Vol. 9 > No. 4 
Page 4 
From all indications, 42-^9 percent of the 1 96 3 prehunt population on the 
Forbes Area was harvested (Table ^) . In 1364, estimates of harvest varied from 
45 to 94 percent on Forbes. We believe, however, that approximately 50 percent 
of the prehunt population was removed by hunting. In I 965 , the most realistic 
estimate of harvest was 40 percent of the prehunt population on Forbes -- though 
estimates ranged from 49 to 74 percent. 
Estimates of percentage harvests on the Dale Area ranged from 59 to 80 percent 
for the 3 years (Table 4). Surprisingly, the most realistic harvest estimates for 
the 3 years on the Dale Area were consistently about 60 percent. 
Harvest levels for bobwhites from various areas throughout their range are 
not available in the literature. It is generally assumed by biologists that 40 
percent of the fall quail crop can be harvested without adversely affecting the 
welfare of the population. On the Dale and Forbes areas, harvest levels have 
equaled or exceeded 40 percent for all years (I 963 - 65 ). The removal of 50 percent 
of the prehunt population on Forbes in 1964 may have reduced the population below 
carrying capacity. 
The welfare of quail is, obviously, dependent upon the quality of available 
habitat. Many factors affect habitat conditions, causing them to vary from area 
to area. Therefore, the degree of harvest that quail populations will tolerate 
is also variable. Harvest management programs should be directly related to 
habitat conditions, i.e., geared to the harvest levels that would not endanger the 
welfare of the population. These conditional criteria have not been recognized in 
the management programs for Forbes and Dale. 
Table 4. Estimated percentage harvests of quail on the Forbes and Dale areas, 
1963-65. 
Basis of Estimate 
Area and 
Year 
Recorded 
Kill 
Prehunt Census 
vs. Kill 
Prehunt Census 
vs. Posthunt Census 
Posthunt Census 
♦ Kill vs. Kill 
Forbes 
1963 
170 
49 
42 
46 
1964 
253 
94 
45 
63 
1965 
100 
49 
74 
65 
Da 1 e 
1963 
175 
59 
69 
67 
1964 
230 
80 
59 
66 
1965 
126 
62 
70 
67 
5. Responses of Prairie Chickens to Habitat Manipulation R. L. Westemeier 
Land acquisition at Bogota for prairie chicken nesting sanctuaries has recently 
proceeded at an accelerated and encouraging rate. The generosity and hard work of 
many conservation-minded individuals have made it possible to purchase a total of 
434 acres in seven separate tracts for prairie chicken management (Table 5). 
