A two year study of pheasant stocking in the Gallatin Valley, Montana
by Edwin F Roby
A THESIS Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree
of Master of Science in Wildlife Management
Montana State University
© Copyright by Edwin F Roby (1950)
Abstract:
A carefully planned small scale study was conducted in Gallatin County, Montana to secure survival
data on game farm pheasants. The, area selected for the study is an agricultural area northwest of
Bozeman. Land use practices and natural topography make the area. well suited for pheasants. Five
hundred and fourteen 10 week old birds were used in the experiment. In 1948, 96 birds were released.
In 1949, 375 birds were released. Approximately one-half of each-release group was released by the
gentle method and one-half by the violent method. Four release sites were used. All birds were marked
and banded to permit field observations and identification of birds killed by hunters. In 1948 band
returns were voluntary but in 1949 checking stations were also used to collect necessary information.
During the winter of 1950 trapping operations were carried on to collect further data.
Dispersal from release sites suggested that the gentle release birds dispersed at a slower rate than the
violents. In 1948; 11 bands (,12.8 per cent of the total cocks released) were returned by hunters.
In 1949; 42 banded birds (14.5 per cent of the total cocks released) .were killed by hunters or trapped
during the winter. These figures suggest that returns from both years were about the same. Data
obtained were compared with those, obtained in other states. In 1949 band returns were analysed on the
basis of method and place of release. No marked difference in survival was found for the two release
methods. Little information was obtained, when survival and habitat were compared. Checking station
data showed that only per cent of the hunter kill were game farm pheasants. Sixty-seven per cent of the
birds taken were wild birds of the year. The movement of 48 banded birds taken by hunters and
trapping showed that 41.7 per cent moved less than one mile, SO per cent moved from one to three
miles, 2.1 per cent moved from four to five miles, and 6.2 per cent moved from nine to fourteen miles.
Data indicate that more gentle release birds settled within one mile of release sites than did violents.
More violents moved from one to three miles than gentles, and violents were in majority in movements
from four to fourteen miles. A TWO TEAR STUDY OF PHEASANT STOCKING
IN THE GALLATIN VALLEY, MONTANA
by
EDWIN P . ROBY
it
A THESIS
S ubm itted t o th e Graduate F a c u lty
in
p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t o f th e req uirem ents
f o r th e d eg ree o f
M aster o f S c ie n c e i n W ild lif e Management
at
Montana S t a t e C o lle g e
Approved:
iartment
Ddhn, Graduate D iv is io n
Bozeman, Montana
A ugust, 195,0
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
................................................................................................................
3
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................
It
THE STUDY A R E A .........................................
£
ABSTRACT
METHODS
...........................................................................................................................
Iit
RESULTS
................................................................
18
D is p e r s a l From R e le a se S i t e s
...............................................................
Band R e t u r n s ................................. ....
A r t i f i c i a l S to c k in g
..........................................
21
v s N atural R ep rod uction .............................
27
........................................
30
Movements From R elea se S i t e s
SUMMARY
. .
18
. . . . .
..........................................................................
LITERATURE C I T E D .............................................................................................
95119
33
3$
O
3
ABSTRACT
A c a r e f u l ly planned s m a ll s c a le stu d y was conducted i n G a lla t in
C ounty, Montana t o secu re s u r v iv a l d a ta on game farm p h e a s a n ts . The
a rea s e le c t e d f o r th e stu d y i s an a g r i c u lt u r a l a r e a n orth w est o f
Bozeman. Land u se p r a c t ic e s and n a tu r a l topography make th e a rea •
w e l l s u it e d f o r p h e a sa n ts. F iv e hundred and fo u r te e n 10 week old
b ir d s were u sed i n t h e experim ent. In 19 U8 , 96 b ir d s were r e le a s e d .
I n 19^9, ",375 b ir d s were r e le a s e d . ...Approxim ately o n e -h a lf o f eachr e l e a s e group was r e le a s e d b y , th e g e n t le method and o n e - h a lf by th e
v i o l e n t method. Four r e l e a s e s i t e s w ere u sed . A ll b ir d s w ere marked
and banded t o p erm it f i e l d o b s e r v a tio n s and i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f b ir d s
k i l l e d b y h u n te r s . In 191*8 band retu rn s w ere v o lu n ta r y but i n 191*9
ch eck in g s t a t i o n s were a ls o u sed t o c o l l e c t n e c e ssa r y in fo r m a tio n ,
l u r i n g th e w in t e r o f 1950 tr a p p in g o p e r a tio n s were c a r r ie d on t o
c o l l e c t f u r t h e r d a ta .
D is p e r s a l from r e le a s e s i t e s s u g g e s te d th a t th e g e n tle r e le a s e
b ir d s d is p e r s e d a t a slo w e r r a t e than th e v i o l e n t s .
In 191*8 , 11 bands
(,1 2 .8 p er cen t o f th e t o t a l cocks r e le a s e d ) were retu rn ed b y hunters..
In 191*9, . 1*2 banded b ir d s (ll* .5 p er c.eiit o f .th e t o t a l cocks r e le a s e d )
,were k i l l e d b y .h u n te r s or trap p ed during th e w in te r . These f ig u r e s
s u g g e st t h a t r e tu r n s from b o th y e a r s w ere about th e same. D ata
obtained.w ere compared withthbs-e. o b ta in ed in o th e r s t a t e s .
I n 191*9 ,
band r e tu r n s w ere a n a ly se d on th e b a s is o f method and p la c e o f r e le a s e .
Uo marked d if f e r e n c e i n s u r v iv a l was found f o r th e two r e le a s e m ethods.
L i t t l e i n f o im a tio n was o b ta in ed , when s u r v iv a l and h a b it a t w ere compared.
C hecking s t a t i o n d a ta showed t h a t o n ly I*.5 p er cen t o f th e h u n ter k i l l
w ere game farm p h e a sa n ts. S ix t y —sev en p e r cen t o f th e b ir d s ta k en were
w ild b ir d s o f th e y e a r . The movement o f 1*8 banded b ir d s ta k e n by
h u n te rs and tr a p p in g showed t h a t 1*1 .7 p er c e n t moved l e s s th an one m ile ,
50 p e r cen t moved from one t o th r e e m ile's, 2 .1 p er c e n t moved from fo u r
t o f i v e m i l e s , and 6 .2 p er c e n t moved from n in e t o f o u r te e n m ile s . D ata
in d ic a t e th a t more, g e n t le r e l e a s e b ir d s s e t t l e d w ith in .o n e m ile o f
r e l e a s e s i t e s th a n d id v i o l e n t s . More v i o l e n t s moved from one to
th r e e m ile s th a n g e n t l e s , and v i o l e n t s w ere i n m a jo r ity in movements
from fo u r t o fo u r te e n m ile s .
.
k
IR TR C fflU C TIO N
The annual s t o c k in g o f game farm p h ea sa n ts has lo n g b een
p r a c tic e d in Montana.
F in d in g s in o th e r s t a t e s ( G e r s t e ll 1 9 3 6 , Buss
19l±.6, Ginn 19^7, Pushes 19U8, McNamara 19U9) c a s t c o n s id e r a b le doubt
on th e a d v i s a b i l i t y o f t h i s p r a c t ic e when th e r e s u lt s a r e a n a ly se d on
th e b a s is o f " retu rn s" in t h e h u n te r 's b ag.
A d e t a ile d sm a ll s c a le
stu d y was con d u cted i n G a lla t in County t o secu re s u r v iv a l d a ta on
game farm p h ea sa n ts r e le a s e d in th a t a r e a .
These d a ta a r e ev a lu a te d
on th e b a s is o f methods o f r e l e a s e , h a b it a t where r e le a s e d , and th e
r e l a t i v e im portance o f " retu rn s" i n th e h u n te r 's bag when compared w ith
b ir d s produced n a t u r a lly i n th e f i e l d .
I t i s im p r a c t ic a l t o l i s t a l l who a id e d i n th e stu d y but th e
w r it e r w ish es t o ex ten d h i s a p p r e c ia tio n t o th e fo llo w in g s
Don C. Quimby f o r a d v ice and guidance d u rin g th e f i e l d work and
O
p r e p a r a tio n o f th e m an u scrip t; C lif f o r d V= D a v is f o r s u g g e s t in g th e
problem and a id on many o c c a s io n s ; th e Montana S ta te F is h and Game
Department f o r f i n a n c i a l a s s i s t a n c e , m a t e r ia ls , and th e a d v ic e o f
t h e i r t e c h n i c a l s t a f f , e s p e c i a l l y W. K. Thompson and W. H. B erg eson;
my f a t h e r , George W. Roby, f o r h e lp in g w ith th e c o n s tr u c tio n o f re­
le a s e p en s; ¥ . D. B ra n d t, H. S. H ecox, A rthur B u ck ley, and H. B. Manley
f o r p e r m ittin g me t o conduct in v e s t ig a t i o n s on t h e i r p r o p e r ty .
THE STUDY AREA
The area s e le c t e d f o r th e stu d y i s an a g r ic u lt u r a l area n o rth ­
w est o f Bozeman i n th e G a lla t in v a l l e y (Fig= l)=
G eneral la n d use
p r a c t ic e s and th e n a tu r a l topography make th e area w e l l s u it e d fo r
pheasants=
Much o f th e la n d i s u sed f o r t h e p ro d u ctio n o f c e r e a l
g r a in s p r o v id in g a fo o d su p p ly ( s e e H ia tt 19U7)»
E x c e lle n t c o v e r ,
w e l l in te r s p e r s e d w ith g r a in f i e l d s , i s found along th e banks o f
th e many strea m s, r o a d s id e s and numerous s m a ll swampy areas=
W illow '
( S a l i x SjD=) , ch ok ech erry ( Prunus. m elan ocarp a) , r o se ( Rosa f e n d l e r i ) ,
c a t - t a i l ( Typiha l a t i f o l i a ) , and hawthorn (C rataegu s s p . ) a re found
alon g r o a d s id e s and stream banks.
The many fe n c e rows c o n ta in
Canadian t h i s t l e (D irsium a r v e n s e ) , g o o seb erry (R ibes sjd= ) , r o se
(Rosa f e n d l e r i ) , and t a l l g ra sses=
I n some o f th e more open a r e a s
much sw eet c lo v e r and a l f a l f a are found=
Four r e le a s e s i t e s w ere s e le c t e d as f o l l o w s : r e le a s e s i t e I i s
i n an abandoned farm yard and p a s tu r e , 200 b y 800 f e e t , lo c a t e d i n th e
n o r th e a s t co rn er o f th e stu d y a rea about 5=75 m ile s n o rth w est o f s i t e
2 , 3 m ile s n o r th e a s t o f s i t e 3
I)=
and 3 m ile s e a s t o f s i t e U ( s e e Fig=
The v e g e t a t io n in c lu d e s quack g r a s s ( Agropyron r e p e n s ) , b lu e g r a ss
(Poa j o r a te n s is ) , n e e d le and th rea d (S t ip a comataj., w e ste r n ,w h e a tg r a ss.
(Agropyron s m i t h i i ) , wavy le a v e d t h i s t l e (C irsium undulatum ) , yarrow
(A c h i l l e a ,m ille f o liu m )., and fanweed (.T h lasp i a r v e n se )=
In t h e farm
yard i t s e l f and around th e b u ild in g s th e r e are cottonw ood ( Populus
a n g u s t i f o l i a ) , ap p le (MaIus sp = ) , r o s e (Rosa f e n d l e r i ) , lo c o
7
( Q xytrop is la m b e r t i i) , and w ild l i c o r i c e ( G ly cy rrh iza l e p i d o t a ) .
V e g e ta tio n a l t y p e s , i r r i g a t i o n d it c h e s and o th e r g e n e r a l f e a t u r e s o f
th e imm ediate v i c i n i t y a re shown i n F ig s . 2 and 3.
H e lea se s i t e 2 i s i n a p a stu re 3»75 m ile s s o u th e a s t o f s i t e I ,
3 m ile s e a s t o f s i t e 3 and 7«5 m ile s s o u th e a s t o f s i t e U-
The
v e g e t a t io n in c lu d e s w illo w ( S a lix s £ . ) , Canadian, t h i s t l e (C.irsium
■a r v e n s e ) , r o se (Rosa f e n d l e r i ) , y a r r o w .(A c h ille a m ille f o liu m ) ,
asp en (Populus tr e m u lo id e s ) , chokecherry ( Prunus m elanocarpa) »
snowberry ( Sym phoricarpos o c c i d e n t a l is m, downy c h e ss (Bromus
te e to r u m ) , m ountain brome ( Bromus m a rg in a tu s) , tim oth y ( Phleum
p r a te n s e ) , w e s te r n w h eatgrass (Agrbpyron s m i t h i i ) and Poa sp . (F ig s .
U and 5 ) .
R e le a se s i t e 3 i s a l s o i n a p a stu r e s it u a t e d 3 m ile s so u th o f
s i t e I , 3 m ile s w e st o f s i t e 2 and U . 2 m ile s s o u th e a s t o f s i t e UThe area c o n ta in s th e f o llo w in g p la n t s ; Canadian t h i s t l e (C irsiu m
a r v e n s e ) , yarrow (A c h ille a m ille f o liu m ) , sw eet c lo v e r (M e lilo tu s
■a lb a ) , i r i s ( I r i s m is s o u r ie n s is ) , b lu e g r a s s (Boa p r a t e n s is ) , w estern
w h ea tg ra ss (Agropyron s m i t h i i ) , downy c h e s s (Bromus te e to r u m ) , snowb erry (Sym phoricarpos o c c id e n ta lis m .,..w illo w (S a lix s p . ) , cottonw ood
(Populus a n g u s t i f o l i a ) , r o s e . ( Rosa...f e n d l e r i ) and p o iso n hem lock
( Goniuai/macuiatum) ( F ig s . 6 and 7 )R e le a se s i t e U i s 3 m ile s w est o f s i t e I , 7 .5 m ile s sou th w est
o f S i t e 2 and U -2 m ile s n orth o f s i t e 3 .
The v e g e t a t io n i n th e area
in c lu d e s c a t - t a i l ( Typha l a t l f o l i a ) , sed g e (Carex s £ . ) , p o iso n
8
9
F ig . 3.
R e le a se s i t e I show ing th e g e n t le r e le a s e p en .
10
LEGEND
F IG .4. MAP OF IMMEDIATE AREA SURROUNDING PHEASANT
F ig . $ .
R e le a s e s i t e
2 showing th e g e n tle r e le a s e pen
12
7.
R e l e a s e s i t e 3 showing t h e g e n t l e r e l e a s e o e n .
hemlock (Conium m aculatum ) , r o se ( Rosa f e n d l e r i ) , t h i s t l e s (Cirsim n
a r v e n s e ) and (C irsium uhdulatum j , w illo w ( S a l i x sjj. j , cottonw ood
(Populus a n g u s t i f o l i a ) , snowberry ( Sym phoricarpos o c c i d e n t a l i s j ,
go o seb erry ( R ibes seto su m ) , orchard g r a ss (B a c t y lis g lo m e r a ta ) „
tim o th y (Phleum p r a t e n s e ) and f o x t a i l (Hordeum jubatum) ( F ig s . 8
and 9 )»
A r e l e a s e pen $0 by 2g by U f e e t s im ila r t o th o se d e s c r ib e d
b y K o z lik (19U8) was c o n str u c te d a t each r e le a s e s i t e .
The s id e s
c o n s is t e d o f 2 in ch mesh w ire? t h e to p o f cam ouflage n e t t in g which
p rovid ed sh ad e.
For p r o t e c t io n a g a in s t p r e d a to r s , an a d d it io n a l
s t r i p o f I in c h mesh w ire was p la c e d around th e bottom to a h e ig h t
o f about 18 in c h e s .
A s in g le e l e c t r i c a l l y charged w ir e was a ls o
p la c e d a t t h i s h e ig h t on two o f th e p e n s.
A s h e lt e r was con­
s tr u c te d in each t o p ro v id e p r o t e c t io n from in clem en t weather*
METHODS
F iv e hundred and fo u r te e n 10 week o ld b ir d s were u sed i n th e
exp erim en t.
On August 1 6 , 19^8, 96 b ir d s w ere r e le a s e d a t r e ­
le a s e s i t e I? 1|5 <^<f by v i o l e n t r e le a s e method (no p r e - r e le a s e
tr e a tm e n t) and M l & S' and 10 £ $
19U 8).
by th e g e n t le r e le a s e method ( K ozlik
In t h i s method th e p h ea sa n ts w ere c o n fin e d i n r e l e a s e pens
f o r two w eeks where t h e y were fe d and w a tered r e g u la r ly .
Then th e
s id e s o f th e pen were e le v a t e d t o ,a l l o w th e p h ea sa n ts to e s c a p e
g r a d u a lly in t o th e w ild .
b u t o n ly 375 (289
^
In 19U9, h l 8 b ir d s were u sed i n th e stud y
) were a c t u a lly r e le a s e d in t o th e w ild .
F o rty -
15
16
F i g . 9.
R e l e a s e s i t e it showing t h e g e n t l e r e l e a s e p e n .
17
th r e e d ie d d u rin g th e 2 week confinem ent in th e r e le a s e p en s.
T his
heavy l o s s was th o u g h t t o be due t o th e poor c o n d itio n o f t h e b ir d s
when r e c e iv e d r a th e r th a n t o a ry c o n d it io n a s s o c ia t e d w ith c o n fin e ­
m ent.
No l o s s e s occu rred in th e r e le a s e pen i n I 9U8 when th e b ir d s
r e c e iv e d w ere i n much b e t t e r c o n d itio n .
The b ir d s were r e le a s e d August 29 a s f o l l o w s t
5 5 <?cf 5 # 9
v i o l e n t r e l e a s e , 32
le a s e s i t e 2 , 55cT<5' 5 ?+
IJ4.
R e le a s e s i t e I ,
g e n t le r e le a s e ;
v io l e n t r e l e a s e , 28 cftT 16
g e n t le re­
le a s e ; R e le a s e s i t e 3» 39<5\f Q ? £ v i o l e n t r e le a s e , Iy^ cT
g e n t le r e le a s e ; R e le a se s i t e k,
16 ? 9
g e n t le r e l e a s e .
Re­
18 ? ?
h ?? v io l e n t r e l e a s e , 17<$"<?
The f ig u r e s f o r v i o l e n t r e le a s e in c lu d e 20
b ir d s th a t esca p ed p rem atu rely from th e r e l e a s e p en s.
Four m ethods w ere u sed to d eterm in e s u r v iv a l and movement;
o b s e r v a tio n s , h u n ter ch eck in g s t a t i o n s , tr a p p in g , and e v a lu a t io n
o f band r e p o r ts v o lu n t a r il y retu rn ed by h u n te r s.
A ll b ir d s w ere marked and banded p r e v io u s to r e l e a s e .
I n I 9 I48
k o r o s e a l ta g s 2 by 3 in c h e s were a tta c h e d t o th e back o f th e b ir d s '
n eck s by means o f a s i l v e r p la t e d s a f e t y p in in s e r t e d through about
i in c h o f s k in , (Taber 19ii9) .
Red t a g s were u sed on th o s e r e le a s e d
b y th e g e n t le m ethod, y e llo w on the o t h e r s .
I n 19h? th e b ir d s were
marked b y p a in t in g th e back o f th e head and neck w ith enam el.
Eight-
c o lo r s ,' r e d , y e llo w , c i t r o n g ree n , o ra n g e, o r c h id , dark b lu e , l i g h t
b lu e , and dark g reen w ere u sed t o i d e n t i f y th e b ir d s a cco rd in g t o
method and s i t e o f r e l e a s e .
A month experim ent w ith 27 c a p t iv e b ird s
18
in d ic a te d th e s u p e r io r it y o f th e s e enam els f o r permanency and v isi-?
b i l i t y a s compared t o Rhodamine B e x tr a , w h ite s id e - w a ll p a in t ,
m e t a ll ic alluminum p a in t , and y e llo w sh eep marking p a in t .
D a ily
o b s e r v a tio n i n th e r e le a s e a rea s were made f o r 31 days in 19k9 and
lit days in 19U8 f o llo w in g r e l e a s e s .
The c o o p e r a tio n o f lan d owners
i n th e im m ediate v i c i n i t y was s o l i c i t e d and prepared form s w ere
s u p p lie d f o r re c o r d in g o b s e r v a tio n s .
F iv e h u n te r ch eck ing s t a t io n s w ere s e t up a t v a r io u s s t r a t e g ic
p o in t s in th e v a l l e y and o p era ted on week ends fo r a t o t a l o f 3 days
each d u rin g th e hunting s e a so n (O ct. 30 t o Nov. 13 , 6l days a f t e r
r e l e a s e ) i n 19h9<>
The s t a t i o n s were lo c a t e d so a s .t o in t e r c e p t th e
m a jo r ity o f h u n ters from th e area ( F ig . I ) .
The k i l l o f a l l hu nters
ch eck in g th ro u g h th e s t a t io n s ' was exam ined.
No ch eck ing s t a t io n s
w ere op era ted during t h e 19U8 h u n tin g se a so n (O ct. 31 t o Nov. 11 ,
7? days a f t e r r e l e a s e ) .
D uring th e w in te r o f 1 9 5 0 , 3Ul tr a p days (one tr a p one day)
w ere com pleted b etw een January lU and March 16.
o f t h e ty p e d e s c r ib e d b y Kutz (1 9 ^ 5 ).
The tr a p s u sed were
They were p la c e d i n a r e a s o f
p h easan t c o n c e n tr a tio n s and f r e q u e n t ly moved (F ig . I ) .
Wheat and
m ixed g r a in s were u sed .fo r b a i t .
RESULTS
D is p e r s a l From R e le a s e S i t e s
S e v e r a l b ir d s were s e e n in th e v i c i n i t y o f th e r e le a s e p en i n
I 9 I4.8 fo llo w in g r e le a s e but to o few d a ta w ere record ed f o r
19
q u a n t it a t iv e a n a ly s is .
In 19U9 o b s e r v a tio n s were i n t e n s i f i e d to
determ ine t h e r a te o f d is p e r s a l o f th e ,p h e a s a n ts r e le a s e d by th e two
m ethods.
E ig h t hundred and t h i r t y o b s e r v a tio n s o f marked b ir d s seen
i n th e v i c i n i t y o f th e r e le a s e s i t e s w ere recorded as s ig h t rec o rd s.
R e p r e s e n ta tiv e s o f each o f th e 8 g r o u p s .o f marked b ir d s w ere e a s i l y
d is t in g u is h e d through th e 2 1 s t day.
From th e 22nd to th e 32nd day
some d i f f i c u l t y was en cou n tered irl d is t in g u is h in g th e b ir d s marked
w ith th e red and y e llo w .
v a lu e .
A f t e r 31 d ays, a l l markings w ere o f lim it e d
The average number o f b ir d s from each r e le a s e , seen d a i l y f o r
each o f t h e f i v e w eeks (o n ly th e f i r s t 3 days o f th e ^th w eek)
fo llo w in g r e l e a s e are e x p r e sse d a s th e p e r c e n t o f th e t o t a l number
r e le a s e d by each method i n F ig . 1 0 .
The f i r s t week a f t e r r e le a s e
th e r e was an average o f 13»6 p er ce n t o f th e v io l e n t and 20 .3 p er
c e n t o f th e g e n t ly r e le a s e d b ir d s o b serv ed i n th e a rea s d a ily .
th e rem aining weeks th e p erce n ta g e s w ere a s f o ll o w s i
For
seco n d , 5»7 per
ce n t v i o l e n t , 7 .7 p er cen t g e n t le ; t h ir d , 6. 1t per c e n t v i o l e n t , 5 .2
p e r ce n t g e n t le ; f o u r t h , '3 p e r c e n t v i o l e n t , .9 p er ce n t g e n t le ;
f i f t h , 2 p er ce n t v i o l e n t and .6 per c e n t g e n t le .
For th e g e n t le r e l e a s e b ir d s , th e d a ta d e f i n i t e l y in d ic a t e a
grad u al d is p e r s a l from th e r e le a s e s i t e .
The same tren d i s su g g este d
f o r th e v io l e n t r e le a s e b ir d s . ,The d a ta a r e not r e a d ily in te r p r e te d
s o f a r a s comparing t h e d is p e r s a l r a t e s o f t h e .two. groups a r e ...con?..
cern ed .
D uring th e f i r s t two weeks when about 73 p er ce n t o f th e
s ig h t r e c o r d s were r ec o rd ed , g e n t le r e le a s e b ir d s were se e n more
.
20
TT
5 12
£ io
FIRST
WEEK
I RELEASED
D
I
I
THIRD
FOURTH
FIFTH
WEEK
WEEK
WEEK
BY VIOLENT METHOD (217 PHEASANTS)
RELEASED BY GENTLE METHOD ( ISB PHEASANTS J
FIG. 10. HISTOGRAM SHOWING THE AVERAGE NUMBER (E X PR ESSED AS %
OF TOTAL R ELEASED ) OF MARKED PHEASANTS SEEN A LIV E DAILY
IN THE VICINITY OF RELEASE SITES IN T 9 4 9
■
21
o f t e n i n th e v i c i n i t y o f th e r e le a s e s i t e s .
During th e l a s t 3 w eeks,
when o n ly 27 p er cen t o f s ig h t re c o r d s 'were recorded^ t h e o p p o site
was t r u e .
The f a c t t h a t most o f th e s ig h t reco rd s w ere record ed
d u rin g th e f i r s t two week's w ould seem in g ly make th a t p e r io d most
im p ortan t f o r in t e r p r e t in g d is p e r s a l r a t e s f o r th e two gro u p s.
F u rth erao r e , i t w ould seem th a t some o f th e b ir d s from each group
w ould s e t t l e in th e r e l e a s e a rea .
i n th e s ig h t r e c o r d s.
Tf s o , th e y co u ld be rep re se n ted
A lthough th e d a ta a v a ila b le are n o t to o con­
c l u s i v e , t h e y su g g e st a slo w er d is p e r s a l r a t e f o r th e g e n t le r e le a s e
b ir d s .
A l a t e r s e c t io n on movements su p p o rts t h i s c o n c lu s io n .
Band R eturns
R eturn o f bands from b ir d s tak en d u rin g th e 191*8 h u n tin g season
was on a v o lu n ta r y b a s is but l o c a l p u b l i c i t y was g iv e n th e p r o j e c t .
Only cock s w ere k i l l e d .
There were 11 bands retu rn ed or 1 2 .8 per
c e n t o f th e t o t a l cock p h easan t r e le a s e .-
T h is t o t a l r etu rn c o n s is te d
o f 6 (1 3 .3 p er cen t o f v io l e n t r e le a s e c o c k s ) and £ ( 1 2 .2 p er cen t o f
g e n tle r e le a s e c o c k s } (T able I ) .
highw ay.
One fem ale was found dead on a
One cock ( 1 .2 p er cen t o f t h e t o t a l cock r e l e a s e ) was
retu rn ed du rin g t h e 191*9 h u n tin g se a so n .
In I 9 I4.9 when ch eck in g s t a t i o n s w ere u sed on week ends and
tra p p in g was conducted d u rin g th e w in te r , bands from 1*2 co ck s (ll* .3
p er c e n t o f t o t a l cock r e l e a s e ) were retu rn ed .
v io l e n t and 11 were g e n t le r e le a s e b ir d s .
T h irty -o n e w ere
These v i o l e n t s rep re se n ted
1 5 .9 p er ce n t o f th e v i o l e n t cock r e le a s e and th e g e n t le s w ere 1 1 .7
'
Table I
Number o f " P h easants R eleased, and* t h e Number o f Band R eturns from Each R e le a s e S i t e
Year
W
19U9
R e le a se
Pen
No.
R elea sed
Band R eturns
19U8
Hbw
Taken.
6«3y, 1 ?
6 ^cf h u n ter
I?
dead on
highway
V io le n t
'I
I
.
Il
III.
H
G en tle
IadTif3 1 0 ? ?
V io le n t
£??
G en tle
32 <&r, iU ? ?
V io le n t
5?$
G en tle
28< #\ l6 f?
V io le n t
8??
39
G en tle
17«fcf , 18 ? ? .
V io le n t
b6<ar.
G en tle
k??
16??
Band R eturns
_19lt9
HowTaken
Icf
h u n ter
5 ^ . . h u n ter^ .
I b d rCfv
2<fcf
Iff
6 jlf
' 7cfcT
I?
9 ^ (f
10 h u n ter
6 dead '
2
3
U
2
2
3
h u n ter
h u n ter
trap p ed
h u n ter
trap p ed
dead
6 h u n ter
k h u n ter
3 <fbf dead
I. ? . dead
8 h u n ter
I dead
I h u n ter
..I dead
23
per c e n t o f th e 't o t a l- 'g e n t le r e l e a s e .
By d isr e g a r d in g t h e tra p p in g
d ata a-com p arison w ith th e 19U8 f ig u r e s can be made.
T h ir t y - s ix
cock s ( 1 2 .5 p er c e n t o f t o t a l ,cock r e l e a s e ) were tak en b y h u n te r s.
Tvyenty-se y e n were v i o l e n t and 9 ,were g e n t le r e le a s e b ir d s rep re?
s e n tin g 1 3 .8 p er cen t and 9 .6 p er cen t o f th e t o t a l r e l e a s e s resp ec­
tiv e ly .
These f ig u r e s do not , d i f f e r g r e a t l y from th e I 9 I4.8 fig u res-
s u g g e s tin g th a t s u r v iv a l was - about th e same.
The d ata fu r th e r
su g g est^ th a t th e v o lu n ta ry r e tu r n of- bands i n I 9I48 was about as
e f f e c t i v e , a s th e u se o f ch eck in g " sta tio n s i n I 9 I4.9 .
Of this 8? cock s r e le a s e d a t s i t e i _ i n . 19.1+9s 12 (1 3 .8 . p e r c e n t)
w ere retu rn ed by h u n te r s.
E lev en ( 1 3 .2 p er c e n t ) o f th e o r i g i n a l 83
f r o n r s it e ' 2; 10 (1 7 .9 p er c e n t ) o f $6 from s i t e 3 and 9 (11+.3 p er
c e n t ) o f th e 63 r e le a s e d from s i t e .-I+ w ere retu rn ed by h u n te rs or
trap p ed during th e, w in te r (T ab le I ) .
T w elve, I hen and 11 cock s, ( 3 .8 p er c e n t o f th e t o t a l co ck
r e le a s e ) , w ere found dead from th e tim e o f r e le a s e t o th e end o f th e
h u n tin g s e a s o n .'
For th e two y e a r s th e p er cen t band r e tu r n (h u n ters and
tr a p p in g ) from r e le a s e d cock s was 11+. 1+ p er c e n t.
A com parison o f
th e s e r e s u l t s w ith some o th e r s o b ta in ed i n o th e r s t a t e s a re g iv e n
i n T able I I .
A lthough th e d a ta are n ot e n t i r e l y comparable due to
d if f e r e n c e s i n m ethod, tim e and p la c e o f r e l e a s e as w e l l a s d i f ­
fe r e n c e s in age c l a s s e s i t i s apparent t h a t th e low r a t e o f r e tu r n
f o r th e p r e se n t stu d y i s not in c o n s is t e n t w ith r e s u lt s o b ta in e d
Table I I
A Comparison o f Band R eturns from A r t i f i c i a l l y S tocked P h easan ts i n V arious S t a t e s
A uthor and
d a te o f
P u b lic a tio n
G e r s te ll5
1938
B u ss5
S ta te
Penn.
W ise.
19U6
8 weeks
8 weeks
I n t e r v a l betw een
. R e le a s e and
-H u n tin g.S eason
6 w eeks
tr " B
S pr. . r e le a s e
35 t o HO days
R elea sed during
h u n tin g s e a s o n
R elea sed f a l l
t o summer
Rate summer
J u ly 1 3 -Aug= 28
6-2U wks
6 -2 0 wks
=
"Summer-Fall
B
1»
=
-Number
-Released.
1 ,9 8 3
2 ,9 8 6
1 2 ,8 8 1
1 ,2 4 9 7
'1 ,0 2 7
Age at
R elea se
Mature
«
it- 1 6 wks
'■***
I 5 210 '8-12 wks
Ginn5
"Ind..
19U7
P u sh ee5
19U8
Mass.
McNamara5
19U9
P re se n t
Study
T o ta l
New
J e r se y
Mont.
3 ,2 0 9
4 ,2 0 3
6,363
■ 9 ,1 2 7
2,932
14,072
1 7 ,8 2 7
2 3 ,3 2 4 ,
1 6 ,2 1 9
86 12 weeks
.. 289 12 weeks
—
-
P er cen t R eturn '
1 s t yr& 2nd y r . T o ta l
Comments
V ltr y . Band R tn s.
1 9 .1
.9
B
B H
2 4 .2
B
B M
3 .9
B
B B
1 1 .0
B
M
M
4 1 .0
3 4 .0
C hecking h u nters
9 .7
6 .4
.2
Cz,
.1
.3
.3
=
=
.
J u ly 15-D ec. 10
1 0 .8
8 weeks
it
»
1 2 .8
.1 4 .2
V lt r y . ' Band R tns.
B
M
B
Hunter Check
P o s ta l Card
Survey
.2
Below 10
0 .0 1
CteckLng S t a t io n s
and V ltry= R tn s.
1 .2
VItry= Band Rtns=
Tf-|gging
Checking S ta tio n s
T o ta l
372
14 . 4 '
25
e lse w h e r e .
The r e s u l t s o b v io u s ly in d ic a t e a low r e tu r n from a r t i ­
f i c i a l l y s to c k e d p h e a sa n ts.
This f a c t need not be d is c u s s e d h ere
a s i t h as b een a d e q u a te ly co v ered by o th e r a u th o rs.
The d a ta in d ic a t e no marked d if f e r e n c e s in th e s u r v iv a l r a t e s
o f p h ea sa n ts r e le a s e d b y th e two m ethods.
F or b oth y e a r s a h ig h er
p ercen ta g e o f v io l e n t r e l e a s e b ir d s were reco v ered th an g e n t le re­
le a s e b ir d s ( s e e ab ove) but no p a r t ic u la r s ig n if ic a n c e can be
a tta c h e d t o th e sm a ll d if f e r e n c e s b eca u se o f th e sm a ll number o f
Tpf^ds in v o lv e d .
S eem in gly th e s u r v iv a l r a t e f o r th e two groups was
somewhat th e same.
These d ata do not conform w ith t h e f ig u r e s and
sta te m e n ts o f K o z lik ( 19 I4.8 ) .
From h i s work i n W iscon sin he secu red
r e tu r n s from g e n t le r e l e a s e b ir d s a s f o l l o w s . 22 and 2h p e r ce n t from
A ugust r e l e a s e s o f 6-week o ld b ir d s and 5 l p e r cen t from f u l l grown
cock s r e le a s e d i n O ctober ju st, a few days b e fo r e th e h u n tin g sea so n .
A lthough he d o es n ot g iv e f ig u r e s i n su p p o r t, he c o n c lu d e s, " A ll
e v id e n c e g a th ered i n W isco n sin in d ic a t e s t h a t p h ea sa n ts s to c k e d from
th e g e n t le r e l e a s e p en have an in c r e a s e d s u r v iv a l. ** F ig u r e s
p u b lish e d by K o zlik ( 19lt9) a t a l a t e r d a te do not s u b s t a n t ia t e t h i s
e a r l i e r s ta te m e n t.
H is f ig u r e s in d ic a t e a retu rn o f 180 and 179
r e s p e c t i v e ly o f c r a te and p en r e le a s e d b ir d s when 30 ? ten -w eek o ld
b ir d s w ere r e le a s e d by each method i n A ugust.
F u rth er d a ta by K ozlik
(p e r s o n a l com m unication) lik e w is e show no marked d if f e r e n c e i n
s u r v iv a l r a t e o f g e n t le and v io l e n t r e l e a s e b ir d s .
In August 19k9s
3 06 j u v e n ile cock s w ere sto ck ed by ea ch o f t h e m ethods.
The p e r cent
26
r e tu r n was k9 and 56 p er ce n t r e s p e c t iv e ly - f o r th e v io l e n t and
g e n t le m ethods.
These l a t e r f in d in g s o f K ozlik co rro b o ra te th e
fin d in g s o f t h e p resen t stu d y so f a r as com parative s u r v iv a l r a t e s
o f p h ea sa n ts r e le a s e d by th e two methods i s concerned.
B ecause o f th e sm a ll number o f p h ea sa n ts and th e s m a ll area
in v o lv e d i n th e stu d y ( s e e Study A rea) i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o c o r r e la t e
s u r v iv a l w ith th e p la c e o f r e l e a s e .
A lthough a l l th e r e le a s e areas
are somewhat d if f e r e n t a l l a re in c lu d e d i n t h e same g e n e r a l ty p e .
The d ata show a s l i g h t predom inance i n th e h u n ter ta k e from b ir d s
r e le a s e d a t s i t e 3 ( 1 7 .9 p er cen t o f cock r e l e a s e ) .
The r e tu r n s
from th e o th e r a rea s w ere s i t e k (lU .3 p er c e n t ) , s i t e I ( 1 3 .8 per
c e n t ) , and s i t e 2 ( 1 3 .2 p er c e n t ) .
I n th e ab sen ce o f q u a n t it a t iv e
m easurem ents o f good p h easan t co v er i t i s d i f f i c u l t to s t a t e which o f
th e r e l e a s e a r e a s . p o s s e s s th e b e s t c o v er .
F ig u r es 2 , k, 6 , and 8
r e v e a l t h a t r e le a s e s i t e I h as th e l e a s t ground co v er in th e way o f
brush and d en se h erb aceou s v e g e t a t io n .
Each o f the t h r e e o th e r areas
have much brush and dense h erb aceou s v e g e t a t io n in th e im m ediate
v ic in ity .
Inasmuch a s o n ly one o f t h e s e , s i t e 3 , a p p a ren tly had a
g r e a te r s u r v iv a l th a n s i t e I , th e data do n ot r e v e a l s u f f i c i e n t
in fo r m a tio n f o r c o n c lu s io n s reg a rd in g s u r v iv a l a t th e f o u r r e le a s e
s ite s .
A p o s s i b l e ca u se f o r th e s l i g h t predominance o f r e tu r n s from
s i t e 3 , cou ld b e due t o th e f a c t th a t t h i s a rea i s ex trem ely w e ll
lik e d by h u n ters b ecau se i t i s n ever c lo s e d t o h u n tin g , and i s e a s i l y
27
a c c e s s ib l e t o h u n ters from nearby tow ns.
The r e la t io n s h ip o f h a b ita t
t o s u r v iv a l has b een d is c u s s e d a t some le n g th by G e r s t e ll (1 9 3 8 ) and
McNamara (19^9)«
They con clud ed t h a t th e h ig h e s t r e tu r n s came from
area s p o s s e s s in g b e t t e r pheasant range in P en n sy lv a n ia and New J e r se y ,
A r t i f i c i a l S to ck in g v s N a tu ra l R eproduction
The - ch eck in g s t a t i o n d a ta f o r 19li9 s u p p lie s a r ea so n a b ly la r g e
sam ple o f th e so u rce o f p h ea sa n ts i n t h e hunters® bag.
D uring th e
f i v e days t h a t t h e ch eck in g s t a t io n s w ere in o p e r a tio n It93 p h ea sa n ts
k i l l e d by h u n te rs were ch eck ed .
Twenty-one (1|»3 per c e n t ) were
banded i n August 19U9 (T ab le I I I ) .
These d a ta in d ic a t e t h a t game
farm p h ea sa n ts s u p p lie d o n ly a sm a ll p a r t o f th e h u n ter ta k e .
T his
c o n c lu s io n i s j u s t i f i e d b ecau se a l l p h ea sa n ts r e le a s e d i n th e area
i n 19U9 were banded.
I n l i g h t o f t h e work o f Buss (19U6) th e p o s s i­
b i l i t y o f a game farm 'p h easan t lo s in g a l e g band seems rem ote.
He
s t a t e s , '®To prove o r d isp r o v e th e a l l e g a t i o n th a t p h ea sa n ts l o s e
aluminum b u tt-e n d b a n d s, 1 ,0 0 0 mature b ir d s were banded a t th e
W isco n sin S t a t e E xp erim en tal Game and Fur Farm, t r a i l e d , and r e le a s e d
du rin g th e f a l l o f 19ii0 in UO-acre f i e l d s p la n ted t o corn and grown
to w eeds and scru b oak.
When checked i n t h e sp rin g o f 19L i th e s e
p h ea sa n ts showed no band losses.*®
The p o s s i b i l i t y o f any o f th e s e
b ir d s b ein g o f game farm o r i g in from r e l e a s e s e a r l i e r than 19L8 i s
v e r y s m a ll.
McNamara (1 9 li9 ) from h i s own work and th e work o f
o t h e r s , s t a t e s , **. . . th e s u r v iv a l o f p en -rea re d p h ea sa n ts from th e
f i r s t t o th e second h u n tin g s e a so n b a sed on bands retu rn ed from
J
Table H i
Age C la s s and Source (Game Farm or W ild), o f P h ea sa n ts Checked a t Checking S ta tio n s , i n 191*9.
Age C la ss
Banded
J u v e n ile
16
T o ta l
21
A d u lts
T o ta l
O
Number •
Not Banded
Total..
O '
232
19
1*3
19
7
'I
10
331
"5
248
±9
43
19
7
■I
10
352
88
13
8
2
I
2
5
119
.
88
13
. 8
2
'I
2
5
119
Bursa.
r
P resen t
it
it
it
n
tt
?
>
Absent
it
it
it
it
tt
?
■'
Unknrivrh'"
22
?
22
T o ta l
21
472 -----' 493
I Not OSST fie r i in riio at.es th a t manri i"Kl e riiri nnf. RiiTinrvr'*
? D enotes ch a r a c te r was riot checked or in c o n c lu s iv e .
Bands in d ic a t e Game Farm P h ea sa n ts.
Spur
?
L ess than 3 /4 "
H
it '
More than 3 / 4 R
it
it
L ess th a n 3 /4 *
- Mandible^"
■ - 1
?
Not o s s i f i e d
?
O s s if ie d
Not o s s i f i e d
O s s if ie d
?
Not. o s s i f i e d
More
L ess
More
L ess
More
L ess
More
O s s if ie d
»
N o t - o s s if ie d
?
?.
Not o s s i f i e d
O s s if ie d
than
than.
th a n
than
than
th a n
th an
?
3 /4 *
3 /4 *
3 /4 ?
3 /4 ?
3 /4 ?
3 /4 ?
3 /4 ?
?
29
2?#592 b ir d s i s l e s s th a n orie p er c e n t."
An a n a ly s is o f th e age c la s s e s o f th e b ir d s checked a t th e
s t a t i o n s u p p lie s a d d itio n a l in fo rm a tio n on t h e im portance o f n a tu ra l
rep r o d u c tio n .
em ployed.
W ild lif e s tu d e n ts from Montana S ta te C o lle g e were
They were in s t r u c t e d i n m ethods o f d eterm inin g age c l a s s e s .
Three methods were used? exam in ation f o r p resen ce o f b u rsa (Gower
1939j Linduska 1914-3» K irk p a tr ick 191414» o t h e r s )» i n w hich i t s p resen ce
in d ic a t e s a j u v e n ile ; th e u se o f th e age gauge, (K im ball I 9 I4I4)' i n
w hich th e age i s determ ined by th e le n g t h of th e sp u r.
B ird s w ith
■
sp urs l e s s th a n 3/U in ch lo n g are c o n s id e r e d j u v e n ile s ; and th e
m andible t e s t o f Linduska ( 1 9 whi ch in v o lv e s l i f t i n g th e b ir d by .
th e m andible t o determ ine w hether i t w i l l support th e w e ig h t o f th e
b ir d .
T h is method d eterm in es th e amount o f o s s i f i c a t i o n o f th e s k u ll.
A s o f t m andible which b reak s in d ic a t e s a j u v e n ile b ir d .
The checking
s t a t i o n o p era to rs w ere in s t r u c t e d t o be ex trem ely c a r e f u l i n a l l
o b s e r v a tio n s and to reco rd a l l q u e s tio n a b le d a ta a s su ch .
They were
fu r th e r in s t r u c t e d t o make a l l th r e e t e s t s on b ir d s o n ly when i t was
p o s s i b l e t o do s o w ith o u t d e la y in g h u n te rs during ru sh h ou rs.
t h i s rea so n d a ta are in co m p lete fo r some.
Xn some in s ta n c e s th e o n ly
d a ta secu red was w hether th e b ir d was banded.
f o r bands.
For
A ll b ir d s w ere checked
Even in c a s e s where d a ta a re co m p lete, th e th r e e methods
d id n ot alw ays g iv e uniform r e s u lt s (T ab le I I I ) .
In q u e s tio n a b le
c a s e s , th e p resen ce or absen ce o f th e b u rsa was c o n sid ered S u f f i c ie n t
f o r d eterm in in g th e prop er age c l a s s .
K irk p a trick ( 19 I1I4) s t a t e s th a t
.
30
the; p resen ce o f th e bursa i s a p o s it iv e in d ic a t o r o f j u v e n ile b ir d s .
Where th e bu rsa c h a r a c te r was n o t known a com bination o f th e spur
and th e m andible t e s t s was -, u sed .
Of th e lj.93 b ir d s ch eck ed , 331 ( 67 . 1 p e r c e n t ) w ere w ild
j u v e n i l e s , 21 (U<>3 p e r c e n t ) w ere game farm j u v e n ile s , 119 (21;.I p er
c e n t ) were w ild a d u lt s , and 22 (!;„£ p er c e n t ) were w ild b ir d s o f
unknown age c l a s s e s .
These d a ta c l e a r ly in d ic a t e t h a t th e m a jo r ity
o f b ir d s ta k en by th e h u n ter were j u v e n ile s and o n ly a m inor p ro­
p o r tio n o f th e s e were game farm b ir d s .
a d u lt was 2*9 t o I .
2 .7 t o I .
A lle n
The r a t io o f j u v e n ile t o
The r a t i o of w ild j u v e n ile s to w ild a d u lts was
) p u b lish e d d ata in d ic a t in g b ir d s o f th e y ea r
make up th e im p ortan t p a rt o f th e h u n ter ta k e .
The r a t i o o f a d u lt
t o j u v e n ile s ranged from 1 : 2 .6 to I s 1 6.3 f o r s i x h u n tin g se a so n s a t
th e Rose Lake Experim ent S t a t io n i n M ichigan.
Movements From R e le a s e S i t e s
Band r e tu r n s on 1;8 p h ea sa n ts r e le a s e d i n 19^8 and 19k9 p rovid ed
in fo r m a tio n on th e movemerit o f a r t i f i c i a l l y s to c k e d b ir d s (T ab le 1 7 ).
The in fo rm a tio n was o b ta in e d from h u n te r s , b y tr a p p in g , and from
r e p o r ts accompanying, hand r e tu r n s .
The e x a c t lo c a t io n where banded
.
b ir d s were - ta k en was not alw ays d e f i n i t e l y e s t a b lis h e d .
r e a s o n , th e. d a ta are grou p ed in t o co n v en ien t c a t e g o r ie s .
For t h i s
31
Table IV.
Method o f
R e le a se
D is ta n c e s t r a v e le d from r e le a s e s i t e by game
farm p h ea sa n ts as in d ic a t e d by band r e tu r n s
and tr a p p in g .
’
L ess th an I
G en tle
9 ,(2 6 .2 % )
V io le n t
T o ta l
D is ta n c e Moved (m ile s )
1 -3
I* - 5
6 (37.5% )
9-11*
0
I ( 6 .2 * )
11 (31*. W
18 (3 6 .2 * )
I (3 ° I * )
2 ( 6 .2 * )
20 (1*1.7*)
21* (3c%)
I ( 2 .1 * )
3 ( 6 .2 * )
Of th e it8 b ir d s , 20 (1*1°7 per c e n t) moved l e s s th a n one m ile , 21*
C?0 p er c e n t ) moved from I t o 3 m ile s and I ( 2 .1 per c e n t ) moved from
I* to 5 m ile s .
m ile s .
The rem aining 3 ( 6 .2 p er c e n t ) moved from 9 t o ll*
Most o f t h e s e movements were accom p lish ed betw een th e tim e o f
r e le a s e and th e end o f th e h u n tin g s e a s o n (62 to 76 d a y s ).
k i l l e d by c a r s had moved 1 .3 m ile s in 18 d a y s.
Two
The 6 tra p p ed were
caught about «3 m ile s from th e releq .se s i t e 192 to 199 days a f t e r
r e le a s e .
The maximum movement, ll* m ile s , was accom p lished i n 62 days.
The d a ta are few but in d ic a t e th a t more g e n t le r e le a s e b ir d s s e t t l e d
w it h in a m ile o f th e r e le a s e s i t e s th an v i o l e n t r e le a s e b ir d s (3 6 .2
and 31*.I*. p er c e n t r e s p e c t i v e l y ) .
More v i o l e n t s (3 6 .2 p e r c e n t )
moved I t o 3 m ile s th a n g e n t le s (3 7 .3 p er c e n t ) .
For movements o f
I* t o ll* m ile s th e v i o l e n t s w ere a ls o in t h e m a jo r ity ( s e e T ab le IV).
O b se r v a tio n s, d is c u s s e d under d is p e r s a l, v e r i f y th e s e f in d in g s .
These d a ta compare fa v o r a b le w ith t h o s e o f McNamara (191*9).
32
He s tu d ie d th e d r i f t o f 315 m ale p h ea sa n ts.
About $0 p er cen t were
sh o t w it h in one m ile and 98 p er cen t w it h in t e n m ile s o f th e r e ­
le a s e s i t e s .
The maximum d r i f t was 23 m i l e s .
W andell (I9 li5 ) on
r e tu r n s o f 881 m ale p h e a s a n ts , found th a t 65».9 p er cen t moved l e s s Q
th an one m ile and 9 6 .L p er c e n t d r if t e d l e s s th a n 10 m ile s from
th e p o in t o f r e l e a s e .
33
SUMMARY
Io
A d e t a ile d sm a ll s c a le stu d y was conducted in G a lla tin b o u n ty ,
Montana 19lt8-5>0 t o se c u r e s u r v iv a l d a ta on game farm p h ea sa n ts
r e le a s e d i n t h a t a r e a .
2.
The d a ta a r e e v a lu a te d on t h e b a s is o f d is p e r s a l from r e l e a s e
s i t e s , band r e tu r n s , band retu rn s a s i n f lu e n c e d by method and
p la c e o f r e l e a s e , r e l a t i v e im portance o f banded p h ea sa n ts i n
th e h u n te r s' b ag, and movements o f game farm p h ea sa n ts.
3»
Four-hundred and s e v e n ty -o n e game farm p h ea sa n ts were r e le a s e d
a t fo u r r e l e a s e s i t e s b y th e g e n t le and v i o l e n t r e le a s e m ethods.
it.
The. d a ta su g g e ste d a slo w er d is p e r s a l r a t e f o r th e g e n t le re­
le a s e b ir d s .
5>.
Band r e tu r n s secu red by th e u se o f ch eck in g s t a t i o n s , t r a p s , and
h u n ter r e p o r t s in d ic a t e d a lit .it p er c e n t retu rn o f r e le a s e d
c o ck s.
6.
No marked d if f e r e n c e in th e s u r v iv a l r a t e o f g e n tle r e l e a s e
p h ea sa n ts and v i o l e n t r e le a s e p h ea sa n ts was n o ted .
7e
Only 21 (it. 3 per c e n t) o f it93 p h ea sa n ts checked a t h u n ter
ch eck ing s t a t io n s i n 19it9 were game farm b ir d s =
Of th e rem ainder
331 ( 6 7 .1 p er c e n t ) were w ild j u v e n i l e s , 119 ( 2i | . l p er c e n t ) were
w ild a d u lt s , and 22 (it. £ per cen t,) were w ild b ir d s o f unknown age
c la s s e s .
8.
Movements from r e le a s e s i t e t o p o in t o f k i l l f o r it8 b ir d s was
. d eterm in ed .
Twenty ( it l .7 per c e n t ) moved l e s s th a n I m ile ,
3h
.
2h (50 p er c e n t ) moved from I to 3 m ile s , I ( 2 .1 per c e n t )
moved from I; t o 5 m i l e s , ■and 3 ( 6 .2 p er c e n t ) moved from 9 t o lit
m ile s .
A g r e a te r p erce n ta g e o f g e n tle th a n v io l e n t r e le a s e
b ir d s s e t t l e d in th e im m ediate v i c i n i t y ' o f th e r e le a s e s i t e s .
35
L IT E R A T U R E C IT E D
A lle n , D. L.
19U7 Hunting a s a l i m i t a t i o n t o M ichigan p h ea sa n ts.
J o u r. WiI d l . M g t., 11' ( 3 ): 232-2it3. :
B u ss, Ir v e n 0 .
.
19U6 W isco n sin p h easan t p o p u la tio n s .
W ise. C ons. D ep t. P u b l. No. 326. s I - I 8I4..
•
;
G e r s t e l l , R ichard
1939 An a n a ly s is o f t h e r e p o r te d r e tu r n s o b ta in ed from th e
r e le a s e o f 30,000 a r t i f i c i a l l y p rop agated r in g necked
p h ea sa n ts and bob w h ite q u a il.
T rans, o f T hird No. Am. W iId l. C o n f.s 72^-729«
G i n n , "Win. E .
19h7
Band r e tu r n s from In d ia n a clu b rea r ed p h ea sa n ts.
Jour. W iid l. I f g t ., 11 ( 3 ) : 2 2 6-231.
Gower, "W. C a r l
1939 The u se o f th e b u rsa o f F a b r ic iu s a s an in d ic a t o r o f
age" i n game b ir d s .
Trans, o f F ourth No. Am. W Ild l. C onf. s h26-h3Q.
H i a t t , R. W.
19h7 T,he r e l a t i o n o f th e pheasant to a g r ic u lt u r e in
Y ello w sto n e and B ig Horn r i v e r v a l l e y s o f Montana.
Mont. S t a t e F is h and Game Comm.s 1 -7 2 ....................
K im b all, James W. ■
19hh Age gauge f o r p h e a sa n ts.
Jou r. W iid l. M g t., 8 ( 3 ) : 263-261*. "
■ .
K ir k p a tr ic k , C. M.
19hh The b u rsa o f F a b r ic iu s 1 i n r in g necked p h ea sa n ts.
J o u r. W ild lV M g t., 8 ( 2 ) : 118-129- '
K o z lik , Frank M.
191*8 G en tle r e l e a s e method o f s to c k in g p h ea sa n ts.
W ise. C ons. B u l l . , 13 ( 5 ) s 1-3»
19l*9
The 191*8 h u n te rs check on P o t t e r 's Marsh. ■
W ise. Cons. B u l l . , ll* ( 3 ) : 1-3°
36
K iitz, H„ L»
19h$
An improved game b ir d tr a p ,
Jou r0 W iid l0 Mgt0 , 9 ( l ) t 3 5 -3 8 .
L indiiska, J. P0
19U3 A g r o ss stu d y o f th e b u rsa o f F a b r ic iu s and cock
sp urs a s age in d ic a t o r s i n th e r in g necked p h easan t.
Auk, 60 ( 3 ): I426-I1.37.
19U5
McNamara,
19U9
Age d e te r m in a tio n in th e r in g necked p h ea sa n t.
Jou r. W ild l. M gt.., 9 ( 2 ) ; 152-15U.
L0 G. and E. L. K ozicky
Band r e tu r n s from m ale r in g necked p h ea sa n ts in New
J ersey.
Jour. W ild l. M g t., 13 (3}.s 2 8 6 -2 9 L
P u sh es, George F. J r , '
19U8 Summary r e p o r t p h easan t banding s t u d ie s I 9 I4.3 t o 19lj.80
R esearch B u ll , No. 9> Mass, D ept, o f S o n s ,; 1 -2 2 .
Taber," R ich ard D.
19k9 A new marker f o r game b ir d s .
Jour. W ild l. M g t., 2J ( 2 ) : 22 8 -2 3 1 .
W an d ell, W. N. ' "
19^5 R e s u lts o f t h e 19li3 and 19^L p h easan t banding s t u d ie s .
R esearch B u ll. No. U? ' Mass. B e p t. o f Cons, i 1 -2 2 .
95119
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