Vol. 22, No. 8 
Page 4 
Despite the highest pheasant population on record (about 25 crowing cocks) 
in the sanctuary area at Bogota and the continuous presence of pheasants in the 
immediate vicinity of the major booming grounds, there were no observed instances 
of conflict between prairie chickens and pheasants in the spring of 1979* A 
coyote was seen once and skunks were seen on 2 mornings on the main booming ground 
but no disturbance to the chickens was noted. As in past years, marsh hawks 
were the most common source of disruption on the booming grounds, but no kill or 
serious attack has ever been noted by harriers on prairie chickens in our 17 
years of intensive observations. Visitors caused minor disruptions on 3 mornings 
in 1979 by leaving the blinds too early due to storm conditions, cold, impatience 
or a combination of these factors. Close supervision of visitors remains essential. 
Ecology and Management of Deer C. M. Nixon, 
L. P. Hansen, 
J. E. Chelsvig 
Even though winter weather in Illinois is usually less severe than the 
weather deer experience in more northern states, the winter months are periods 
of stress for the Illinois deer herd. Once the crops are harvested and leaf 
fall occurs, large areas of the state offer deer no protection from weather or 
harassment. The absence of woody cover limits the distribution of deer through¬ 
out much of Illinois, but particularly in the central, east-central, and northern 
counties. 
In these counties, it was noticed as long as 30 years ago that deer tended 
to concentrate in localized habitats in winter. In the Rock River Watershed, for 
example, deer moved 10 miles or more to areas along the river in late fall and 
remained until late March or April when they dispersed back to their summer 
range. We have noticed a similar concentration of deer along the upper Sangamon 
River the past several years. If such concentrations of deer are commonly found 
each winter throughout central and northern Illinois, and if the same areas are 
used each winter, then the identification and descriptions of these areas would 
be of great value in future management of the Illinois deer herd. 
In the coming months, we will be asking all those persons thought to be 
qualified to supply information regarding winter deer concentrations in 
selected counties. 
