Vol. 5, No. 4 
Page 2 
3. Extension of Pheasant Range J. A. Ellis, J. A. Harper, W. L. Anderson 
Winter mortality among "native" pheasants captured on the area during fall and 
winter, 1961-62 and wild-trapped Kansas pheasants released on the area in late 
December, 1961 does not appear to be abnormal when compared with the mortality 
reported among self-maintaining populations of pheasants (table 1). Mortality 
among game-farm birds, Japanese green and California pheasants, is comparable to 
that of "native" and wild Kansas birds even though the game-farm birds were not 
released until March, 1962. In addition to the 42 marked "native" pheasants found 
dead on the area, the remains of 35 unmarked "native" birds (5 cocks and 30 hens) 
also have been found. A thorough study is needed to clarify the various aspects 
of pheasant mortality in winter on the Neoga area and in areas with established 
pheasant populations. 
As of April 30, 107 individual cocks have been located on the Neoga area; in 
1961, 88 individual cocks were located during the entire breeding season. Thus, 
the 1962 population of breeding hens is presently undetermined but is probably 
equal to or greater than the 1961 population of 238 hens. 
Table 1.—Mortality among the various strains of pheasants on the Neoga area 
from their date of capture or release on the area to April 23, 1962. Numbers in 
parentheses are percentages. 
Kind or Origin 
of Pheasants 
Time of Capture 
or Release 
Number of Pheasants 
Marked 
Number of Marked Pheasants 
Recovered 
Cocks Hens 
Cocks Hens 
Native 
Fall and Winter, 
1961-62 
68 
89 
24 (35.3) 
18 (20.2) 
Kansas 
December, 1961 
40 
248 
6 (15.0) 
70 (28.2) 
Japanese green 
March, 1962 
32 
118 
11 (34.3) 
35 (29.7) 
California 
March, 1962 
none 
150 
none 
30 (20.0) 
Total 
140 
605 
41 (29.3) 
153 (25.3) 
4. Rabbit Management G. C. Sanderson, D. A. Casteel 
Lenses from approximately 1,400 rabbits bagged by hunters during the past 
hunting season were dried and weighed during April. These lenses were collected 
by conservation officers, biologists, and others interested in this project. 
Analysis of the data is not yet complete. 
The remaining live traps on both the Allerton Park and Hancock County study 
areas were picked up during April. Poor weather conditions prevented an earlier 
collection of these traps. Final "rabbit proofing" of the rabbit enclosure con¬ 
structed at Macomb by Western Illinois University was completed this month. The 
enclosure will be used for observing the mating behavior of cottontails. 
