Vol. 24, No. 4 
Page 3 
Only 3 cocks were seen on the traditional lek at Hoyleton on 14 February 1981, 
and none could be found in the area on 31 Harch (peak of booming season in 1901) 
or on 15 April. Seven male chickens were present at Hoyleton in 1930. An 
unusually high incidence of coyotes and disturbance by humans appeared to be 
compounding the problem of poor habitat at Hoyleton. 
Thus, both the Mt. Erie and Hoyleton prairie chickens are perilously close 
to extinction. By next spring, the wildlife resources of 2 more counties in the 
prairie state may be further impoverished by the loss of the prairie boomer. If 
one assumes a 50:50 sex ratio, Illinois has some 326 prairie chickens remaining-- 
97% of them on or near the sanctuaries. 
Ecology and Management of White-tailed Deer - W-G7“K C.^M. Nixon, 
L• P• HsnS6n y 
J. E. Chelsvig 
It is often desirable to know, but difficult to measure, the number of 
individuals in a wild animal population. To get an accurate count of the^deer 
in the Allerton Park area, a helicopter census was conducted 9 January 1931 while 
there was a 6-inch snow cover on the ground. The census covered approximately 
1,130 ha (2,800 acres) of nonagricultural land along the Sangamon River between 
Monti cello, Piatt County, and Hog Chute Bridge, 11.2 km (7 mi.) southwest of 
Monticello. Stands of coniferous trees were censused on foot immediately after 
an aerial search of the surrounding area. One other forested area was also 
censused on foot because fuel limitations precluded a census by helicopter. 
A total of 66 deer were seen from the air. As many as 14 deer were seen 
in 1 group and 1 single deer was seen, but typically the deer were found in 
groups of 3 to 4 individuals. Another 16 deer were counted during the foot 
censuses. The total of 82 deer makes a population density of 1 deer for every 
13.8 ha (34 acres) of nonfarm land. This population density in the Allerton 
Park area is believed to be large enough to sustain the population but not so 
large as to ravage the habitat. 
The deer population will be censused again by helicopter in winter 1982. 
Cooperative Waterfowl Research - W-88-R f. C. Bell rose, S. P. Havera, 
--- A> Perk | ns> h. K. Archer 
Habitat conditions and food resources for waterfowl in Illinois have changed 
appreciably since 1939 when waterfowl populations were first monitored along the 
Illinois River. Not only have most of the original wetlands in Illinois been 
drained, but those remaining are being degraded by sedimentation. Waste grains 
fed upon by waterfowl in harvested fields are being reduced by more efficient 
combines and fall plowing. However, the establishment of state and federal 
refuges and the creation of flood control-recreation and power plant cooling 
lakes have provided new waterfowl habitat. 
