MONTHLY WILDLIFE RESEARCH LETTER 
Department of Conservation and Natural History Survey, Cooperating 
Glen C. Sanderson and Helen C. Schultz, Editors 
Urbana, Illinois 
December, 1972 
Vol. 15, No. 12 
Pheasant Populations and Land Use G. 8 . Joselyn 
In 1972, pheasant hunting began at sunrise on opening day instead of at 
noon, as had been the practice in past years. One reason for changing to a 
sunrise opening was to provide additional hunting time on opening day. 
Since the sunrise opening constituted a significant change from past policy, 
hunters on the Sibley study area were interviewed during the opening weekend to 
determine their attitude toward the lengthened hunter-day. During the 2 days, 
123 hunters were interviewed. Fifty-four, selected at random, were asked their 
opinion of the sunrise opening. The rather interesting results of the random 
sampling are shown below. No hunters volunteered any comments on the early 
opening time. 
Number of Percent 
Hunters 
Did not like change 
Had to get up too early in order to arrive 
at hunting spot by dawn 10 
Got too tired by noon 5 
Subtotal 15 
Neutral on change 4 
Liked change 
No reason given 7 
Can hunt longer on opening day 28 
Subtotal 35 
54 
19 
9 
28 
7 
13 
52 
65 
100 
MTII.Hl L.'SImV mill 
MAR 6 197 
Total 
CO 
