The life history, conservation, and menagement of the wild turkey was 
chosen as the major research effort of the Unit. To work out a method of pro- 
ducing genuine wild turkeys for restocking purposes, 24 captivity-reared wild 
hens, procured from the State Game Farm in November 1935, were held over winter 
at Blacksburg and transferred to the Camp Lee State Game Refuge in March 1936. 
The hens were successfully mated to wild gobblers from the woods surrounding 
the open—-topped enclosure in which they were confined. From these matings 
approximately 200 poults were raised to the age of 12 weeks or older. 
Poults reared in a modified type of the Coleman movable quail pen, in 
contrast to those reared in commercial-type houses and open enclosures, were 
found to be wild to a remarkable degree when released. The Virginia Unit con- 
siders this method of handling its outstanding finding of the year. 
To check survival and adaptability, 111 young turkeys, toe-punched and 
tattooed, were liberated on the North River demonstration area. During the 
hunting season a check was obtained on the numbers and weights of game killed 
on the area, and food-study material was obtained regarding 51 grouse, 19 turkeys, 
5 bears, and 2 quail. Apparently the liberated turkeys stood up’ well under shoot- 
ing, some hunters asserting that they were harder to kill than were the native 
turkeys, since they refused to come when "yelped". Tattooing and toe-punching 
both proved to be unsatisfactory as methods of identification, such markings 
being overlooked by the average hunter. 
One group of young turkeys raised with a wing-clipped, captivity—reared 
turkey hen proved entirely unsatisfactory for restocking purposes. Although 
quite wild in their small enclosure, when released they simulated the actions 
of their mother and soon became tame. 
A quail-demonstration area on lands owned and leased by the college was 
developed at Blacksburg during the first year and a base cover—type map was pre- 
pared, 33 feed and cover patches were planted, fenced, and mapped, and plantings 
were made of 336 Asiatic chestnuts, 900 pine seedlings, 850 locusts, 5,000 privet 
seedlings, 900 grape cuttings, 200 honeysuckle shoots, 750 pounds of Korean 
lespedeza, 70 pounds of Lespedeza sericea, and 1 experimental plot of wild trail-— 
ing bean (Strophostyles helvola). 
The quail-demonstration area was extended the second year to include some 
20 adjoining farms in order to study game-management practices on private as well 
as public lands. 
In studying the winter survival of quail, 13 coveys, consisting of about 
195 birds, were located on the Blacksburg quail—demonstration area during the 
fall of 1935. Of these, 109 (70 cocks and 39 hens) were banded during the course 
of the ensuing winter. Approximately 45 percent of the quail that were on the 
area at the beginning of winter remained on April ]. 
The study of the relation of gray foxes to nesting quail, begun at the Camp 
Lee State Game Refuge in June 1935, by the Food Habits Section of the Biological 
Survey and the Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries, cooperating, was continued 
during June and July 1936, the Cooperative Unit replacing the Commission. 
The Unit staff has assisted in the organization of 23 county wildlife feder-— 
ations, and also has cooperated with State and county educational departments and 
with the 4-H Cluos in working out wildlife units and projects for school and clud 
children. 
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