File:California fish and game (20326452780).jpg

Title: California fish and game
Identifier: californiafishgabien19541956cali (find matches)
Year: [1] (s)
Authors: California. Dept. of Fish and Game; California. Fish and Game Commission; California. Division of Fish and Game
Subjects: Fisheries -- California; Game and game-birds -- California; Fishes -- California; Animal Population Groups; Pêches; Gibier; Poissons
Publisher: (San Francisco, etc. ) State of California, Resources Agency, Dept. of Fish and Game
Contributing Library: California Department of Fish and Game
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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The burglar sfealing these eggs during a nesting study of Sacramenfo Valley ducks is a spotted skunk, one of a number of predators who annually take a large toil of eggs. (Fish and Game Photo by Wm. Anderson) CHUKARS Chukar partridges, introduced in California in 1928, became well enough established in some of the arid regions of the State at the beginning of the biennium to permit the first open season in the fall of 1954. Results of hunter questionnaires in 1954 and 1955 revealed approximately 2,100 of the birds were taken in the first season and almost double that figure (4,000) in 1955. The birds provide excellent sport to those hunters hardy enough to pursue them. The rearing of chukars on game farms has been dis- continued, as it is far more economical to trap the necessary birds for brood stock from wild populations. During the period of this report, 1,369 chukars were trapped in Inyo County and transplanted in suitable habitat in Kern, Fresno and San Benito Counties. A chukar investigation was completed in 1956. This study was undertaken to determine the areas in which this recently, introduced game species had become es- tablished, to obtain information for management, and to learn whether a hunting season was advisable. There have been two brief hunting seasons to date and the 1956 season was set to be the same length as the quail season in the same areas. In cooperation with regional management personnel, 1,369 chukars were trapped on the Naval Ordnance Testing Station land in the Coso and Argus Moun- tains of Inyo County and transplanted into apparent chukar habitat where no chukars were known to exist. Reproduction has been successful at or near all of these areas. DOVES Doves continued to be a highly rated hunter target during the biennium, with both 1954 and 1955 pro- ducing near record bags. The second in importance among all game birds, doves were topped only by the combined take of all species of ducks. In spite of the seemingly heavy pressure, band re- turns provide a solid indication that hunters are not the dove's worst enemy. Bands indicate that hunters take only a token harvest. Department records show a return by hunters of only 3 percent of the bands placed on birds, compared to a state-wide average of 18 to 20 percent for waterfowl tags. The department undertook a study of doves in 1955 to determine the extent of California's dove range, production and survival of voung, migration and hunters' bag. This data is important in formulating management practices on any species.

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