Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Thirty-five turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) hens were instrumented with miniature animal tracking transmitters on a study area in March 1968. Twenty nests were found by directional radio location fixes and one nest was found incidentally. Average clutch size was 9.6 eggs per nest in fourteen nests which were observed after incubation began. Eight nests produced 70 poults from 76 eggs. The other nests failed to hatch because of predation or abandonment due to human disturbance associated with the study. Two incomplete nests contained four and six eggs when they were abandoned, one due to human disturbance, the other because of predation. Predators destroyed four nests before the eggs could be counted. The hens showed a strong preference for nesting in a zone along the edge of the low oak scrub plant association. All except three of the 21 nests were concealed beneath saw palmetto (Seronoa repens).

The home ranges of five white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were determined on the Clark Hill Wildlife Management Area using telemetric equipment. The population density of deer on the 800 acres study area was estimated to be 50-55 deer per square mile (1 deer/12 acres) prior to the managed hunts in 1967. A six year old doe, radio-tracked from April 4, to May 9, 1967, had a home range of 121 acres. The same animal was tracked from October 12, to October 25, 1967, and had a home range area of 87 acres. A three year old doe with a fawn was radio-located from May 18, to July 8, 1967, and ranged on a 40 acre area during this period. The doe and fawn were instrumented from November 16, to December 31, 1967, and had a home range of 78 acres. These animals were never separated while both were instrumented. A 1Y:. year old buck was radio-instrumented from October 12, to November 1, 1967, and from November 13, to November 18, 1967.

Approximately 90 potholes were blasted with ammonium nitrate and fuel oil mixtures on a fresh marsh and a saline marsh in the Chesapeake Bay area of Maryland. Work covered a 3-year period in fresh marshes and one growing season in saline marshes. Number of ANFO charges used per pothole ranged from 1-15 varying in gross amounts per pothole from 20-415 Ibs. Detonation was by dynamite using either primacord, cap and fuse or electric caps. Depth of charge holes varied from 8-36 inches. Available data are presented on size and depth of potholes, sloughing of spoil, soil types and plant invasions.

Specimens of various game species from Virginia, North Carolina. South Carolina, Georgia. Alabama, and Florida were analyzed for all gamma ray emitting radioisotopes by gamma ray spectrometry methods in a whole body counter. It was possible to determine radionuclide concentrations in the field with relatively simple gamma ray detecting equipment. The most important isotope was Cesium-137. Specimens from the Mountain. Piedmont. and Upper Coastal Plain regions were generally low; those from the Lower Coastal Plain region had significantly higher cOncentrations. Levels of contamination ranged from 250 picocuries per Kilogram in the Mountain region to 152,940 picocuries per kilogram in the Lower Coastal Plain region. Domestic commodities were much lower in radiation burden and were regularly analyzed for radionuclides as a comparison to levels found in game species.

Most forest land acreage in the South is in small holdings. Much-needed hunting land, and income for rural landowners, could be provided by combining small forest holdings into large units and leasing the hunting rights.

Various mixtures of diazepam and alpha-chloralose were tested on waterfoWl in Florida and Maryland by Oral administration on baits. A total of 3 233 waterfowl of a variety of species was anesthetized sufficiently to be captured. All mixtures which were tested reacted faster, and we believe more safely than did either of the two compounds separately. Several species were captured simultaneously at the same bait stations. Reactions to winter-spring capture versus fall capture revealed seasonal differences in physiological effects of the drugs. Local conditions may require special adaptation of the techniques in some cases.