Proper care of this buck during coastal deer season assured good eating 



tor G. 5. McCain of Bakersfield. Scene is in East Liebre Mountain Camp, 



Los Angeles County. 



(Fish and Game Photo) 



their range carrying capacity by harvesting deer of 

 either sex. There have been 38 special hunts, 20 of 

 them in the last biennium. These helped establish the 

 groundwork for a decision by the commission in May, 

 1956, to hold the first general antlerless seasons in the 

 State. They were slated for the fall of 1956 in 34 

 counties. 



Widespread Interest Created 



These special hunts created such widespread interest 

 among the sportsmen that a total of 85,610 applications 

 were received for the 20,453 hunting permits allotted. 



The following is a summary of the various special 

 deer seasons held during the biennium: 



Glemiville, Tulare and Kern Counties. Two special 

 either-sex deer seasons were held on privately owned 

 lands in the Glennville area primarily to relieve pas- 

 ture damage caused by a high deer population. In 1954, 

 200 permits were authorized for the October 28th to 

 November 2d season. A total of 174 deer (42 males 

 and 132 females) was bagged. In 1955, 200 permits 

 were authorized for a November 3d-8th season. A 

 total of 160 deer was reported taken. The breakdown 

 showed 43 males, 116 females, and 1 unclassified. 



San Benito, San Benito County. Two special antler- 

 less deer seasons were held on privately owned and 

 public lands to relieve alfalfa and pasture damage by 

 an increasing deer population. In 1954, 330 permits 



were authorized for a September 18th to October 3d 

 season. A total of 45 males and 128 females, was re- 

 ported taken. In 1955, 250 permits were issued for a 

 September 24th to October 2d season. A total of 104 

 deer was reported taken (27 males and 77 females). 



Barton's Flat, Fresno and Tulare Counties. Two 

 special either-sex deer seasons were held on the 

 Barton's Flat area to harvest surplus deer from a popu- 

 lation which summers partially in Kings Canyon and 

 Sequoia National Parks and is unavailable during the 

 regular hunting season. 



The repeated hunts, of which there have been four, 

 may serve to demonstrate the effects of the continued 

 harvest of deer of both sexes. 



The 1954 hunt (with 400 permittees shooting) was 

 held during four periods in a November 17th to No- 

 vember 29th season. The reported bag was made up of 

 82 males and 87 females. Another 400 permits were 

 authorized in 1955 for a November 18th-30th season. 

 The reported bag was 74 males and 89 females. During 

 the four-year period, the bag for both regular and 

 special seasons has increased from an average of about 

 200 bucks only to an average of about 500 deer per 

 year. 



Camp Pendleton, San Diego County. Two special 

 hunts for antlered and antlerless deer were held on 

 the Camp Joseph Pendleton Marine Base to harvest 

 surplus animals. Hunting was limited to service per- 

 sonnel. In 1954, 260 antlerless and 45 antlered permits 

 were authorized for use during 13 week-end hunting 

 periods between August 7, 1954, to Januar}- 23, 1955. 



The Department of Fish and Game disease labora- 

 tory personnel examined bagged deer for evidence of 

 disease, parasitism, general condition, and reproductive 

 rate during every second hunting period. The commis- 

 sion authorized the take of an additional 40 deer dur- 

 ing March and April of 1955 in order to fill out the 

 scientific information. A total of 167 deer was taken, 

 of which 38 were males and 129 were females. 



In 1955, 220 antlerless and 55 antlered permits were 

 authorized for use during an October 1, 1955, to 

 iMarch 18, 1956, season. A total of 31 males and 133 

 females was taken. The disease laboratory examined 

 bagged deer once a month to complete the scientific 

 study. 



San Joaqtiin River Unit, Fresno and Madera Coun- 

 ties. An either-sex deer hunt was authorized in 1954 

 for 600 permits during an October 27-31 season to 

 lighten range damage. A total of 360 animals was re- 

 ported taken, including 83 males and 277 females. 



During 1955, 500 permits were authorized for a sec- 

 ond either-sex deer hunt during a November lst-6th 

 season confined to the portion of the unit in Fresno 

 County. The reported bag of 198 deer included 43 

 males and 155 females. 



Sierra Foothills, Zone 1, Nevada, Placer and Yjiha 

 Counties. During 1954 a special either-sex deer hunt 

 was authorized in portions of Nevada, Placer and 



