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Grouse Hunting Equally As Thrilling, Sporting

YOU'VE probably hunted pheasants and waterfowl time after time, but have you ever tried shooting grouse? Chances are that if you are under 35 or live in any part of the state but the sand hills that you will have to reply "no." Actually, Nebraska's aggregate of grouse hunters is small—very small. Fewer Nebraskans hunted grouse in 1951 than any other game bird.

Prior to 1950, Nebraska's most recent grouse season was way back in the late 1920's. Since the '20's, intensive farming in much of the original range of the prairie chicken has prohibited this bird from reaching its former abundancy. Sharp-tail grouse, on the other hand, have reoccupied some of their earlier range in the sand hills region of the state in good numbers as they have in back-country areas in the Dakotas, Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Canada.

Man caused extensive damage to the grouse population by early market hunting. The grouse population couldn't maintain itself in the line of fire of both increasing agriculture and too liberal hunting. Both the sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chicken were protected from the late 1920's through 1949. The population of both species went both up and down during this is group of grouse enjoying the sun atop lengthy interim. Investigations were made by Game Commission personnel. In 1950, the Commission declared an open season of three days and a bag and possession limit of two birds.

Few hunters, other than local ranchers and townsmen, ventured out in pursuit of the feather-legged game birds. The grouse hunt was new, strange and different. Few Nebraskans knew much about how and where to hunt the birds. The small bag limit, great distance involved in traveling from other parts of the state to the open area and the inaccessibility of the better grouse areas discouraged many hunters. Bad weather during the three-day season further dampened enthusiasm.

The '51 hunt, however, produced contrasting results. It appeared that more hunters tried their luck than during the previous season. Birds were plentiful with many hunters reporting seeing occasional flocks of as many as 100 birds each. Most hunters succeeded in taking at least one bird. Unlike pheasant hunting, however, not one hunter with a dog was observed by this writer. Those who did have the opportunity to hunt grouse found it equally as thrilling and sporting as hunting Nebraska's nationally famed ring-necked pheasant.

The first multicolored rays of the autumn sun on Saturday, Nov. 10, marked the beginning of the '51 hunt.   4 Outdoor Nebraska Shooting hours were from sunrise to sunset. The concluding day of the season was Monday, Nov. 12. The open area consisted of all of Brown, Cherry, Keya Paha and Rock counties and that part of Sheridan county south of the Niobrara river.

I wish to relate the experience of a group of six enthusiastic hunters on the closing day of the three-day hunt. The hunters hailed from Bassett, Norfolk, O'Neill, Sargent, Falls City and Lincoln. Only the Bassett resident had any previous grouse hunting experience. He was expected to give the rest of the boys a few pointers on grouse hunting and where to find the abundant birds.

Driving in three separate cars—two hunters to a car—the group left Bassett shortly after the morning sun peeked over the horizon. Remembering observations from the '50 hunt, the Bassett shooter advised the rest of the group to scan the branches of trees. "There," he said, "you're apt to find the birds at this time of day." Little time had elapsed before the Lincoln nimrod spotted a flock of grouse in a tree about 150 yards from the road. Pulling off the road, the hunters got out of the cars and worked in from all directions toward the tree.

When within 80 yards of the tree— heavily inhabited by sharp-tails—the birds took flight. The grouse, about 25 strong, couldn't escape the net put up by the group. Two birds fled directly above the lad from Norfolk. Two shots blasted out and two birds fell. He had taken his bag limit in less than three minutes after departing from his car. Surprised, and admittedly elated over his swift success, he commented that grouse hunting "was sure easy." He had considerable trouble earlier in the month while hunting ducks and geese. He used No. 6 shot.

He retrieved his birds and found that they weren't alike. The local hunter from Bassett was quick to mention that one of the birds was a sharp-tailed grouse while the other was a prairie chicken. He went on to describe the physical characteristics of each.

"Both birds are about the same size, but the prairie chicken appears a little smaller because of its short and rounded tail. Some people call the chicken a 'squaretail' because of the shape of its tail. The overall appearance of the prairie chicken is dark while that of the sharp-tail is light. The chicken has feather-tufts on each side of the neck overlying an area of bare skin. It has cross-bars on the breast feathers. Its legs are lightly feathered. The prairie chicken eats many insects from May through October, especially grasshoppers. During the fall and winter its diet consists mainly of vegetative foods — fruits, leaves, shoots, seeds and grains.

"The sharp-tailed grouse can easily be distinguished from the chicken by its acuminate or pointed tail. The two long tail feathers make the sharp-tailed grouse appear longer than the prairie chicken. The sharp-tail is much lighter below than the chicken. The sides of its tail show white when it flushes. Its toes are feathered where those of the chicken are not. Unlike the chicken, the sharp-tail has no neck tufts. Its food is similar to that of the chicken. The young are highly insectivorous."

After the brief discussion and a careful glance at the two birds, it was evident that no one should have any difficulty distinguishing either the sharp-tailed grouse or prairie chicken from a hen pheasant in the event that the latter would happen to flush. Just watch the tails and you shouldn't have any trouble telling the three apart. The tail of both the sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chicken is short while that of a hen pheasant is long.

Now experts on grouse identification, the group scanned another clump of trees adjacent to a corn field a good half mile away. There they observed another flock of grouse alight. The alert grouse, however, soon saw approaching danger and flushed. As they did, the birds uttered a sharp cackling sound which was heard from time to time while in flight. Their pattern of flight proved interesting. They alternately   Outdoor Nebraska 5 "whirred" their wings and glided. Here the hunters learned that grouse flew further than pheasants when alarmed.

The group drove on and approached another densely wooded area a few hundred yards from the road. Again they worked from all directions in toward the trees. Startled, the flock took flight, flying at an angle of about 45 or 50 degrees until they built up some height and then straightened out. As they did, they performed some kind of "crazy dip" or side slip. The birds passed over the hunter from Lincoln. This was his first chance and he was determined not to miss it. Surprised and momentarily stunned, he pointed his gun harmlessly at every bird in the flock, trying to pick out the easiest bird. This proved futile. By the time he held on the easiest bird, it was cackling and safely out of gun shot range.

At about 10 o'clock, the Bassett hunter suggested they begin working the corn fields. He thought the grouse would be feeding. They spotted a corn field overrun with sunflowers. Three of the group began walking through the field from one end while the other two "safety" men were posted on the opposite end. They planned their strategy on the experience gained in pheasant hunting. The Norfolk "ace," through for the day as he had earlier taken his bag, watched the activities from the car. The three shooters hadn't walked 30 yards into the field when a group of eight or ten birds flushed. The nimrod from Sargent lined up his gun and quickly dropped a sharp-tail. The Lincoln hunter led his bird. The shot pattern was undoubtedly beautiful, but no bird fell. It wasn't long before he learned that grouse are apparently slower in flight than pheasants and consequently require less lead.

The two "safety" men didn't get a shot. They manned the same position in two other corn fields, again without firing a shot. This convinced them that grouse, unlike pheasants, flush right at the point startled. They sit tight until   6 Outdoor Nebraska alarmed. A glance at grouse will indicate they won't do much running because their legs are short and stubby. The "safety" men worked in the line in the next field and each managed to take one bird.

Immediately after a short lunch, a Springview rancher approached the group and invited the hunters to his ranch. His lands consisted of native grass covered hills and pine laden canyons. There were innumerable brush clumps and tall weed patches. The group divided up, three working one of the canyons and the other two working another.

The Lincoln and Bassett hunters "split up" in their assigned canyon, one working one side of the canyon and the other the opposite side. A flock of grouse flushed ahead of the Bassett hunter. He shot before the birds "straightened out" and got his second bird. He, too, was now finished for the day. The fellow from Lincoln, however, had to be content with a fleeting glimpse of a heavy antlered deer which was aroused by hunters in a nearby canyon.

Few other grouse were seen so the group decided to go back to the corn fields. A roll call was taken and the grouse kill numbered six—two bags and two singles. All but the Falls City and Lincoln representatives had taken at least one bird.

While driving tire-worn trails, a large flock of grouse—75 to 90 birds— veered off to the west about a half mile away. A hill ahead blocked observation of where the birds alighted. Many more birds were seen during the afternoon, but all were too far away or flushed out of range of gun shot. About an hour before sunset, they worked a corn field adjacent to a known "roosting" area. The hunters were walking through the field when a flock began to fly in from the other end of the field. The group ducked and was in position as the birds came over. Three shots were fired, but still the birds came over. The Falls Citian saved himself from a "dry run" by dropping one prairie chicken.

Back in the cars, they reversed their route of travel and headed back for town. The total kill was two bag limits and three singles, or actually seven birds, an average of better than one bird per hunter. How did the birds taste? You'll have to ask the others. I was the hunter from Lincoln. My birds are still flying, sans a few feathers, I hope.

Though I didn't get a bird, I did learn a number of things about "grouse in the wild" which I know will profit me in future grouse hunts. I'll jot them down in the hope that they, too, will help those of you who have yet to hunt grouse for the first time.

Observations: Grouse are normally more wild during late fall and early winter. Grouse sit tight and are easily approached, especially on quiet and warm days. But, when they flush, they fly considerably farther than pheasants before again alighting. They usually fly about a half mile before heading earthward.

Grouse are slower in flight than our favorite ring-necked pheasants. Their pattern of flight, however, causes many a miss on the part of the hunter. They usually fly at an angle until they gain a little height and straighten out, then perform some kind of a side slip. Grouse do not run much because of their short and stubby legs.

Though pheasants begin flocking in large numbers as late fall and early winter approach, grouse still gather in much larger packs. A flock in excess of 100 birds is not at all uncommon.

Grouse especially like wooded areas. During the winter when other food is not available, they eat buds on willows, poplars and other trees. The sight of a large flock of grouse in one tree is probably one of the most fascinating things "first-time" grouse hunters will encounter. Grouse will never suffer from round shoulders. They perch on branches in a very erect position. Their posture is seemingly perfect. Their   Outdoor Nebraska 7 elongated necks loom out above anything else. In fact, when I saw a flock of grouse in a tree from any distance, about all I saw was the collection of long necks. Actually, however, grouse are like most other game birds. Their necks aren't especially long. They appear to move from branch to branch, seemingly crawling.

Don't estimate the grouse population upon road ditch observations. Grouse very seldom can be found there. They thrive without civilization.

Once a grouse is hit, he is comparatively easy to get—once found. The job of finding the bird is difficult as his natural coloration blends in with the cover. But once you find him, you shouldn't have too much trouble. He'll usually sit tight until you are right upon him. He might then try to fly, merely because he is frightened. Grouse do not run and hide as the elusive and "so hard to find" ring-necked pheasants.

What are the chances of another grouse hunt in 1952? There is a good possibility of such a season. Grouse are apparently plentiful. They are weather-proof birds. In the event of heavy snow and severe weather, grouse burrow into the snow, out of the wind. Their own body heat tends to melt the snow about them.

Grouse are, however, cyclic birds. The population builds up a few years and then goes down again. About ten years elapse from one high point to the next high point and a similar period from the low point to the next.

With favorable weather and cover conditions, abundance of food and restricted hunting, it is probable that Nebraska may be able to enjoy some grouse hunting throughout the cyclic period, but if not, at least during several years of each decade. Whenever the opportunity again arises, whether it be in 1952 or several years from now, give grouse hunting a try. You'll agree it's hard to beat. You might even get to taste grouse. I didn't.

Give This Pheasant Credit. . .

Call it intuition, accident or mere luck, but whatever it is, you have to give a certain rooster pheasant a lot of credit. Mrs. Rolland O. Owen, who resides at 4025 Everett in Lincoln, was in the kitchen doing her regular morning chores. She happened to glance out of the window and saw a rooster pheasant in the backyard.

When did she see the bird? Mrs. Owen observed the pheasant Monday, Nov. 26, the morning after the close of the season.

On the afternoon before the season got under way, the editor saw four pheasants—two roosters and two hens— in northeast Lincoln.

A Day in the Wildlife Lab

George Schildman, in charge of the wildlife laboratory, encounters a variety of interesting wildlife jobs, some of which are related in the following story. But there are two primary jobs done in the laboratory during the course of a year's work. Food habit studies are made of various game species and predators in an attempt to learn what they live on during different seasons in various sections of the state. The second big job is compiling data from continuous statewide investigations concerning especially hunting and trapping success and wildlife population trends.

The wildlife laboratory is a busy place with a variety of wildlife jobs in progress. It provokes an occasional "Oh" and "Ah" from some visitors, and a few even turn up their noses at certain parts of the work, but all find it interesting. Perhaps that is because our visitors are generally those already interested in wildlife.

The contents of this article might include many subjects. It all depends on which day one would choose to write about.

Numerous odd jobs find their way to the lab in addition to the regular work. For example, someone wanted a sample of hair from a chicken thief identified— the hair happened to belong to a raccoon. A nest of guinea eggs and some feathers from the incubating bird, apparently caught by a predator, needs identification. Or someone finds a coot in his back yard and wants to know what kind of a bird he has found. The coot had possibly hit a light wire while migrating in the dark the previous night. Someone finding a litter of small raccoons in a hollow log, and thinking they are motherless, turns them over to the conservation officer in his district; in turn he leaves the box of squealing youngsters at the laboratory. Now they are orphans for sure, and must be bottle fed. In all probability it was a sad mother raccoon that returned to the hollow log. Young of all wildlife should be left unmolsted, unless the parent is known to have been killed, for she is more than likely in the nearby vicinity.

Let's get to work, and start this "Day in the Lab." This is a day near the end of the upland game bird season. Several paper sacks and cardboard boxes containing pheasant feet are sitting on the bench waiting to be worked. These have to be put aside, however, because when we arrived this morning we found a deer hanging outside the building. It had been hit by a car during the night a few miles from Lincoln. One of the fellows brought it in during the night and hung it up to cool after removing the insides. We note at once that it is a whitetailed buck with 4 points on one antler; the other had been broken off. A look at the teeth of the lower jaw indicates that he is 4 or 5 years old. Mule deer inhabit largely the western and northern parts of the state, while whitetails occupy the eastern part. The meat is taken to the locker plant for processing.

There is one other bit of information we need yet, that is available—what he had been eating. Before disposing of the internal organs we get a sample of the paunch contents. An examination of the contents will tell us what the deer had been eating shortly before killed. The screens are set in the sink and the contents washed. The distinguishable items are identified and the percentage of each food item present is recorded on a food analysis card. About 40% is corn, 30% buckbrush, 15% alfalfa, 5% sunflower, 5% willows, 5% twig tips and leaves of other trees and shrubs. Incidentally, buckbrush seems to be a very important deer food in Nebraska. It has been the most abundant item in the hundred or more deer stomachs examined in the past several years, although agricultural   Outdoor Nebraska 9 crops are important where deer occur amidst farm lands.

Now we are back to the packages of pheasant feet. There are not many feet sent in this late in the season. Every year the number of hunters in the field drops off rapidly as the season progresses. The packages were sent in by conservation officers who, while doing routine checking, had clipped one foot off each bird above the spur. The feet so gathered enable us to age a large number of birds. If a washer, with a % inch hole, will slip over the spur and the tarsus, to which the spur is attached, it is classified as young; if not, as old. This gives us additional information to be added to the reproductive data gathered before the open season. By young, we mean birds hatched this year. An age ratio of 2Vz young to 1 old is satisfactory; anything higher is good.

Quail wings sent in by cooperating sportsmen, although not called for 'til the season is over, have started coming in. The wings furnish the same information as the pheasant feet, but with quail wings we can also separate the sexes. The importance of the hatch to hunting success, in a short-lived bird like quail or pheasant, is illustrated in the photograph of quail wings separated into piles of young and old. If there has been a good hatch, hunting should be good; if hatching success has been poor, hunting will likely be poor, too. The majority of the quail and pheasants shot each fall are young, thus the comparative size of the young pile reflects good hunting success.

The day is better than half done, when two fellows bring in a hawk they found while hunting the previous day. Apparently it was the victim of some other hunters. A book they had consulted failed to convince them what kind of a hawk they had found and thus their first question, "What kind is it?" "American Rough leg." After a short visit they asked what we would do with the bird. Upon learning that certain data would be taken from the bird, then the stomach contents would be analyzed for the food habits, they decided they had time to wait and see what it had been eating. The contents of the stomach were measured (by water displacement) and emptied into the screens in the sink. The hunters were keenly interested in what the small pile of fur and bones would turn out to be. The results were one harvest mouse and part of a cottontail. This prompted some more discussion before they departed with curiously amused smiles and sincere thank yous.

According to a compilation of fishing permit sales, there were approximately 15,500,000 licensed fishermen in the United States during 1950, as compared to less than 8,000,000 m 1940. The 1950 figure does not include an excess of more than 5,000,000 children, women, salt water anglers, or others who are not required to secure Licenses. This information was compiled by the Sport Fishing Institute.

STATE WALLEYE HATCHERY ENLARGED ... 20 New Rearing Ponds Added

The year 1943 will long be remembered by Nebraska fishermen for during that 365-day period the Nebraska Game Commission completed construction of the North Platte fish hatchery, the first hatchery in Nebraska to be devoted primarily to artificial propagation of walleyes. The past year— 1951—will be equally as well remembered as the Game Commission doubled the Walleye production potential at the hatchery, constructing 20 additional one-acre rearing ponds.

What will the 20 new ponds mean to Nebraska anglers? It'll mean more thousands upon thousands of walleyes —the fightin' fish with the large whitish glassy eyes and the strong canine teeth. Already, since the hatchery first began nursery operations, more than three and one-half million walleyes have been reared and released in suitable waters throughout the state. Walleye fishing in the state picked up from almost nothing to something "to talk about." And—the walleyes have grown large in the state, some of the "big ones" tipping the scales at well over 11 pounds, lunkers in any state's walleye waters.

Nebraska's "walleye story" actually got underway in 1942 when new reservoirs either were being built or were in the planning stage. The Game Commission, after conducting numerous experiments, found that the walleye would be ideal for the larger waters. Walleye prefer moderately deep, clear-flowing waters with rock, gravel or sand bottoms. Walleye were being hatched and reared at the time, but in very limited numbers at the state's warm water fish hatchery at Gretna in southeast Nebraska. More walleyes had to be produced if ample numbers were to be stocked in the large string of man-made reservoirs.

This realization gave birth to the   12 Outdoor Nebraska state's unique walleye hatchery, located a few miles south of North Platte, just below the large reservoir known as Lake Maloney. Water from Maloney furnishes the entire water supply for the hatchery. Ten ponds were constructed—one three-acres in size and the remaining nine one-acre in size. In addition to the ponds, the Game Commission built a modern hatch house, finished in light colored brick and completely cemented and tiled inside. Here the eggs were hatched and stocked immediately as "fry" in the outside rearing ponds. A few years later, nine more ponds were constructed.

In 1951, the Game Commission built the 20 new rearing ponds to meet the ever increasing demand for walleyes. This popular fish was being stocked in streams formerly inhabited by walleyes. Other waters found suitable were also being planted with walleyes, often mistakenly called walleyed pike. Walleyes, incidentally, are not pike, but instead are members of the perch family.

Twenty new rearing ponds. That doesn't sound like much, but actually, it turned out to be a mammoth job. More than 170,000 cubic yards of earth were moved. The project, started April 16, 1951, required 24,800 man hours and 5,200 equipment hours. Following are a few of the other figures' which reflect the immensity of the job: Installed 1,620 lineal feet of 6-inch water line, 1,920 lineal feet of 8-inch water line, 984 lineal feet of 10-inch water line, 2,486 lineal feet of 18 and 24-inch drain lines; constructed and installed 25 valves, 16 pallets, 16 kettles, 1 valve box, 20 control boxes, 20 aprons; remodeled four old kettles and salvaged 2,290 feet of old pipe.

Eugene H. Baker, supervisor of the Game Commission's Construction and Engineering division and who had charge of the project, expressed his appreciation to the Engineering staff of the Platte Valley Public Power and Irrigation District and the Don Anderson Construction company of North Platte for their fine cooperation in the project.

Upon completion of the enlargement project, the North Platte hatchery now ranks among the largest and most modern of its kind in the United States. Nebraska's other hatcheries and the fish they produce are Gretna (catfish, bass, crappie, bullheads and a few trout); Valentine (bass, bluegill, crappie, bullheads, trout); Rock Creek (trout, crappie, bass, bluegill, rock bass), and Benkelman (bass, bluegill, crappie).

FIND THE VIOLATIONS

A number of violations appear in the following story. Test your game law aptitude by finding these violations. Answers appear at the end of the story.

JOE and Bill, 15 and 17 years old respectively, are outdoorsmen in the exact sense of the word. They're crazy about being out in the "wild." Hunting captures their fancy, however, over everything else. Their style is kind of cramped now with pheasant, waterfowl, quail and squirrel hunting over. But, there's still the rabbit season. —1

It's a cold, frigid, wintry day as the two, decked out in the warmest clothes they could find, trudge out to their rabbit "haven." While slushing through the knee deep snow, young Joe begins telling Bill about the past pheasant season. "I had good luck, darn good luck," Joe said. —2

"I got at least two or three birds each time I went hunting. You know, I'm a pretty good shot if I have to say so myself. I got tired of pheasants for a while and tried my luck rabbit hunting. I took my ole .22 and went out to the place we're going now. —3

"I got 12 or 13 cottontails. I was ready to head for home when a big rooster flushed. He was close and I aimed and fired. My aim hit dead center. The bird dropped." —4

Bill remarked, "That's fine and dandy, but let's see if you can hit anything today." Bob's accuracy was just as good as ever. Both he and Bill shot all the rabbits they needed. —5

On the following day, desperate for something to do, Bill suggested they do some trapping. Joe thought it'd be fun even though neither of the two had an inkling of an idea as to how to trap. They talked to a friend of theirs who was an experienced trapper. This friend gave the boys a couple of traps, told them how and where to set them and advised them of the name of a local fur buyer to whom they could sell the furs. —6

Bob, becoming more anxious over the idea of trapping as time progressed, asked the friend if he had trapped this year. "Yep," he replied. "I got off to a quick start. I had all my traps set for muskrats before midnight on Nov. 14. All of my traps were ready when the season got under way. And, I've done pretty good so far." —7

Equipped with the traps, the boys headed toward the nearest permit vendor. Bob, under 15, didn't bother to buy a trapping permit. Bill, on the other hand, purchased a trapping permit as he passed the 16 mark better than a year ago. —8

The boys returned to the area where the friend suggested they set the traps. This they did. On the following morning, they checked the traps. One trap   14 Outdoor Nebraska had a muskrat. On looking it over, they found that the muskrat's fur had been mutilated. They figured it wasn't worth keeping so tossed the carcass of the muskrat in a nearby stream. The traps were set again. —9

The following morning produced better results. Two muskrats were taken, both in fine condition. To their surprise, one trap caught a beaver. Following their friend's suggestion, the boys took the muskrat and beaver hides— after skinning them out—to the local fur buyer. Furs were bringing in a pretty good price at the time so the boys were well rewarded for their efforts. —10

The monotony of trapping soon became boring to Joe and Bill. They sought other outlets for their enthusiasm. Bill had heard that some of the fellows were having good luck while fishing through the ice. This the two boys hadn't tried yet so they decided to give it a whirl. Shortly thereafter— on a cold January morning—Joe and Bill met at the lake. Bill brought along two spears he used last summer in spearing carp and buffalo. They started cutting a large hole in the ice. —11

The hole in the ice completed, Bill warned Joe that he shouldn't spear anything but carp, buffalo and other non-game fish. He mentioned that it specifically states in the fishing regulations that it is unlawful to spear game fish. A few minutes passed before the first carp lumbered by. Bill tossed the spear and hit the mark. —12

Not many more carp or any other rough fish passed by. They soon learned that few species of fish are very active during the winter months. The lack of targets and the bitter north wind convinced the boys that they'd be more comfortable back home. Both agreed that home was the place to be so they racked up their gear and called it quits —for the day, anyway.

1. PARAGRAPH NO. 4—"I got 12 or 13 cottontails." VIOLATION—Bag and possession limit on cottontails is 10.

2. PARAGRAPH NO. 4—". . . . when a big rooster flushed. He was close and I aimed and fired. My aim hit dead center. The bird dropped." VIOLATION —In paragraph No. 3 it mentioned that he went hunting with a .22. He used the rifle to shoot the pheasant. It's illegal to shoot a game bird with a rifle.

3. PARAGRAPH NO.; 7—" 'Yep," he replied. "I got off to a quick start. I had all my traps set for muskrats before midnight on Nov. 14. All of my traps were ready when the season got underway.' " VIOLATION — Muskrat trapping season (We're taking for granted that it occurred in Area 2 of the State) didn't get under way until Nov. 15. It is unlawful to place and set the traps prior to the opening of the season.

4. PARAGRAPH NO. 8—"Bob, under 15, didn't bother to buy a trapping permit." VIOLATION—All individuals desiring to trap must have a trapping permit regardless of age.

5. PARAGRAPH NO. 9—". ... On looking it over, they found the muskrat's fur had been mutilated. They figured it wasn't worth keeping so tossed the carcass of the muskrat in a nearby stream." VIOLATION—It is unlawful to throw carcasses into the waters of the state.

6. PARAGRAPH NO. 10—". . . .one trap caught a beaver. Following their friend's suggestion, the boys took the muskrat and beaver hides—after skinning them out—to the local fur buyer.

Know Your Warden
ART EDMUNDS

NEBRASKA'S flying warden—that's A. O. "Art" Edmunds, conservation officer in Hall, Howard, Merrick and Nance counties. Though Art does a lot of flying for the Game Commission, both on patrol and waterfowl surveys, he also manages to spend considerable time on the ground.

Art, a native of Cumro, Neb., spent most of his life as a youngster in Burlington, la., where his father, an ardent sportsman, taught him how to fish, hunt and shoot. Art began working for the Game department in 1937. He worked out of North Platte and both the northern and southeastern parts of the state before being assigned to Grand Island, still his headquarters. Art mentioned that when he was first employed, he and other wardens "stayed away from towns for a week at a time, camped out and slept in cars, so therefore, did not have the contact with the public as we do now."

Conservation Officer Edmunds has had his share of unusual experiences. After arresting a man for hunting without a permit, the violator and his party slashed all four tires on Art's car. Another violator shot out the windows of Art's home. While in a strange area, Art—accompanied by his pal, a springer spaniel dog—was out on a patrol. A farmer, who didn't want any hunting on his place, stopped Art, taking him for an out-of-season hunter. A lengthy conversation resulted in learning that the old gentleman was a retired minister who had married Art some years before.

Since Art began flying the Game Commission airplane in 1947, he has seen practically the entire state from the air. In addition to his law enforcement activities from the air, he has made a number of duck surveys and also checked nesting areas in the vast sand hills. Art and the airplane have played important roles in 1949, '50 and '51 deer hunts.

Art, like all other employees of the Game Commission, loves hunting and fishing. He's also quite an excellent "shot." Art held the Nebraska State Skeet two years and won a number of smaller trophies at 16-yard shoots. In 1949, he won the Class B preliminary 16-yard event in the Grand American Shoot at Vandalia, Ohio. He was runner-up in the preliminary handicap.

WANTED!
PREFERABLY IN BUT A FEW WATERS

CARP MINNOW, alias Leatherback, Mud Carp, Hogfish, Golden Carp, Silver Carp and Waterhog.

Notorious CARP MINNOW wanted for rooting up and destroying vegetation; rendering water turbid, making lake bottoms unfit for feeding and spawning of game fish; competing for food, and, once given toehold, gaining terrific numerical superiority over other fishes.

CARP MINNOW is not a native, but a foreigner. He was brought from Europe in 1872 and released in California.

Physical description: CARP MINNOW has emarginate tail (with small notch); pelvic fin is placed in about middle of belly between pectoral and anal fins; dorsal fin is single and in middle of body, and is elongate; dorsal and anal fins have strong, saw-edged spines; has sucker type mouth, rounded snout; has two barbels, or whiskers, on each side of his mouth; usually has relatively large scales, but above all, he is never slender in build.

WARNING! He is dangerous and potent. He can ruin a fishing water in short time for other species of fish. He may he wearing yellowish, brassy, very dark green, brown or black colors when apprehended in muddy lakes or bright silvery and very clear appearing color when in gravel bottom streams.

Better fishing for all concerned.

NOTE: CARP MINNOW is one of the ten most wanted fish on the FBI's (Fishing Betterment Institute) list. He often gains admittance into many waters posing as a harmless minnow.

Carp Have Place—In Waters Unsuited for Game Species

"THOUGH such a poster as that found on page 16 has yet to be posted in this state, and to our knowledge in most other states, such a warning could serve to alert the fishing public to the danger of possible ruination of our fishing waters as a result of infiltration by the prolific carp.

Many of our waters are already overrun by carp. Many others are endangered with such a situation. It isn't too late to help retard the full-scale mobilization of carp in our not too abundant fishing waters.

As mentioned, carp inhabit most of our waters today. They will flourish and multiply unless we do something about it. This is the job for you and me as fishermen. We must be extremely careful in the selection of minnows for use as live bait. We must segregate the carp from the other species of minnows. We shouldn't dump our bucket of minnows into the pond or lake after   18 Outdoor Nebraska "calling it quits" unless we're absolutely certain none of them are carp.

Many anglers, because they lack information as to the physical characteristics of carp, and others, because they just don't give a darn, are the chief offenders. They use just any minnow. And—when doing just this—they endanger fishing in that particular water. It takes only a few carp minnows to free themselves from the barb of a hook and escape into the lake or pond to establish an amazingly tremendous reproduction potential.

A carp, incidentally, is one of the largest members of the minnow family.

Just stop to imagine that a 15 to 20 pound carp can lay as many as two million eggs each year. That's a lot of fish, isn't it Actually, however, the staggering number of eggs isn't as alarming as it would seem as many of the eggs fail to hatch or the resultant fry fail to live as parent carp are not "home bodies;" they don't tend to the eggs and their offspring.

Even though many of the two million eggs are wasted, those that remain can raise havoc with any fishing water. The time to stop carp is before they are released, not after. The reason for this is that carp are exceedingly wary and can be seined only with great care. When startled, they stick their snout into the mud bottom. Consequently, once carp are established, they are difficult to remove.

When you buy minnows, look for the carp characteristics. They're not glaring characteristics, but they can be found upon careful observation. These telling signs in identifying carp from other minnows were mentioned in the poster on page 16. But, for review purposes, the major features are again listed. The carp has two barbels, or whiskers, on each side of the mouth. It has a sucker type mouth and rounded snout. It has an emarginate tail (with small notch) and has saw-edged spines in its dorsal and anal fins. Some carp are without scales, but most have them.

If you seine your own minnows, practice the same precautions. You might also avoid shallow lakes and sluggish rivers where carp are known to abound in greatest concentrations.

Why is the carp such a bad character. As he is particularly fond of tender roots and shoots of young aquatic plants, he often uproots large quantities of vegetation. When abundant enough, he can render the water turbid and the bottom unfit for the feeding and spawning of other fish. He occupies precious space. He competes for food and when allowed to run out of control, soon gains a terrific numerical superiority over other fish.

The result—the other fish have to give. The hardy carp flourishes while other species suffer. Fishing likewise suffers. Few anglers prefer fishing for carp, though the number of such anglers is increasing annually.

Surprising as it may seem, the carp has its place. He furnishes food for the market. His most prominent place is, however, in waters unsuited for game species. It is here that he has found a home in some Nebraska waters and will in the future be welcomed in waters of other states.

Nebraska has a number of fishing waters unsuited for most species of fish. Rather than permit these lakes to lay idle and consequently be of no value to our fishing populace, the Nebraska Game Commission has seined carp-infested waters and stocked the carp in these waters. The result has been both encouraging and productive. Anglers have something for which to fish.

Though the carp appears stupid and sluggish as it lazily makes its way foraging for food, it takes a contrasting appearance when it gets hooked. Its battle for life provides sport as thrilling as that ensued when tangling with a trout or other "fighter." And—recipes and other preparations have been made whereby the "bony" carp can make a delicious and "boneless" dish.

But—let's keep the carp out of our good waters. They're so few and so heavily fished. Let's check those minnows we buy or seine. If they have the carp characteristics, don't use them! And—don't dump that minnow pail into the lake, pond or stream unless you're absolutely certain—not just sure—that they're not carp minnows.

The carp has its place. It's in the waters unsuited for other fish. Let's keep him there!

LOCKED ANTLERS...

NO WINNER—Two white-tailed buck deer—heads and antlers of which are being displayed by Supervisor of Law Enforcement Bill Cunningham and Warden John Harpham—engaged in an apparent battle of supremacy on the Missouri river bottoms near old St. DeRoin, along the Nemaha-Richardson county line. The verdict—a draw. From all indications, it appears that during the struggle, the deer locked antlers. While in this position, one buck threw the other, probably breaking its neck and killing it. Unable to move about and feed, the other buck probably died as a result of starvation. The deer were found when a Falls City earth moving contractor was plowing under a willow break.

LAND OWNER- SPORTSMAN COOPERATION pays dividends. Opening of lands and waters to public means more sportsmen, resulting in more means for Commission to accelerate activities.

ACCELERATED ACTIVITIES means more game for hunter, more help for farmer and rancher, and more fish for angler.

GAME BELONGS TO ALL OF US ... Land Owner, Sportsman Alike

OUR GAME—our pheasants, quail, grouse, rabbits, squirrels, deer, fish and all other species of wildlife—belongs to each and every one of us. This game is invested in us by the State of Nebraska. No person has any more right to this game than you, your neighbor, the farmer, the sportsman or myself—as residents of this state. It is all ours together. And—according to law—the job of managing wildlife in this state has been assigned to the Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission.

Those of us who are sportsmen naturally wish to harvest the game surplus, though always remaining cognizant of the necessity of retaining a bountiful seed crop to assure continued years of comparable hunting and fishing. As most hunting and much fishing is practiced on privately-owned lands and waters, it is the privilege of the property owner to grant us permission to hunt and fish on his properties. We, as sportsmen, benefit to no end by receiving consent to enter upon such areas, but he, too—the land owner—benefits greatly in the exchange.

A third agency or group likewise benefits. That is your Game department. More privately-owned lands and waters being opened to sportsmen means more permit fees. More permit money enables the Game department to accelerate its activities— raising and stocking more fish to create better fishing; increasing natural habitat and improved game management, resulting in improved hunting, just to mention a few. But—to realize these benefits—you as sportsmen, others as property owners and we as the Game department—must cooperate and work together continuously. If one of the three links would sputter and stop, fishing and hunting in this state would be seriously curtailed.

Without any hesitation or doubt, the greatest benefits derived by sportsmen in this cooperative program are better fishing and hunting and more places to indulge in these sports. The latter is governed almost entirely by property owners. The courtesy, respect and cooperation afforded the property owner by sportsmen are determining factors in what areas can be hunted and fished. Were sportsmen to lag in this respect, their potential fishing and hunting areas would be drastically curtailed as only a small portion of the state's 77,237 square miles consist of stateowned properties. This is being remedied to some extent as the Game department is continually purchasing public hunting grounds and public fishing waters.

But it goes without saying that the sportsman needs the land owner if he wants to continue at his present pace. The story doesn't stop there. The land and water owner needs the sportsman almost as much as the hunter or angler needs the property owner.

The number of privately-owned lands and waters opened to the public upon request regulates the number of sportsmen. This number, whether it be small or large, in turn regulates the property owner's benefits. The larger the number of sportsmen, the greater the benefits to the property owner.

For if he and other property owners permit fishing and hunting, the increased number of sportsmen will result in more funds with which the Game department can operate. Many of these operations affect the property owner, both directly and indirectly. The Game Commission carries out a habitat restoration program in conjunction with soil conservation practiced by the Soil Conservation service. Just glance at the following facts and figures and you can readily recognize how a property owner can benefit.

During 1951, the Commission's habitat restoration crews planted over 900,000 trees throughout the state; made 161 different plantings, primarily around farms,   22 Outdoor Nebraska on odd corners of farms created by contour farming and on small two, three and four-acre patches found impractical to farm, and planted 151 different rosa multiflora living fence rows. Since 1947, the habitat restoration crews of the Game Commission have made 882 different farm plantings, planted more than two and one-half million trees and planted 40 miles of living fence. Please remember, these plantmgg have been made possible by permit fees.

How do these plantings profit the property owner? The plantings have a multiple purpose—erosion control, farm beautification, insect control (more trees and shrubs mean more wildlife and consequently increased insect control), shelterbelt and livestock protection. The sportsman gains comparably as these restored habitat plantings will enable the particular areas to support more wildlife.

Much of the wildlife now found in the state has increased in numbers or been introduced as a result of permit fees. Our ring-necked pheasants, as an example, are not native birds. They were introduced into this state. Subsequent stocking of pheasants on privately-owned lands has been made possible by sportsmen purchasing hunting or fishing permits. By far and large, our wildlife, particularly the birds, are one of the greatest natural insect controls known. Their value can not be overemphasized.

Some game, if left unmanaged and unharvested, might overpopulate with the result of weak wildlife. Others might overpopulate to the extent that they eat themselves out of house and home.

Probably the greatest benefit for the land owner and which can't be measured in length of living fence rows, number of trees planted or abundance of wildlife, is that satisfaction derived from some sportsman thanking him for the opportunity to enter upon his lands and experience the thrills known only while fishing and hunting.

Yes, everyone benefits when we all work together. Cooperation is a big word— but one which requires little effort to be realized. Let's adhere to its true meaning and we will all prosper. And we must remember two important things: game belongs to all of us equally as residents of the state and hunting and fishing on privately-owned properties is a privilege, not a right.

Violations

Furs were bringing in a pretty good price at the time so the boys were well rewarded for their efforts." VIOLATION—It is illegal to trap beaver without a special beaver damage permit which can be obtained from the Game Commission. As the boys accidentally trapped a beaver in their muskrat traps, they should have contacted either the local conservation officer or the Game Commission office. The boys had the beaver in their possession illegally and sold the beaver to the fur buyer without having it sealed. The fur buyer also committed a violation by purchasing the unsealed beaver hide.

7. PARAGRAPH NO. 12—"A few minutes passed before the first carp lumbered by. Bill tossed the spear and hit the mark." VIOLATION—It is unlawful not only to spear game fish during any time of the year, but also unlawful to spear carp, buffalo and other non-game fish species during the winter. Spearing of rough fish is permitted only between April 1 and December 1. Certain waters at that time are closed to such spearing.

Rosa Multiflora Not New

Most Nebraskans consider rosa multiflora, which serves both as wildlife cover and a living fence row, as relatively new in the state. It is, however, a veteran plant in Nebraska. In 1947, the Nebraska Game Commission began distributing this plant. The state highway department made a couple of ornamental plantings with rosa multiflora about ten years ago. But rosa multiflora's history in Nebraska goes back even farther than that. For a period of about 50 years, rosa multiflora has been used as a root stock for grafting ornamental roses.

Outdoor Nebraska Quiz

Test your ability to answer the following Outdoor Nebraska questions. A score of nine is excellent; eight or seven is good; six or five is fair; and four or below is poor. For answers see page 46.

Wide Diversity of Fish in State ...

Nebraska provides its resident anglers with a wide diversity of both fish and fishing waters. Our waters are inhabited by rainbow, brook and brown trout, rock bass, white bass, largemouth and smallmouth bass, black and white crappie, bluegill, green sunfish (and several other species of sunfish), black and yellow bullheads, walleye, sauger, perch, drum, northern pike, grass pickerel, yellow, blue and yellow catfish, sturgeon, carp, quillback, buffalo, suckers and many other species of non-game fish. Fresh water clams and eels are also found in some of our waters.

IT PAYS TO KNOW

Wildlife Tracks

Wildlife Tracks con't

WINTER HOMES FOR WILDLIFE

WILDLIFE generally disperses to reproductive areas in spring and inhabits the approximate vicinity rearing its young during the warm summer months. In the winter, however, wildlife tends to "collect its numbers" and concentrates in more restricted and smaller areas. Hence suitable food and resting area must be available. In addition, some species of wildlife need loafing and escape cover. The bobwhite quail, one of the less mobile species, requires a travel way such as a fence row joining its food area with the roosting or sleeping area.

The winter quarters of wildlife must have the proper combination of food and roosting or resting cover. It is all-important in its survival during the frigid winter months when wildlife populations are at a low ebb. Winter will eliminate the weakest and diseased and those quartered in areas where cover or ample food is lacking. Let's put on our heavy winter clothing and take a quick trip to the winter quarters of some species of Nebraska's wildlife.

The ring-necked pheasant, Nebraska's king game bird, winters where he can find a suitable roosting place, a food patch and a loafing area. His roosting place will vary, but in general, any sparse weedy vegetation provides sufficient protection. He roosts on the ground, but on occasions, has been observed roosting overnight in trees. During periods of heavy snowfall, pheasants work to remain on top of the snow and consequently, become exposed to the severity of the weather. Their nostrils may ice, and, as occasionally happens, suffocation results. The pheasant is unlike the prairie chicken or sharptailed grouse which burrow into the snow.

The food of the ring-necked pheasant has to be in the proximity of his roosting area. This distance can be greater than that for the quail between its roosting and feeding areas. Corn fields provide the major item on the winter diet. The pheasant will also eat a large variety of weed seeds, among them sunflower and ragweed. Nebraska's sand hills pheasant population depends almost entirely upon sunflower seeds during the winter months. Feeding time is in the early morning shortly after coming off the roost and again in the late afternoon.

A brushy canopy, such as a plum thicket, constitutes his loafing area. It could be a lone tree, a low brushy tree, a shelter belt or even big weeds. The pheasant spends the middle of the day loafing.

The winter home of a covey of quail centers around a combination of brushy cover, permanent food patch and a suitable roosting area, all linked together by travel lanes. These lanes can be weedy fence rows, hedge rows or rosa multiflora fence rows. The roosting site is preferably in light cover such as tickle grass. They like sleeping in a comparatively open area in thin grass which has not been cropped too short. Quail roost on the   Outdoor Nebraska 29 ground, sleeping side by side in a circular group.

The daytime loafing area should be something woody, but generally open underneath. This will permit sun to filter through, but at the same time, provide protection. On a cold and cloudy day, quail tend to bunch in these areas. As a rule, however, they scatter out in a small area, though still as a united group.

Corn is important as quail food. They can get by without it, however, in some localities. A hand-picked corn field is preferred to a machine-picked field. Quail living next to a hand-picked field have known to survive during prolonged heavy snow while those living next to a machine-picked field have not. Quail are hardy and can take cold weather—if they have food. The feeding pattern follows that of pheasants— early morning and late afternoon.

Both the sharp-tailed grouse and its relative the pinnated grouse or prairie chicken need extensive stands of good grass with some tall stems during the winter months. Brush and tree groves are useful, too, but grass is the No. 1 item. Grouse roost on the ground. When snow covers the ground, trees become important. A heavy snow storm may completely bury the grouse as it rests on the ground. If, as sometimes happens, rain follows snow and in turn is succeeded by freezing weather, a crust is formed which imprisons the bird and starvation can result.

In the fall of the year, there is a movement of prairie chicken from the grassy sandhills area into the edge country—that area between the cultivated lands and the sand hills region.

Corn is an important food for prairie chickens. Both species bud on willows and cottonwoods. Grouse make flights as long as a mile or more from the roosting area to feed and a flight of similar distance from the feeding area to the mid-day loafing area often located on sunny slopes of grassy hills.

The home range of both species of grouse is larger than that of either the pheasant or quail. Pheasants are said to have an intermediate range, the quail the smallest range and grouse the largest range. Consequently, a much larger area is needed to support grouse than for quail or pheasants.

Deer prefer to winter in areas protected from the wind and where they can find an abundance of food. They usually bed down on the upper edge of draws where ample escape cover such as small trees, plum thickets and other woody brush growing in the draws.

Unlike the day-time feeding antelope, deer spend most of the day resting and the early morning and evening hours browsing. Food consists of woody twig tips, buckbrush, skunk bush, pine and herbaceous plants.

Buck deer usually travel alone during the winter months while does and fawns of the preceding summer tend to collect in small herds. Activities are hampered somewhat by heavy snow. A belly-deep snow will leave a deer almost helpless. Since the state's snow as a rule are not too heavy, our deer do not "yard." This is a situation where a large number of deer gather in the same small area where food abounds and together trample down the snow.

The fox squirrel, largest of all squirrels in North America and which is the most abundant tree squirrel in Nebraska, prefers a winter abode in a den tree. A den tree, incidentally, is a tree with a natural hole or crevice large enough to enter. Squirrels prefer such a home in open timber or near the edge of denser timber. Preparatory to the winter season, squirrels build their nests during the fall of the year. The nest is made up of laced twigs with leaves attached. Several layers of damp leaves are pressed against the innerside, making a wall capable of keeping out rain, snow and wind. The nest is then lined with soft shreds of inner bark and bits of leaves.

Squirrels rarely travel more than 1,000 feet from their home. They're actually "home bodies." On raw winter days, they might not venture outside before the middle of the morning, and sometimes, not even at all. They must venture out at the first opportune time for food, however.

Nuts are buried during fall. Their hiding places, however, are not remembered as a rule. Squirrels actually "stumble across" the "hidden nuts by smell or some other attraction. The nut supply is usually exhausted by early winter. Other food such as corn, osage orange "hedge apples," tree buds and large seeds such as sunflowers are then eaten.

Muskrats inhabiting the sand hills region of the state build their homes in shallow waters, usually in a marsh or swamp. The entrance is underwater, enabling them to move about freely in search of food when the water surface freezes. Houses are constructed out of cattails, bullrushes, sedges and submerged aquatic plants. They forage each night for their daily meals which consist of much of the material used in the construction of their homes.

In eastern Nebraska, muskrats prefer bank dens if suitable banks are available. The den is dug out by the muskrat himself. The muskrats in the eastern part of the state feed on corn and available aquatic vegetative plants.

The home range of muskrats, whether it be in the sandhills where they live in marshes and swamps or in the eastern part of the state where they inhabit bank dens, is comparatively short. Muskrats travel considerably less than 100 yards from their respective houses.

The bushy-haired raccoon finds winter quarters along timbered stream banks, utilizing den trees, particularly large cottonwoods. In milder periods of winter, some coons habitually use dens while others prefer to lay in the open on a limb in the sunshine. In the sand hills where the terrain is largely devoid   Outdoor Nebraska 31 of suitable den trees, coons will utilize some of the many hay stacks. They "scratch out" a hollow place. In other parts of the state—such as western Nebraska where there are box elders, scrub oak, pine and cedar, none of which are suitable for den trees—coons live in rocky ledges. They will also occupy abandoned burrows made by other animals.

Major food is again corn. Coons eat corn either off the stalks or that they find on the ground. When streams are open, they fish for food. While frozen over, coons still work the banks, searching for what they may find—a mouse, a frozen grasshopper or frozen fruit, such as a wild grape. Coons feed nightly, except on occasions of most severe weather when they may be "holed up" for a day or two. Raccoon do not remain inactive for any period of time as they do farther north.

Brushy cover such as a hedge row is a popular winter home of the cottontail rabbit. He is not equipped for digging and consequently makes no burrows. He does the next best thing, often occupying abandoned homes of skunks, woodchucks or even an old badger digging.

Some cottontails patronize a "form" surrounded by grass. A "form" is a spot in a grassy area where the cottontail scratches out a bare place, hugs the ground and utilizes the protection provided by the tall grass. When using a "form," you feel reasonably certain that escape cover is nearby, such as a brush pile, a wooded area or corn field. He will also live in corn shocks, soy bean piles and straw stacks. His habitat is strikingly similar to that of quail.

Cottontails are nocturnal feeders. They eat corn when available. Other important winter foods are bark, roots and other parts of woody plants.

Heavy snows greatly impede the cottontail's activities. His hind feet are not adapted like other hare for movement in snow. He sinks down in the snow and soon becomes exhausted.

Nebraska is inhabited by both the striped and spotted skunk. Their winter homes are similar. It is usually a burrow in the ground. The skunk may dig the burrow himself or merely take over an abandoned woodchuck, badger or fox den. Skunks also use hollow logs, trees with a hole near the base or an abandoned building. Skunks winter both above and in the ground.

These animals den alone or in almost any combination of ages and sex. Sometimes an excess of ten skunks sleep together in the same den. The dens have bedding made up of dry leaves and grass. The leaves and grass are also used to plug the tunnel doorway during severe weather.

Skunks generally hunt all night and sleep most of the day. The farther north the skunk is in the United States, the longer his sleep will be. The sleep is brought on by a low temperature reading. It is not real hibernation. The length of the sleep varies considerably with locality, sex, and age of the skunks. In the south, the sleep lasts but a few days, while in the north young skunks retire at the first sign of cold and do not become active again until spring.

Their food consists of mice, frozen grasshoppers and insects. Though slow afoot, skunks will pounce upon roosting birds once the opportunity presents itself.

CRIPPLES DON'T COUNT

"'T'HE best chance I had all week was on a six-point buck standing in a clearing about 30 yards away. I carefully aimed for the heart and pulled the trigger. I'd have bet a million that he was hit, but as soon as I fired, he bounded away into the brush and I lost him." Or, "I'll even bet I lost half of the pheasants I hit last fall just because they started to run as soon as they hit the ground, or they hid where I could not find them."

As we lounge around under the shade of a picnic tree discussing the hunting days of seasons past, it may be well to look into some of the functions of the animal body. Especially of the game we are trying to bring home. How can some of the "odd" reactions of wounded game be explained?

The fundamental function or action of any living animal is to remain alive. Most animals will flee from their predators and even the wounded will attempt to slip away and hide, hoping that they may recover. The hunter and the conservationist talk about shooting game dead, hitting the vital centers to make certain that the game is not wasted. If we can explain some of the reactions of the body by examining the functioning of these vital centers, perhaps we can better explain the actions of wounded game.

The animal body is made up of a group of systems, all functioning towards the common cause of keeping the animal alive and healthy. Some of these systems are the nervous system, circulatory system (heart and blood vessels), muscular system and skeletal system, along with others equally important.

As great as the importance of these systems is. however, they are not in their entirety essential for life. The more we study the body, the more we are impressed with the minimal amount of tissue that is really essential for life.

The function of the nervous system is that of conduction. Stimuli arising around the animal create impulses within the body which in turn pass to the brain, and in this manner inform the animal of its surroundings. The nervous system is also concerned with conducting impulses from the brain to the muscles so that the animal may move when it wants to. This conducting system acts to coordinate the body as a unit, and in this manner it keeps the processes of the animal organized.

The nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, and the peripheral nerves which pass out from the cord. Of course, only a small portion which connects the brain with the spinal cord is absolutely essential for life. This part is termed the "medulla oblongata." At the present time, portions of the forebrain in humans are destroyed or removed by surgeons in attempts to correct mental disturbances. You may recall the story which appeared in many newspapers last year about the headless rooster which lived for several days. In attempting to kill this bird, only the upper part of the head including the anterior part of the brain was removed, and yet the bird lived until "killed" again. Likewise, the loss of the spinal cord will cause a complete paralysis of the body yet the animal will survive. Destruction of any of the peripheral nerves causes only a loss of function of that part of the body which they supply.

Let us consider the "brain shot" which is often discussed. Besides the fact that the brain in most animals   Outdoor Nebraska 33 offers a small and constantly moving target, it does not insure immediate death to the animal. A bullet which creases the side of the head but does not injure the brain may stun the animal, but will not kill it. Neither will a shot which enters part of the brain, but does not destroy all of it. Such animals may be blinded, stunned, or lack proper muscle coordination for a time, but they retain the ability to move and sometimes run. Many times this is just enough to elude the hunter. Well then, how about shooting into the "medulla oblongata" and destroying the vital centers of the animal? This would be perfect, if the animal would hold still long enough in an open area while you lined your gun sights and fired. But here again, the smallness of the area and the moving target complicate the shot. "Maybe you could paralyze the limbs by destroying part of the spinal cord." Yes, this is a very worthwhile suggestion. The so-called "neck shot" produces a very paralyzing effect. If the impulses from the brain to the muscles of the legs can be stopped, the legs cannot function as they should and even though the animal may not be dead, it certainly cannot walk or run. If a bullet prevents any part of the spinal cord from functioning normally the part of the body which that part of the spinal cord supplies (muscles of the leg, for instance) is functionless. "Well," you say to yourself, "he has convinced me. I will shoot for the neck or the spinal cord." On your next hunting trip you try this with the following results: The animal suddenly falls after being hit. You assure yourself it cannot move, so you light a cigaret, call to your pals, and start to bleed or dress the animal. About this time, the animal scares the life out of you by leaping to its feet and .racing off through the timber. You begin to curse. An illustration of this appeared in the papers not long ago. A hunter shot a large deer, walked up to it and placing his gun across the antlers, prepared to dress the animal. Suddenly the deer leaped up and raced off, taking the hunter's gun with him.

Now there is an explanation for this action also. We said before that if a bullet prevented the spinal cord from functioning normally the animal would be paralyzed. We did not say that the spinal cord was destroyed. The functioning of any nervous tissue may be prevented merely by mechanical compression of the tissue. A high velocity missile may cause all of the symptoms of complete destruction without having even touched the cord. Such cases as these were classified during the last war as "spinal concussion" cases. The energy which is transmitted to the tissue surrounding the path of the bullet is imparted radially to the trajectory of the bullet, and this compression may cause a momentary loss of function. For example, a bullet traveling 1,000 feet per second may traverse the entire spinal canal without touching the spinal cord and yet cause no apparent loss of function or damage. However, a bullet of the same size which travels at a rate of 4,000 feet   34 Outdoor Nebraska per second through the same course within the spinal canal may cause complete loss of function of the cord, still without apparent damage. The pressure waves created by the more rapidly moving bullet distorts the surrounding tissue and in this manner prevents the tissue from functioning normally. This loss of function may disappear within a few minutes and even though the animal has been hit, the nerves will function in the normal fashion again, and it may escape.

The degree of radial compression imparted by high velocity bullets may affect the muscles of the animal as well as the nervous system. The stunning of frogs, by shooting into the water adjacent to them will prevent any immediate movement of the body. Yet upon examination of the body, no apparent damage can be noted. If left alone for a few minutes the frog will hop into the water. Squirrel hunters often tell of shooting into the bark of the tree, right next to a squirrel, the animal becoming stunned and falling to the ground, again without apparent damage by the bullet.

"All right, all right, what about shooting for the heart?" you may ask. As essential as the heart is for life, it will stand a great deal of abuse. The function of the heart is to pump blood through the body and thereby furnish the necessary oxygen to the tissues. If you stop the heart by destroying it, or the nerves within it, the pumping effect stops immediately. However, the muscle tissue still has enough oxygen for a limited amount of activity. Just as a man preparing to run the 100-yard dash will inhale just before the starting gun is fired and then hold his breath until the race is over, an animal is capable of running several hundred feet after the heart stops beating. Of course, a large amount of blood is lost from the blood vascular system in such a shot, but the muscles can still contract to a limited extent. Hence, it should be imperative that when one is certain that his bullet hit the animal in the heart area, the wounded animal should be tracked down. It can't go too far.

Many times a bullet will pass right through the heavy muscle of the heart and the animal will continue for a great distance. The muscle of the heart and of the chest wall also has the ability to close over such a wound rather quickly, much as a bullet-proof gasoline tank seals over. This is the case often seen, especially with small bore ammunition and in large game.

From this discussion, it sounds as though the animal will escape no matter where it is hit. Naturally this is not true. The most effective shot for big game is in the shoulder area, where the bullet may paralyze either or both of the front legs, and in this manner prevent the animal from moving very far. Also, the compression effect mentioned above may impair the function of the spinal cord. The base of the heart also lies in this area, and together with the above mentioned effects, the large vessels leaving the heart may be destroyed or at least opened. The paralyzing effect of breaking one or more legs is a great advantage in that the heart will continue to beat for some time, thus allowing the hunter to open the animal and bleed it out more completely.

Many of the above explanations also hold true for upland game and migratory fowl. The damage caused by small pellets from shotgun shells is many times inadequate to produce immediate death. Yet they do cause enough damage to produce death later. For instance, a cock pheasant is flushed, you wait for the proper range and fire, yet the bird sails off into the blue. Many times if you watch those birds that you are certain you hit, you will see them fall, stone dead, as far away as a quarter of a mile. When they fall, they don't have enough energy to even try and hide. Or, you hit a pheasant, and it immediately begins a long spiraling climb straight up. This may continue for several seconds until the bird is 80 to 100 feet or higher, and then like a falling star, it plummets to earth. Pheasants which have been hit, drop

Focus the Picture

FOLLOWING are the characteristics of an animal found in Nebraska. How many of these descriptive and informative sentences must you read before you can focus the picture. The name and picture of the animal can be found on page 45.

1. This animal is a member of the weasel family. The skunk and mink are also members of this family.

2. This animal is nocturnal in habit. He is, however, occasionally observed during the daytime. He has the ability of skillfully hiding himself even though but a short distance away.

3. He feeds upon about every animal food he can catch and kill. His principal food consists of ground squirrels, field mice and gophers.

4. He has lost many of the typical weasel family characteristics. He is slow and clumsy but possesses great strength. His whole appearance is one of great muscular power.

5. His build is squat, compact and massive. He is broad and about two feet long.

6. His legs are short and thick. His large feet have long and powerfully strong claws, making them valuable digging tools. His head is broad and massive.

7. When curled up asleep, with hairs erect, he resembles a well-stuffed cushion.

8. This animal makes burrows, often in excess of what is needed. He prefers high and dry places for his burrows.

9. He is one of the world's best diggers. When he starts to dig, he just seems to disappear into the earth in a shower of dirt.

10. He fights with a savage snarling ferocity which frightens most opponents. Very few animals can hold their own with him.

11. His fur is thick and coarse and consequently is not of much value. The hair, however, is sometimes used in the manufacture of shaving brushes.

Change in FIshing Regulations

A major change in the fishing regulations for 1952 opens the trout season in the following counties from Apr. 1 thru Oct. 31: Burt, Cuming, Stanton, Madison, Boone, Greeley, Valley, Custer, Logan, McPherson, Grant, Sheridan, Box Butte, Sioux (north of and including the Niobrara river and tributaries), Dawes, Cherry, Hooker, Thomas, Blaine, Brown, Keya Paha, Rock, Loup, Garfield, Wheeler, Holt, Boyd, Knox, Antelope, Pierce, Cedar, Dixon, Wayne, Dakota and Thurston.

All other counties are open throughout the year to trout fishing.

What About the Mountain Lion?

Remember the "lion" stories in eastern Nebraska? On Nov. 14, some Nebraska newspapers and radio stations carried a story about a Ceresco farmer spotting a "lion" on his farm. The farmer fired at the "lion" with a 12 guage pump-action gun. The animal was not hit. He commented, "I never saw an animal so lazy. But he got a little life into him after I shot." He added that the animal growled low and steady, something like a dog.

A hunting party, led by the Saunders county sheriff and two bloodhounds, took pursuit, following tracks along a creek upstream for about a mile on the farm. Navy and Marine personnel from Lincoln gave a helping hand. The animal was traced to a large cave-like hole along the creek bank. No "lion" was found, however.

On the 15th, the "lion" chase was given up. The animal's tracks were messed up, reportedly, by a group of coon hunters during the night. Smoke grenades were tossed in the cave-like hole, however, in the event the animal might still be there. It wasn't.

A resident of Wahoo and who had previously hunted and raised mountain lions on the western slopes of the Rockies, told the sheriff on Nov. 16 that he couldn't understand why anyone who saw the tracks (which lay in a straight line) could say they were not made by a lion. The sheriff at that time pointed out that the curving claws shown in the tracks were not those of a dog.

On Tuesday, Nov. 20, a 15 or 16-year-old boy, who lived on his father's farm a few miles from Alexandria, revealed that he saw a lion-like animal on Saturday, Nov. 10 while bringing in the stock from pasture. He saw the animal at a distance of 30 yards and described it as being three feet high at the shoulders, light brown and with a bushy tail. "It reared on his hind legs and growled," the boy remarked. Several men hunted the vicinity without luck. A search from an airplane also failed. On the night before the boy reported seeing the animal, three hogs on the farm were killed.

The "lion" popped up again on Nov. 22. Four sportsmen, hunting six miles west of Milford, discovered a half devoured carcass of a calf. They decided to go back to their car upon seeing the carcass. As they approached the car, a large cat-like animal ambled away from the vehicle. One of the hunters said the "cat" was about three feet   Outdoor Nebraska 37 high, tan, and had a grey-white coloring under its belly. He said several large tracks were found around the dead calf. The animal was said to look like a cougar.

Two days later, an Omahan reported seeing a big cat-like animal bound across highway 30-A near highway junction 6 west of Omaha. The observer said it looked exactly like a lion "except I couldn't see that he had much of a bush around his neck." He said the animal bounded across the road in long leaps.

On the 26th of November, two unidentified Pender residents reported seeing the animal in the same vicinity where it was first observed in the state. The animal could not be found after a search. Tracks, smaller than those first found near Ceresco, were followed for a short distance. At the same time in Falls City, a farmer reported that some "mighty bold foxes" were operating on the fringe of that city.

A rural mail carrier reported seeing the animal as it crossed the highway near Wahoo. He said the beast was yellow or reddish brown and that it took long strides, "sort of crouching on its back haunches." Upon seeing the animal, the mail carrier contacted the sheriff's office and four deputies raced to the scene. The animal was tracked to a bridge and picked up in the spotlight of the deputy's car. Several shots were fired before the animal ran into some underbrush.

The eastern Nebraska 'lion" on one occasion was said to have "bounded across the road in long leaps." Mountain lions move more like cats. A bounding animal, as an example, is the mule deer.

The Ceresco farmer who shot at the animal said it "growled low and steady, something like a dog." This is in complete contrast with the sound made by mountain lions, if any at all. Some people claim the mountain lion screams like a woman being murdered.

Quoting from MAMMALS OF NORTH AMERICA, "Does the mountain lion scream like a woman being murdered? It is supposed to be the strong silent member of the cat family. Certainly it doesn't go around yowling its head off the way some lesser cats do. Because it has been known to fight silently, and to suffer great agony in traps without uttering a sound, many naturalists have insisted that it did not have a cry. The famous and meticulously honest, Jay Bruce, who had   38 Outdoor Nebraska killed or captured more than 668 lions, has never heard a mountain lion scream."

Reports of finding carcasses of pigs and a young calf adds to the possibility of the mountain lion escapade. However, these animals could have died a natural death and the carcasses been devoured by scavenger predators. In the event a mountain lion was prowling the area, it appears that more carcasses would have been found. The No. 1 food in its diet is a deer. And—as eastern Nebraska lacks sufficient deer to support mountain lions, this in turn dampens this theory. A mountain lion has been reported reliably to kill at least one deer a week. There are reports of one lion killing seven deer in 10 days. Other foods are small rodents, porcupines, skunks and marmots.

When a mountain lion makes a kill, it occasionally drags the carcass to a new spot. After its meal, the carcass is carefully covered with leaves, sticks and pine needles. The carcasses mentioned in the eye witness reports in eastern Nebraska made no mention of any of the carcasses being covered.

The tracks of the mountain lion are quite large. Going back to another of the eastern Nebraska reports, the sheriff pointed out that the curving claws shown in the tracks were not those of a dog. And—they're certainly not typical tracks of mountain lions. Though the mountain lion has claws, their imprint does not appear in the tracks.

The Nebraska Game Commission receives similar reports of "mountain lion" stories each year. But in each instance, there has never been a report of a verified kill of such a lion. And— on several occasions, plaster casts were made of the tracks. Each track was found to be that of a dog.

From all reports to date of eastern Nebraska's "lion" and comparison of them with mountain lion appearance, characteristics, habitat and habits, it appears that some other animal, in all possibility some breed of large dog, was mistakenly identified as the "lion." Eastern Nebraska just isn't mountain lion territory. It is not equipped to support such an animal. But—there is always that faint possibility, though as mentioned before, it is remote, very remote.

Cripples Don't Count

to the ground and begin running as only they can do, only to fall dead in their tracks. The stamina of these birds is amazing. Of course, the numerous broken wings and legs impair the life of the fowl, but many times they recover quickly from these. Pheasants have been killed within the first week of the season which have shown almost complete healing of broken wing bones, or birds are killed with a leg that was broken and healed at an angle.

Many more instances might be cited, but the above few are representative of the average hunting season. As remarkable as the "good" shots we make, is the desire and the ability of the wounded game to survive.

In closing, let me cite a personal illustration experienced while hunting black bear one winter, A large bear was sighted by my companion and when well within range, he fired. As expected, the bear charged directly for the hunter. His first shot had been made at a range of about fifty yards. The second was at a range of thirty-five yards, the third at twenty-five yards and the last one at approximately ten yards. The bear fell only four steps from his feet. Having discussed the above reactions of animals many times, he looked at me and in a somewhat shakey voice said, "I hit every vital spot but the tail."

Phalaropes Are Different

Wilson's phalarope a bird found in the sand hills marshes of Nebraska, differs from most other birds. The female, rather than the male, is brightly and decoratively colored while the male is inconspicuously colored. The male also incubates the eggs.

MAIL BAG

Let's take a look at the Mailbag and some of the many questions contained therein. The following questions are typical of the hundreds of such letters received monthly at the Game Commission office.

Omaha—During the winter months of the year, I am planning to hunt coyotes and wolf in Nebraska. Is a special permit needed or any special guns? What are the bounties and where and what part is turned in? Is there a season?

(No special permit is needed to hunt coyotes. There are no limitations on the guns used in hunting coyotes. A bounty of $2.50 is paid by the county for coyote scalps. The scalp must be presented with the ears intact.)

West Point—Is it permissible for a resident hunter to send a few pheasants by mail, packed in dry ice, to a friend or relative in some other state?

(It is illegal to ship any game birds in any way unless they are accompanied by the owner and shipper on the same vehicle.)

Stratton—Some of the boys seem to have different opinions in regard to having a loaded gun on the highway. To clear this up, I would like to ask you two questions. 1. After getting out of a car on the highway, is it unlawful to place shells in the gun before getting off the highway; 2. If one is hunting and wishes to cross the highway, is it unlawful to cross the highway with a loaded gun?

(It is illegal to carry a loaded shotgun in a vehicle or on a vehicle on a public highway. There is no law which would prohibit loading a gun while standing on a public highway. It is not illegal to cross a highway with a loaded gun.)

Cordova—Can an owner stop a person in a boat from using a river or pond providing said hunter or angler can enter said waters without trespassing on the owner's land?

(No one owns the flowing water of any stream in its entirety. The water which flows in a stream within a man's land does not belong to him. A pond lying entirely within an individual's   40 Outdoor Nebraska ownership would belong to the land owner.)

Dawson—I have a bolt action clip magazine 410 gauge shotgun that holds five shells. Can this gun be used legally for hunting game without plugging? If not, how may it be legally plugged?

(The bolt action clip magazine 410 gauge shotgun must be limited to a total capacity of three shells for the hunting of game birds in the state of Nebraska. In view of the fact that it does have a clip magazine, it will be necessary to either cut off the clip or weld shut a sufficient portion to limit it to three shells in the magazine and barrel combined. If this is not possible, you should secure a new small two shell clip for the gun.)

Osceola (permit dealer)—We are writing in regard to a young man in Polk county. He owns 80 acres of land. His father owns 80 acres of land. He makes his home with his father. But there is the point—he is away most of the time working and at present is working in Spokane, Washington. If he should have his vacation in November and comes home to stay with his father for awhile—and he would like to hunt —could we issue him a resident permit?

(The individual described is definitely not a resident of the state of Nebraska and consequently, he must purchase a non-resident permit before hunting in this state. According to the information in your letter, the young man definitely is not residing in Nebraska with a bona fide intention of becoming or being a permanent resident, permanently employed, and accepting all the responsibilities of residency in this state. For example, if you should ask this man what type of permit he would buy and does buy to hunt in the state of Washington, we are sure you would find he purchases a resident permit in that state.)

Lincoln—There has been quite a bit of talk around here that you couldn't hunt geese and ducks on feeding grounds. Does that mean corn fields and wheat fields? We would like to know about it and information about building blinds on a wheat or corn field.

(Ducks and geese may be shot in open fields regardless of what is planted there or what has been planted there. The law against the baiting of game birds including waterfowl means that you can not bait them by distribution of grain on your shooting area. You can build blinds on wheat and corn fields.)

McCook—Please put me right on a minor question. Is it permissible to make a duck blind on a boat?

(It is legal to camouflage a boat and build a blind on a boat for the hunting of waterfowl provided the boat is propelled by oars. You can not shoot waterfowl from a boat which is propelled by a power device. You may use a motor to travel by boat to a hunting point, but the motor must be detached from the boat before hunting.)

Petersburg—When, why, where, and how can a game warden take or confiscate your gun if you carry a license? What if you refuse to give him the gun?

(A deputy state game warden in Nebraska has the same authority as a state sheriff and for purposes of investigating, he may take in hand a gun at any time, especially to check it for being properly plugged or to see if it has been loaded while it was being carried in a vehicle on a public highway. If an individual has violated a game law, or has apparently violated a game law, the gun involved is taken into custody by the warden to be submitted to the court as evidence in the case. It is well to remember that the officer or warden does not confiscate any gun until such time as a guilty verdict has been rendered in a state court. If a guilty verdict is rendered, the confiscation of the gun so used is mandatory under the law. If an individual has apparently been in violation of the law and refused to submit his   Outdoor Nebraska 41 gun to an officer for inspection or for evidence, that individual could be charged with obstructing an officer in line of official duty and prosecuted therefore.)

Naper—Please inform me as to the laws that apply on game frogs in the state of Nebraska. Can they be taken for food purposes?

(There are no laws or regulations on bullfrogs in Nebraska.)

Lewis, Iowa—Is it lawful to buy more than one license per person and bring out a pheasant limit on each license?

(It is unlawful to buy more than one hunting permit issued to the same person for the purpose of taking pheasants in excess of the possession limit of five.)

Cliffwood, New Jersey—Will you send me the requirements for the position of game warden in Nebraska?

(Applicant must be between the ages of 25 and 40; must have completed at least high school; must be at least 5 foot, 10 inches; must weigh at least 160 pounds, and he must successfully pass a competitive examination with other applicants before being interviewed by the appointing board.)

Division of Sanitation, Omaha—A hunter has applied to this office for permission to sell rabbits to a meat market. The dressed rabbits, in turn, are to be sold to the public. This department would like to have any information that the Game Commission has on this matter. Does the law expressly forbid the sale of rabbits? Can they be sold if certain requirements are met? If so, what are these regulations?

(The sale of game animals and game birds or the flesh thereof is specifically prohibited by law, excepting the flesh of raccoon. The only legal way in which the flesh of wild rabbits could be sold would be under a game farmer's permit which would authorize the raising and propagation of game for sale purposes. The above permit must be secured from this department after proper inspection of facilities and equipment for raising such game birds or animals.)

Lincoln—What are the size limits on the different species of fish in Nebraska?

(Trout—none; black bass—10 inches; white bass—none; crappie—none; bluegill—none; rock bass—none; bullheads —none; perch—none; walleye and sauger—12 inches; northern pike—16 inches; freshwater drum — none; catfish — 12 inches.)

Grand Island—Does your department provide films and if so, what is the charge?

(Yes, the Game Commission maintains a film library. The pictures, all 16 mm and sound, are shown by department personnel when such programs can be arranged. The films are: PRAIRIE WINGS, MAKING OF A SHOOTER, YOURS IS THE LAND, BIOGRAPHY OF A FISH, STEADY NOW and THE BEAVER. The Commission also has slides on "Scenic Nebraska" and "Fish Identification." Any group desiring a film or slide program is urged to write from three to four weeks in advance of the program date. The requests should he sent to Nebraska Game Commission, State House, Lincoln. There is no charge for films or slides.)

Shotguns Involved in Most Reported Hunting Accidents

SHOHOTGUNS, major hunting weapon of Nebraska sportsmen, figured in twice as many gun accidents as did all other types of weapons during 1950 according to a detailed analysis of hunting accidents prepared and released by the National Rifle Association of America. Of 832 hunting accidents reported to have occurred in 33 states and several Canadian provinces, 516 resulted when hunters were using shotguns, 268 when using rifles, 7 when using handguns, 2 when using bow and arrow and 20 unknowns.

Of this total of 1950 hunting accidents reported by the NRA, 173 accidental shootings were fatal to the victims while 659 resulted only in injuries to the persons involved. Two hundred and twenty-nine of the shootings were self-inflicted while 584 of the victims were killed or injured by another hunter.

According to the analysis, 358 of the persons injured by other hunters were killed or wounded accidentally by an excited shooter who was firing at game, or thought he was. Eighty-six persons were deliberately shot in mistake for game, while 93 just happened to get in the way.

A total of 378 casualties resulted from such carelessness as the improper handling of a loaded gun, falling while carrying a loaded weapon or just simple "horseplay."

Known as the Uniform Hunter Casualty Report, the figures prepared by the NRA have been painstakingly gathered by the conservation departments of the 33 states and several Canadian provinces. Detailed reports on each accident have been recorded on punch cards and tabulated in an effort to find out what really causes hunting accidents, how seriously the problem is in relation to the nation's total of thirteen million licensed hunters and what constructive measures sportsmen can take to eliminate careless accidents and make hunting a safer sport for all who will participate.

The report provides ample proof that no particular class of hunter is immune. Of the accident victims on which the report is based, 208 were upland game bird hunters, 31 were duck hunters, 168 were hunting deer and 106 were walking the open fields after rabbit or quail. In 599 accidents in which it was possible to measure the distance of the victim from the gun which injured him, it was found that over half occurred at a range of 10 yards or less. Only 41 casualties were reported at a range of over 100 yards.

Following are some of the tabulations of hunting casualties which appear in the 1950 edition of the UNIFORM HUNTER CASUALTY REPORT, available at 40 cents per copy from the National Rifle Association, 1600 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W., Washington 6, D.C.:

HUNTING CASUALTIES BY ANIMAL BEING HUNTED: Deer (55 fatal, 120 non-fatal), bear (1 and 2), elk (3 and 6), antelope (1 and 0), rabbit (10 and 73), squirrel (8 and 31), woodchuck (3 and 8), turkey (4 and 1), pheasant (6 and 100), crows (0 and 4), ducks (5 and 26), doves and pigeons (3 and 3), quail (7 and 55), coon (1 and 1), unknown (66 and 181). Total 173 fatal and 611 non-fatal.

HUNTING CASUALTIES BY DAY OF SEASON: First day of season (rifle 39, shotgun 104), second (rifle 32, shotgun 55), third (rifle 18, shotgun 24), fourth (rifle 13 and shotgun 14), fifth (rifle 14 and shotgun 12), sixth (rifle 8 and shotgun 9), seventh (rifle 8 and shotgun 20), ninth (rifle 7 and shotgun 8), tenth (rifle 1 and shotgun 4), eleventh (rifle 2 and shotgun 3), twelfth (rifle   Outdoor Nebraska 43 3 and shotgun 7), thirteenth (rifle 3 and shotgun 14), fourteenth (rifle 1 and shotgun 6), fifteenth (rifle 2 and shotgun 8) and sixteenth (rifle 5 and shotgun 5).

HUNTING CASUALTIES BY DISTANCE (distance in yards from muzzle to wound): 0-10 (rifle 114, shotgun 190, 10-50 (rifle 31, shotgun 150), 50-100 (rifle 34, shotgun 39), 100-Over (rifle 35, shotgun 6), unknown (rifle 54, shotgun 131).

HUNTING CASUALTIES BY TYPE OF TOPOGRAPHY: Flat, 257; rolling, 226; steep hills, 52; and unknown or unreported, 278. Total 813 casualties.

HUNTING CASUALTIES BY TYPE OF COVER: Dense woods, 79; light woods, 140; slash, 11; brush, 138; open field, 145; in camp, 3; on road or trail, 83; on marsh or water, 35; and unknown, 150.

HUNTING CASUALTIES BY VISIBILITY: Clear and bright, 399; overcast, good visibility, 129; fog, mist, light rain, 32; light falling snow, 10; snow on ground, 4; clear, deep shadows, 58; dark, poor visibility, 6; heavy falling snow, 18; heavy rain, 4; night, 11; sleet, 6; unknown or unreported, 199.

HUNTING CASUALTIES BY STATUS OF SHOOTER — WHERE KNOWN (371 cases):

AGE—10 or under, 1; 11 to 19, 113; 20 to 29, 94; 30 to 39, 61; 40 to 49, 39; 50 to 59, 20; 60 or over, 16; not reported, 27.

OCCUPATION — Machine operator 91, student 65, agricultural 55, skilled artisan 39, executive 15, professional 11, clerical 7, unemployed 6, military personnel 6, housewife 2, not reported 74.

HUNTING CASUALTIES BY CAUSE:

INTENTIONAL DISCHARGE — Victim moved into line of fire without warning, 22; victim covered by excited shooter swinging on game, 71; victim unseen by shooter, 147; victim was mistaken for game, 86; and other miscellaneous circumstances, 32.

ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE — Shooter stumbled or fell, 66; trigger caught in brush, 19; clubbing game or cover, 7; removing weapon from vehicle or boat, 33; while riding in or on moving vehicle, 15; weapon fell from insecure rest, 20; crossing fence, 16; "Didn't know it was loaded" horseplay, 11; loading, 18; unloading, 9; and unknown, 164.

HUNTING CASUALTIES BY HOUR OF THE DAY: 1 a.m.—7; 2 a.m.—2; 3 a.m.—0; 4 a.m.—2; 5 a.m.—1; 6 a.m.— 9; 7 a.m.—28; 8 a.m.—49; 9 a.m.—51; 10 a.m.—77; 11 a.m.—62; 12 noon—47; 1 p.m.—60; 2 p.m.—67; 3 p.m.—80; 4 p.m.—66; 5 p.m.—37; 6 p.m.—10; 7 p.m. —3; 8 p.m.—1; 9 p.m.—1; 10 p.m.—3; 11 p.m.—2; and 12 midnight—0.

NEBRASKA, with its vast army of hunters, had its 1951 outdoor calendar blotted with five deaths and five known injuries according to an incomplete report of hunting accidents compiled in mid-November. Although Nebraska hunters are increasing in number year after year, the accident rate in this state remained almost stable.

Seven deaths resulted from hunting accidents in 1945, six in '46, eight in   44 Outdoor Nebraska '47, two in '48, five in '49 and six in '50.

Three of the five fatalities in Nebraska during 1951 were 17 years of age while four of the five reported injured ranged from 9 to 16 years old. This ratio of young to old hunters killed or injured is in accord with the information presented by the National Rifle Association of America. According to the analysis of hunting accidents in 1950, 113 of 371 casualties were sportsmen between the ages of 11 and 19.

This ratio should be cause of alarm as it indicates that the youth of our nation are not receiving the proper training in gun handling and hunting technique.

Dick Speth, 17, Palmyra, was killed by an accidental shotgun blast as he and a companion prepared to return home from a hunting trip. According to a story appearing in the Fullerton Journal, the two hunters "started to put their canvas-wrapped guns into the car, butts first, thinking they were unloaded. One gun discharged, the load striking Speth in the groin. He died in a Syracuse hospital."

Lauro Hermandez, 17, Holdrege, was killed when a shot accidentally discharged while another youth was ejecting shells from the chamber of a gun.

Irwin Lulow, 17, Rushville, and Clinton Hale, 32, Gordon, died as a tragic climax to a hunting expedition at Shell lake. Quoting from the Kimball Observer, "Indications are that young Lulow met his death by drowning, while a heart attack brought on by shock of immersion in the water took Mr. Hale's life. Rescue parties, numbering over 200, worked almost 24 hours in recovering the two bodies." The boat apparently capsized in some manner after the two hunters pushed it across the ice to open water.

Jake Gabelman of Wisner was killed, according to officials who investigated the accident, when the gun apparently discharged as he was removing it from his car. His body was found in the road beside his car a short distance north of Wisner.

Dale Goedert, a Sutherland youth, was shot in the stomach when another hunter fired at a pheasant. The edge of the shotgun pellet pattern hit Goedert at about 20 yards. His gun stock, held in front of his body, may have saved his life as it absorbed about 40 pellets.

M/Sgt. Charles E. Doss of McCook suffered the amputation of his right foot when his gun, which he had laid down, discharged the load, hitting his foot. He crawled about 100 yards to his car from where his wife drove him to a McCook hospital.

Nine-year-old Charles Kraupie of Bridgeport was injured while hunting ducks with his father, H. C. Kraupie. According to an Associated Press story, "Charles had run ahead when the gun went off accidentally as Kraupie was. unloading it. The charge caught the boy in the left side, shoulder and head."

Robert Stromberg, 14, Wausa, was hit in the face and shoulder as he caught the charge as an Omaha companion shot at a pheasant.

Rolland Pettit, 16, Kearney, was accidentally shot in the arm. The youth, hunting with his brother Darold, and two other boys, was riding in a car at the time of the accident. One of the boys, Frank Rogers, and Rolland were in the front seat of the car when they saw a rabbit. One fellow reached down for a 20-gauge shotgun on the floor and it discharged as he was picking it up. The shot struck the youth between the elbow and shoulder and partly shattered the bone.

It goes without saying, you can never be too careful with a gun. Accidents can happen and do happen. Mere respect of several hunting safeties will eliminate many of the accidents, such as never carrying a loaded gun in a car, always pointing the gun away from everyone, and always checking to make certain a gun is unloaded when not actually in the field. Remember again, you can't be too careful. "The life you save, might be your own."

Notes on Nebraska Fauna

. . . The Muskrat

This is the eighth of a series of articles and drawings on Nebraska's small and big game animals, game birds and game fish. Henry Sather, fur resources biogolist, prepared the story while C. G. Pritchard, staff artist, made the drawing. The Spring Issue of OUTDOOR NEBRASKA will feature the skunk.

THE muskrat is to the fur trapper of today what the beaver was to the "mountain men" of the early 1800's. In other words, the muskrat has replaced the beaver as the most important bur-bearing animal in the United States. It has attained and maintained its position at the top of the fur industry, not because each muskrat pelt demands a high price, but because of the large numbers harvested. Louisiana —the leading muskrat producing state —has an average annual harvest of approximately 4,000,000 muskrats. The average annual harvest of approximately 200,000 in Nebraska seems small and insignificant in comparison, but last year this harvest represented about $400,000. Since the expenses involved in the production and harvest of this resource are negligible, it follows that muskrat trapping is a major Nebraska industry.

Superficially, except for the smaller size and a tail that is compressed laterally, the muskrat bears a close resemblance to the beaver. Detailed examinations reveal that the muskrat's closest relative is the meadow mouse. The partly webbed toes of the hind feet and the dense under-fur of the body are noticeable adaptations of the muskrat for life in streams, lakes, and marshes.

The muskrat, like many other members of the rodent family, is an advocate of the mass production principle for maintaining or increasing its numbers. In Nebraska they average from two to three litters a year, and the average number of young per litter is about seven. At birth the young are blind, hairless and helpless. The eyes usually begin to open at from 14 to 16 days of age. The young are weaned when they are between three to four weeks of age. Shortly after being weaned, they usually leave the parental home and take up residence in makeshift   46 Outdoor Nebraska habitations in the near vicinity.

Muskrats build two types of dwellings: bank dens and houses. In general appearance the houses resemble those of the beaver; however, muskrat houses are normally not built of woody plant materials. They make use of the stems and roots of cattails, bulrushes, sedges and other herbaceous aquatic plants. The houses are commonly seen in quiet water areas such as marshes, lakes, ponds and backwater areas of streams and rivers. Most houses are built in water which is from two to four feet in depth. The entrances to the houses are below the surface of the water.

If suitable banks for burrowing are present along the shorelines of areas inhabited by muskrats, many families will live in bank burrows. The entrances to the bank burrows are also under water and may be at variable distances from the shoreline. There may be one or several entrances to each bank burrow system.

Muskrats are primarily vegetarians; however, they will on occasion eat animal food such as snails, fish, frogs, etc. Under certain conditions they will even eat members of their own kind. The cannabalistic tendency is most frequently encountered on areas supporting overpopulations of muskrats. Cattails, bulrushes, burreeds, arrowheads and various sedges are important food plants.

The mink and coyote are probably the chief predators upon muskrats in Nebraska. Recent studies seem to indicate that these predators have little influence upon muskrat numbers if the muskrat habitat is excellent and not overpopulated. It appears as though coyotes and minks as a rule take surplus muskrats that would be lost to some agency or other even if not taken by these predators.

The highest quality pelts, insofar as primeness and average size are concerned, are taken during the latter part of February and the first part of March. In harvesting any crop, it is important that adequate seed or breeding stock is left for the next crop. This is true of the muskrat crop; however, it is also true in this case that underharvesting is not only a waste of the existing surplus, but it also results in overpopulations. One should try to avoid overpopulations since they lower the carrying capacity of an area and since they seem to be a standing invitation to diseases which may on occasion reach epidemic proportions.

Winter Homes

Waterfowl winter in Nebraska where open water is found and where food is not too far distant. Ducks and geese will, however, travel considerably farther than most upland game birds in search of food. Waterfowl usually leave the open water areas in the evening to feed in corn and other feeding areas and return in the early morning. Once the water closes or freezes up, the ducks and geese are forced to move on. During drastic and sudden changes in weather, ducks have on occasions been subjected to "freezing in." Their movement, however, when weather is not too severe, will tend to keep the water open immediately about them. Flocks of ducks and geese tend to remain apart even in the same body of water.

The same necessities—roosting or resting cover and sleeping areas, and suitable and abundant food not too far distant—apply not only to just the aforementioned species, but to all wildlife. It is a requisite of survival during the bitter cold days of winter.