Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Relationships between pre-breeding (March) and post-breeding (December) populations, and certain characteristics of reproductive effort are described for a population of bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) in western Tennessee. Numbers of quail on the 2100-acre study area ranged from 681 to 1269 in March, and from 1007 to 1587 in December during the period December. 1966 to March, 1974. A total of 1571 nests were studied to determine such items as hatching rate of nests with eggs (23.0%) and clutch size (x = 11.9 eggs). Of all variables examined, total number of nests found on the nesting area showed the strongest positive correlation with post-breeding population size (r=0.81) and summer gain (r=0.72). The predictive value of "total nests" for post-breeding populations was high (R22=0.65).

Wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo osceola) on a study area in Florida nested 1.4 miles from winter release sites and 1.2 miles from their late winter range. Net distance and direction of movement of 12 hens from winter range to nesting sites was only about 0.2 miles west. The hens usually roosted within one mile of their nests during the laying period (mean distance 0.8). Renesting was within one mile (mean 0.8) ofthe first nest. Two hens radio-tracked during the laying period used 100 to 200 acres daily and usually roosted 'ess than one mile from their nests. Laying was in late morning through early afternoon. Hens tended to visit their nests for about one hour during the first half of the laying period, but remained progressively longer with each egg laid after the sixth or seventh. During the period of incubating behavior, hens left their nests about every two days (mean 1.86) for about two hours (mean 1.95) but were extremely variable in this.

Eight eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris Viellot) gobblers were captured on the Britt Research Area in McCormick County. South Carolina, during February and March of 1973. They were equipped with numbered leg bands. colored vinyl patagial streamers, and radio transmitters and were released at the sites of capture. The turkeys were located several times daily from the time of release until the primary breeding season ended in middle June using both telemetric and visual observations. Average minimum home ranges during the breeding season for two adult and five juvenile gobblers were determined to be 93.5 and 95.0 hectares. respectively. Three adult and five juvenile gobblers dispersed an average 4.57 and 1.47 kilometers. respectively from their capture and release sites over a four months period. Several aspects of habitat utilization by gobblers were studied.

A Bobwhite population in the Georgia Piedmont was censused periodically throughout the year by bird dogs, baiting and sightings, and trapping. The population (on a 100 acre basis) varied from alate summer high of I5.3 birds to the year later figure of 2.7 adult quail. Average weekly losses calculated for each different interval were: 1 September to 1 November-2.8 percent. 1 November to 1 April-2.0 percent, 1 April to 1 July-3.2 percent, and 1 July to 1 September-3.3 percent (summer figure for adult birds only).

Mercury levels in tissues of mammals collected in Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina were compared using hair mercury concentration as an index of total mercury content. Bobcats (Lynx rufus), raccoons (Procyon lotor), opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) and gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) from the Lower Coastal Plain of Georgia had higher mercury levels than specimens from the Upper Coastal Plain of Piedmont. The highest individual mercury levels in raccoons and bobcats occurred in specimens from the Georgia Lower Coastal Plain flatwoods. Skeletal muscle and liver of individual raccoons and bobcats taken in the coastal flatwoods exceeded the 0.5 ppm limit for mercury in human foodstuffs. No pattern of mercury accumulation was detected in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Hair analysis revealed elevated mercury levels in mammals from a region exposed to mercury pollution.

Ninety-four specimens of rail, crab. and snail collected at ten separate locations along the Georgia Coast between October, 1971, and September, 1973 were analysed for residual mercury. Excessive concentrations of mercury were found in specimens of clapper rail, sora, and periwinkle snail, collected from the Brunswick and Savannah estuaries. Actual concentrations within these two river systems ranged from 0.11 ppm. in one sample of sora breast muscle to 16.8 ppm. in periwinkle snail tissue (fresh wet weight basis). Mercury contamination exceeded the F.D.A. tolerance level of 0.50 ppm. in all clapper rail breast muscle samples taken from the Brunswick estuary, west of the Highway #17 bridge. Analysis of specimens taken outside of the Brunswick and Savannah estuaries indicated varYlng degrees of contamination, particularly in rails. although still well below the F.D.A. limit.

Seasonal measures of the animal community and understory vegetation in nine year old slash pine plantations of three different levels of site preparation intensity are compared to mature natural stands. While there appear to be no significant differences in bird, mammal or arthropod populations between the three site preparation intensities of young plantation. responses were significantly different when mature stands were included in the comparison. Bird and small mammal abundance and diversity was much greater in the mature longleaf pine stand than any other habitat type. Low intensity preparation sites generally supported greater numbers of birds and small mammals than the high intensity plots. Preliminary analyses of arthropod abundance at ground level suggest an inverse relation with site preparation intensity while there are no clear differences in the 0.2 to 1.5 m lone. Vegetation succession is more advanced in the higher intensity site preparation plantations.

An intensive multi-mode fee hunting program was installed in 1972 on 400,000 acres of land in Alabama owned by Gulf States Paper Corporation. A profit motive has resulted in the installation of an intensive wildlife management program designed to produce marketable hunting rights. Individual management plans have been written for 28 tracts of land involving over 60,000 acres. Cutting blocks have been reduced from an average of over I,000 acres to approximately 320 acres. Prescribed burning has been increased from once every 30 years to approximately once every 3 years except following planting. Hardwoods are preserved on small tracts, and are thinned by group selection with clearcuts at 60-100 years on larger areas. Scheduled cuts are regularly spaced throughout the entire rotation. Non-forestry habitat improvement practices are applied whenever justified. Animal population and habitat data are used to monitor effects of management.

A habitat evaluation system which employs a systematic plot survey of each stand or unit of a tract to be evaluated is described. Scores are recorded by individual species and stand and/or tract values reflecting habitat quality are quantified. From these values and other observed information, a precise management plan can be written.

The purpose of this study was to determine how an area of low quality unmaintained access affects hunter satisfaction and use of the Canaan Valley in northeastern West Virginia. The 10,120 ha (25,000 acres) northern half of the valley supported a high, well distributed population of hunters during the 1973-74 hunting season. The valley Ooor, where access is the most difficult, supported 67 hunter days per 40.5 ha (100 acres) and the mountainside supported 63 hunter days per 40.5 ha (100 acres). Approximately 10 percent (160) of the hunters using the valley during the] 972-73 season were interviewed by telephone. Hunters were satisfied with road conditions even though the three main access roads into the valley must be negotiated by truck, four-wheel drive vehicle or ATV. A difficult ride into a hunting area may play an important role in the total hunting experience.

Twelve 259 ha (1 mi2) plots of varying clearcut percentages were established in a randomi7.ed complete block design in the central Florida sandhills. Response variables ranged from understory vegetation changes to game species abundance over a period of 13 years. Pine (Pinus spp.) plantation establishment resulted in an increase (P < .05) in understory vegetation biomass and diversity. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginanus) seemed to prefer the partial plantation plots, but there was also a significant seasonal interaction between habitat type and deer usage. Passeriform and Piciform birds and fox squirrels (Sciurus niger) preferred the uncleared plots while gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) and cottontail rabbits (Sulvilagus .I1oridanus) seemed to prefer the plantations. Rodents increased markedly in the first three years after site preparation, but numbers quickly decreased to typically low levels.

This paper reports on a technique that appears successful for establishing bicolor or other perennial wildlife plots on private lands. During the winter of 1973-74, University of Tennessee personnel (with farmers' help) established a total of 127 perennial plots. 0.1 to 0.25 acres each with a tree planter on 19 private farms (average 6.7 plots per farm). A total of 35.2 man-days (excluding travel and farmers' time) was expended. This computes to be 0.28 man-day per plot or 1.85 man-days per farm. Plots were planted from November through April, and plant survival was satisfactory in practically all cases. A growth evaluation survey revealed that 65.1 percent of the plots rated fair or above. Grazing was responsible for poor growth in 24.6 percent of the plots, and 7. J percent of the plots were plowed up when crops were planted-in most cases by laborers who didn't know the plots existed. The most efficient team proved to be a crew of 2 people-one technician and one laborer.

A dissertation designed to support the assertion that stringent regulatory measures are necessary and justified to control the importation, transportation, possession, sale or release of any wildlife in the territorial limits of the State of Georgia. The growing tendency of the general public to seek out every source of wildlife on a world-wide basis, then attempt to convert these into household pets has caused this State to initiate aggressive action to regulate and control. It is the purpose oftbis paper to identify the procedure established to that end.

An interview study of one hundred and forty-eight admitted illegal deer hunters was conducted to determine the behavioral aspects and methodology of deer jacking activity. Through structured interviews given at individual and group sessions, the characteristics of the violator and the methods of operation were determined. The results have immediate law enforcement and information and education implications.

Despite the fact that approximately one third of the state wildlife agency personnel and funding is invested in law enforcement, scientific law enforcement studies are comparatively few. A regional program of law enforcement research, to be located at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, can coordinate projects, allow publication of results in many forms, avoid duplication of research projects, and answer more questions for less money in a joint effort than can individual states. The success and benefits of this program relies on funding by all states, since all states will benefit from this research. The program will enhance ideas and open communication between researchers and wildlife law enforcement agencies. With this proposed system of jointly funded research, states can save money in the long run, make great interactive advances, and achieve regional leadership in a new, vital essential dimension of modem wildlife resource management.

The wildlife officer, whether he be called a conservation officer, game protector, game and fish enforcement officer or simply game warden, must be a real professional. He needs most of the knowledge that a professional policeman needs. He also needs a working knowledge of many subjects peculiar to the out-of-doors. The breakthrough in training that has already occurred for police should be immediately extended to wildlife law enforcement officers. This. coupled with maintenance of high standards and increases in pay, should do much to professionalize this important occupation.