FORTY-FOURTH BIENNIAL REPORT 



65 



(^iimc KiU t94^-f955 



Species 



Bear 



Chukar Partridge (first open season 



1964) 



Doves 



Ducks 



Geese 



Jackrabbits 



Jacksnipes (first open season 1963). 



Pigeons 



Pheasants (cocks) 



Pheasants (hens) (first open season 



1966) 



Pheasants (total) 



Quail 



Rabbits (cottontail-brush) 



Sage hens 



Tree squirrels 



Yearly 



average 



indicated 



bags 



1948- 



1963* 



4,300 



2,348,100 



3,239,700 



386,200 



841,800 



44,200 



189,900 



636,800 



1,516,700 



638,300 



47,600 



4,900 



4,600 



2,100 4,000 



2,460,200 2,571,600 

 3,461,600 1 3,289,000 



428,200 



1.200,600 



14,600 



120,600 



664,800 



664,800 



1,483,800 



506,000 



3,400 



40,300 



338,900 



1,241,600 



19,600 



136,600 



640,200 



126,300 



666,500 



1,296,900 



467,200 



1,400 



32,300 



'As reported by hunters in statewide questionnaire surveys. 



The hunter questionnaire survey has been a standard 

 procedure since 1948, \\ith questionnaires being sent 

 to a 2 percent random sample of hunting Hcense 

 buyers. 



The information obtained from these questionnaires 

 is considered typical of the entire hunting public, and 

 is projected mathematically to obtain a state-wide 

 figure. This s\stem, however, produces somewhat 

 exaggerated results. Factors leading to the exaggera- 

 tion remain constant, so that the indicated trends from 

 \ear to year of the game bags are considered reliable. 

 A change in the questionnaire form prior to the 1954 

 survey contributed to the recording of a more ac- 

 curate reported take. 



BIG GAME 



The deer population recovered from the severe 

 losses of the winter of 1951-52 within two years, as 

 was evidenced b\- the regular season reported buck 

 kill of 75,602 in 1954, an all-time record for California. 

 In addition a total of 2,326 deer were taken during 

 special seasons that year. 



The deer kill of 1954 is all the more impressive 

 when it is remembererd that northeastern California 

 (District 1%) was closed to the taking of forked- 

 horn bucks during 1954 and 1955 due to action of 

 the State Legislature. 



In 1955, the regular season reported buck kill 

 dropped off to 71,126 animals, still the second highest 

 regular season buck kill in this State. In addition, a 

 total of 9,460 deer were bagged during special deer 

 seasons. The total deer bag (both regular and special 

 seasons) in 1955 was 80,586 animals. 



An elk hunt was held in Owens \'alley, Inyo 

 County, in 1955. A management plan for this herd 

 of Tule elk was developed in 1952, after considerable 

 discussion with intere.sted local sportsmen, ranchers, 

 and business organizations and groups. 



The plan, which has general local support, stipulates 

 that the elk herd will be held at a population of 125-275 

 animals. \\'hene\er the census shows that the popula- 

 tion has exceeded the upper limit, a hunt is held to 

 reduce the herd size to the lesser limit. The elk hunt 

 held in 1955 was for this purpose. 



A total of 150 permits was authorized for a De- 

 cember 3-11 season. The checked bag of 144 animals 

 included 36 bulls, 79 cows and 29 unclassified elk. 



Spet.\vt\ Deer Seasons 



Twenty special deer seasons were authorized by the 

 commission to relieve range and agricultural damage, 

 or both, or to harvest surplus animals during the 

 biennium. 



A total of 11,793 deer were reported taken. The bag 

 included 2,099 males and 9,408 females and 286 deer 

 designated as "unclassified" in the tabulation because 

 tag returns failed tf) indicate sex. 



The law specifies a public hearing must be held in 

 the area affected before a special hunt can be author- 

 ized. The commission's policy has been to authorize a 

 special deer hunt onh- when local support for such a 

 hunt is demonstrated. 



The first special hunt for antlerless deer had been 

 held in the winter of 1949-50 on Catalina Island. In 

 June, 1950, the commission, after discussing the matter 

 with sportsmen, ranchers and others throughout the 

 State, adopted a policy of maintaining deer herds at 



BO-cfCiHx Vecx 'Kdi ^ecMd 



