Mrs. Doris Dodds, Librarian 
MONTHLY WILDLIFE RESEARCH LETTER 
NMORM. HISTORY SURVEY 
AUG 12 1970 
Department of Conservation and Natural History Survey, Cooperating^ 
Glen C. Sanderson and Helen C. Schultz, Editors 
Urbana, Illinois 
July, 1970 
Vol. 13, No. 7 
Pheasant Populations and Land Use 
S. L. Etter 
R. E. Greenberg 
Observations of tagged cocks (color coded by age-class) were examined for 
differences in reproductive success in relation to age. The observation period 
extended from April 15 to May 15* the peak period of breeding behavior. Since 
some cocks were not individually identified, repeat observations could not be 
excluded. Consequently, all observations, including known repeats, were 
included in the analyses. Data were analyzed for 1962-64, when sex ratios were 
similar (15-13 cocks per 100 hens). 
The average number of associated hens per cock was 1.4 for first-year cocks 
(119 observations); older cocks (87 observations) averaged 3*2 accompanying hens. 
Significantly greater numbers of hens were associated with older cocks (X^ * 78.8, 
P<0.0l). Presumably, the greater success of older cocks in attracting hens 
results from their ability to establish and maintain larger or higher-quality 
territories. 
Although the greater success of older cocks in attracting hens is an 
interesting aspect of reproductive behavior, any implication for management is 
not entirely clear at present. Perhaps greater breeding success of older cocks 
may have some genetic advantage, since older cocks have been exposed to 
selective pressure for a longer period of time than have young cocks. An 
earlier opening of the pheasant season might make it possible to selectively 
harvest juvenile cocks to a greater extent than at present because of differential 
vulnerability of juveniles to hunting. 
2. Manipulation of Pheasant Habitat G* B. Joselyn 
The question of increasing the hazard to motorists, from pheasants, beyond 
that which already exists is an important consideration in any program to 
manipulate roadside cover for nesting prairie birds. It is well known that 
pheasants frequently cross highways (and therefore constitute a traffic hazard), 
but little is known about the association of highway roadside cover with the 
incidence of pheasants crossing highways, l/e do not know what proportion of 
the pheasants crossing highways are associated with roadside cover, and what 
proportion are crossing between fields unassociated with roadside cover. 
In an attempt to answer this question, Illinois State Police in three 
districts (5, Joliet; 6, Pontiac; 10, Pesotum) recorded data on pheasants flying 
across, walking across, or standing on highways. May 8 through June 8. During 
this 32 -day period, a total of 2,724 pheasants were observed crossing or standing 
on highways (1,320 cocks; 1,172 hens; 232 of unknown sex). The greatest number 
of birds observed by State Police was in district 10 (1,406), followed by 
