doyle Winter Deer Range-1 3,503 

 acres acquired. 



A final project, W29-C, wildlife management co- 

 ordination, provides general direction and coordina- 

 tion by the central staff on all Pittman-Robertson 

 projects. 



