Vol. 24, No. 8 
Page 3 
Considering all stems released on 3 areas, significantly more (P< 0.01) of 
the released stems were free-to-grow than the controls. When analyzed by 
species, only released mockernut had significantly more stems (X_ “ .9 » 
P < 0.05) free-to-grow than the controls. 
A single release cutting in clear-cuts <20 years old is unlikely to Improve 
significantly the canopy position for shagbark and pignut hickories. For 
mockernut hickory, however, a single release cutting may be sufficientto 
enable suppressed stems to grow into the canopy. Stems selected for crown 
release should have an upright terminal with no obvious defects, te found that 
stems with deformed or damaged terminals rarely responded to crown release. 
WUh crown release, about 75* of the stems were free-to-grow At this rate a 
density of 10-12 codominant hickories averaging 12 inches dbh per acre could be 
achieved by releasing about 16 hickories per acre beginning before age 20 and 
continuing as necessary until growth of released stems is deemed satisfactory. 
Responses of Prairie Chickens to Habitat M anipulat ion - W-66-R R.L. M 
Our nest search this summer revealed 27 prairie chicken nests on 3^ acres 
of sanctuary land in Jasper County and 10 nests on 117 acres of s ® n ““ a '’'* s . " 
Marion County. Percent nest success (excluding nests of unknown fate) was h g 
in both counties: 70.8 (17 hatched nests) and 70.0 (7 hatched nests, 
respectively. This was the highest nest success for Jasper County since 19 , 
but the number of nests found was the 2nd lowest in 13 years. No comparison 
could be made in Marlon County because this was the 1st year for extensive nest 
searches in the county. 
The nest study also found 21 pheasant nests. In addition, pheasants had 
Darasitized 5 of the 27 prairie chicken nests in Jasper County. This is the 
highest number of pheasant nests and cases of prairie chicken nest Parasitism 
ever recorded on the area in a single year. Many pheasant nests were 5*?^; tit 
not found because the pheasant selects nest sites in a broader range of habitat 
than the prairie chicken, and because most of the nest search was concentrated 
on areas of high prairie chicken usage. There were probably more pheasant en 
than chicken hens on the area (MWRL 2«6>:2-J). Thus, for the 1st time in 
Jasper County, pheasant reproduction may have been greater than that of the 
prairie chicken. 
Of the 21 pheasant nests found, 10 hatched, 8 were destroyed by predators, 
2 were abandoned, and the eggs from 1 nest were collected and sent to a game 
farm where they hatched. Excluding the col lected clutch, "«t success for 
pheasants was 50.0*. compared with 62.7* nest success for 75 pheasant nests 
of known fates from 1969-80. 
By using the number of hatched nests to predict the number of prairie 
chicken cocks the following spring in Jasper County (M.RL 23(1-)-3), 
estimated 02.4 + 15.0 cocks will be present on the booming grounds in the 
spring of 1902." However, with the increasing pheasant population, the spring 
cock count may deviate to the low side of our prediction for next spring. 
