Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

1970

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

Abstract

Ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) use on state-owned game production areas was compared to that on privately-owned areas in east-central South Dakota. Four 80-acre and four 160-acre tracts of state lands were paired with private areas of the same size having the same amount of wetland and were selected from aerial photographs taken before the purchase of the state-owned areas. None of four nests were successful on private areas in 1968 and three of five nests were successful on game production areas. In 1969 three of 19 nests were successful on private areas and 10 of 21 nests were successful on state lands. During the two years 21 pheasant chicks were produced on private areas and 110 were produced on state areas. Eight of 37 duck nests were successful on private areas and produced 66 ducklings, and 18 of 48 duck nests were successful on state areas and produced 151 ducklings in 1969. The difference between pheasant nesting success on state and private areas was significant. (P<.05) but no significant difference was found in owners of duck nests. A highly significant difference (P<.01> as noted between private and state areas in numbers of pheasant chicks and ducklings produced based on eggs hatched and unhatched. Restricted random transects were used to make brood counts. During the two years 30 pheasants were flushed on private and 105 on state areas. On opening weekend of pheasant hunting season in 1968, 36 hunters spent 5 hours bagging four pheasants (0.14 birds/man hour) on private areas. On state areas 280 hunters spent 59 hours bagging 118 birds (0.41 birds/man hour). In 1969, four hunters spent 2 hours and bagged no pheasants on private areas. On state areas 109 hunters spent 32 hours bagging 23 birds (0.21 birds/man hour). Aerial counts on January 25, 1969, showed 25 pheasants (3/100 acres) on private areas and 768 (80/100 acres) on state lands. On March 5, there were pheasant 54 pheasants (6/100 acres) on private areas and 747 pheasants (78/100 acres) on state lands. Twelve crowing cocks were heard on private areas and 22 on state areas between April 16 and May 9, 1969.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Pheasants
Water birds
Waterfowl

Description

Includes bibliographical references (pages 24-25)

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

45

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Rights

No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/

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