GAME MANAGEMENT 



A molber takes her ducklings for a rubber-necking tour around Honey Lake, State waterfowl management area. 



(Fish and Game Photo by \Vm. Anderson) 



Game management activities and services during the 

 bienniuni were keyed to keep pace with the growing 

 demand for hunting opportunities and to maintain 

 game species and habitat in good, healthy condition. 



The department has made every attempt to provide 

 a \\ ise use of the resource through research 'and sound 

 management practices. As a result, game species are 

 maintaining their numbers and in many cases increas- 

 ing in spite of ever-increasing hunting pressures and 

 record, or near-record, bags taken during the bien- 

 niuni. 



To preserve and develop existing wildlife habitat 

 and to provide greater hunting opportunities, the de- 

 partment has requested jurisdiction over 542,903 acres 

 of public lands under the U. S. Coordination Act of 

 1946. This act provides that public lands owned by 

 the United States may be placed under administrative 

 control of the state which dedicates them for wildlife 

 and recreational uses. Plans of the department call for 

 habitat development and construction of access roads 



on these lands if funds for such purposes become 

 available. 



During the biennium, 40 miles of access roads were 

 constructed, opening many thousands of acres of pub- 

 lic lands to hunters. 



Among other activities of the branch during the 

 biennium \\ere active participation in the work of 

 the Pacific Flyway Council on waterfowl and close 

 cooperation with Oregon and Nevada on problems 

 relating to the interstate deer herds. The council, made 

 up of representatives of the western states, makes rec- 

 ommendations to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

 on seasons and bag limits and other waterfowl prob- 

 lems of the flyway. 



PITTMAN-ROBERTSON PROGRAM 



During the biennium California received $1,146,271 

 in federal aid apportionments. California's contribu- 

 tion, as required by the Pittman-Robertson Act, was 



63 



