(see accompanying map), there is a take of 1,800 to 2,880 male Mrds each, 

 year (50 to SO per square mile). The take in 1935 was 2,355 (65 per square 

 mile). In spite of this Yiearry kill, more than 1,800 oirds were live-trapped 

 (winter of 1936-37) on the single central refuge and removed for stocking 

 elsewhere. . 



8. Leaving reproduction stock. As ahout 600 "birds were left on the 

 refuge for stocking purposes, the early winter population of the refuge was 

 ahout 2,400 "birds. As the auxiliary refuges and the remainder of the town- 

 ship can easily "be demonstrated to have 50 percent or more of the township's 

 pheasant population, the total pheasant population was at least twice 2,400, 

 or '4,800 (134 "birds per square mile), at the end of t'Jie hunting season and at 

 least 4,800 plus the kill of 2,400 birds, or 7,200 "birds (200 per square mile) 

 at the "beginning of the 9-day hunting season, Uovem"ber 15-25. Shifts in sex- 

 ratio figures "based on several thousand "birds observed before and after the 

 hunting season substantiate these figures. 



9. Production of a surplus above the take. A properly maintained 

 central refuge makes possible not only a large annual kill but also the pro- 

 duction of a valuable surplus of 1,.500 to 2,000 birds. If the total cost of 

 the refuge maintenance be charged up to the s"arplus birds produced, the cost 

 per bird (exclusive of labor costs) is no more than 20 to 24 cents. These 

 birds are of high class stock from an inheritance standpoint and considerably 

 healthier and heavier than most artificially propagated birds. As they are 

 already acclim.atized and adjusted to cold, natural foods, predators, and other 

 natural conditions, and are not malnourished, they have an exceedingly high 

 rate of s"arvival. They tend to remain where released — not a single bird has 

 ever returned to the refuge where trapped, and recoveries tend to be very near 

 the point of release. For the above reasons, these naturally propagated birds 

 have proved to be superior for stocking purposes. Research data now on file 

 would indicate that these choice birds nat'urally produced have a stocking value 

 equal to at least 1.5 to 2.0 typical game-farm adults and equal to 3 to 8 

 artificially, propagated baby pheasants of 8 to 12 weeks of age, because of 

 their greater survival and reproductive ability. 



S"ach general management measures would not produce equivalent results 

 on low-quality pheasant territory. With present techniques, costs would be 

 much greater and the results rather disappointing on marginal and submarginal 

 pheasant territory. In most of the instances where this system has given best 

 res^alts, no. 1 or no. 2 pheasant territory was concerned. The former accidental 

 pheasant" yield on these same areas, however, was only a small fraction of the 

 present planned or managed yield. 



The success of the refuge-management ^stem depends upon (a) proper 

 selection of the refuge area in relation to sound wildlife- agricultural land 

 use, (b) cooperation of landowners and sportsmen with "more pheasants desired" 

 a universal attitude, and (c) a hard working, intelligent game protector and 

 refuge manager of the county agricultural-agent type, who can appeal to local 

 pride, who believes wholeheartedly in his v/ork, and who is irmrniue to inclement 

 weather, bribes, and discouragements. He must be able to solve difficult 

 local problems without guidance, to teach by demonstration and example, and 

 to make management suggestions so indirectly and in such a subtle way that 

 those who adopt them feel that the new practices are really their own ideas. 



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