The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-01

Among these lS,549 observations there
are of course duplicate observations OF
the same deer.
Nevertheless the large number OF OBJ
servatlons enables us. upon sound sta
tistical grounds, to draw definite con-
clusions regarding the relative proper
tion OF the sexes OF these deer and the
extent to which they are breeding.
In other words we have in New FORK
state absolutely sound statistical
grounds for conclusion as to the work
ing OF the buck law and as to whether
or not the deer In New York state.
where the buck law has been in opera
ton since 1912, are breeding normally.
Those who have had opportunity to
observe the workings OF this law and be-
iieve In It, will be glad to know that
or these 1S.549 observations. In 7lO3 of
which II was possible definitely TO de-
termine the sex. $3.50 showed bucks and
1919 does .t
That means that the relative propor-
ton or does to bucks IN New York State,
as determined by 7,103 observations
made as the deer shuffled themselves
naturally before the eyes Of our entire
tleid force, through a period OF approxl-
Iilateiy three years, Is not greater than
two does to one buck
When you consider the great difficuItv
or observing fawns In the woods and
learn that our protectors have seen
curing this period 1859 fawns. all
doubts as TO whether deer breed nor
mally under the buck law should be
SET at rest. I am very happy to state
that such doubts have been set at rest
in our own Legislature.
10000 Deer in state.
From time to time. following the in
staliation of this system, another form
OF report giving more generalized in
formation. has been required from tho
protectors Such generallzed reports
nave been in the form OF questionnaires
and nave yielded much valuable data,
bor instance. in the late winter NJ
1866. when the SHOWS were deenest
ana the deer were yarded every pro-
rector was required to cover his territory
ana report upon the number of deer
seen IN the territory. basing his conclu-
| SONS upon the yards. the deer seen in
them' their tracks and naturally upon
| the experience which he had gained
through several months OF filling out the
small cards
a year later. In the winter OF 1916
~. a similar report was required upon
the deer population of each protectors
district. Some OF the men actually
made maps of their territory showing
where each yard was located and the
spproximate number Of deer in the yard
together with the sex OF the deer.
Others made long fluctuations of one
iocality after another. listing the approx
Innate deer that they actually found in
each section. All Of their reports were
turned in TO their division inspectors
AT the monthly division meetings and
were discussed in the meetings before
submission to the commission.
AS result OF this investigation we
nave what we believe to be. for all
practical purposes. a substantially ac-
curate figure for the deer population OF
New York State. In round numbers II
Is approximately hfty thousand.
Census Trains Protectors I'm Work.
The records of our game census cards
nave been OF great value in reaching n
decision TO shorten the ruffed grouse
season by order OF the commission. In
addition to the cards we have had
special reports from the protectors upon
carefully prepared QUESTIONABLE blanks.
ana thus have been enabled to obtain a
comprehensive picture Of the situation
over the entire State.
when the grouse QUESTIONABLE went
20 the game protectors it was NOT tho
| hfst or the sort that they had haen re
quested TO fill out Five Others thar
preceded 1t have been devoted to deer
"S.eI lo"I ana Woodcock. The way in
which they handled the last grouse cues
tlohnalre showed that they had become
TAR better trained in habits OF obse,-va-
ton and in methods Of recording ,hoir
observation than they We're at the no.
ginning.
do not mean here to go into a COM
plete analysis OF all OF the data col
lected but rather TO indicate tho
methods followed by the CONSERVATISM
commission in obtaining reports on our
wild life from season to season.
may however. summarize In n few
sentences some OF the results. We hava
| held the buck law on the statute hooks
\ we have ascertained beyond question
| that the Federal migratory bird law is
| bringing back water fowl and song and
lhsectsVorous birds at rate far beyond
our earliest dreams
| We have obtained Information about
mo grouse over the entire 50, 900 SQUARE
miles OF tho State which made the
| spoftsmen practically a unit I'm advo
| eating additional protection for those
DirdS' we have developed machinery
ior getting reliable information which
we are now able to turn upon any snh-
Ject OF wild life within our Jurisdiction
! one thing we have not done We naNc
not counted and weighed and appraised
| IN collars and cents the States wild ufe
| resources. We have, indeed obtained
| upon our deer cards reports Of the an
| proXimate number OF deer killed I'm the
state each year. and these reports
| coupled with other Investigations, have
enabled us to arrive at a general and
| sufnclently accurate numerical statement
of the deer killed annually.
| Beyond this we have not ATTEMPTED TO
guess at or approximate the amount OF
small game taken each year. any more
than We have dared to estimate tho
| number OF pounds of fish OF all species
which the anglers OF the State take in a
year, We know that It is tremendous
| and that we ought to have some method
OF gauging II, but are fully convinced
| that any general estimates might lead
US very far astray.
| SpOrtSmen TO Complete Census.
To meet the need for more exact
knowledge we have developed a method
which we hope to put into effect shortly
In brief, 1t is that OF requiring every
| holder OF a hunting license when he
takes out a new hunting license to give
| In addition to his name, residence pSr-
| sonal appearance, &c, the amount OF
game that he killed under his old license.
We have felt that no reliance can be
placed upon voluntary statement OF
I this sort by some sportsmen. because the
total number OF reports would be only a
fraction OF the number OF licenses.
| II, however. every purchaser Of license
must state what he killed under his old
license we will obtain totals which Will
| be complete, except for the very small
| number Of old licensees who do NOT tnLa