Editorial Picture of Harmony

THE LOCUSTS have sung their last praises of summer and certain symbols of a changing season force themselves upon observing eyes. The blackbirds have called their kin-folk together for the big push southward; the farmer contemplates his potential corn crops as they turn to golden brown; and pheasants have completed their summer molt as they array themselves in the fall plumage of the cock or hen.

All of which tantalizes those born of a hunting spirit to again clean their favorite guns and count the shells left over from last year. By the same token, your Nebraska Game Commission is anticipating the coming game seasons. The seasons have been set according to the known bird populations. The remainder of their successfulness is dependent upon the hunter and his relations with rural neighbor, the farmer.

One of the most pleasurable sights that a conservation officer enjoys as he patrols the fields at hunting time is that of an eager hunter driving into a farmer's yard where, after the customary salutations, these two lovers of the out-of-doors become as one as they discuss hunting possibilities, the best places to hunt, and permission to hunt. The conservation officer viewing such a dialogue between two new found friends is inspired by the obvious dual feeling of understanding which has been born as the farmer proceeds with his chores, well satisfied that he has a gentleman hunting on his area with permission, and with the knowledge that this sportsman, has been told by the farmer himself the best spots to hunt—spots in which hunting will not jeopardize the farmer's safety or the safety of his) cattle. The spirit of understanding is further exemplified by the hunter as he enters into a field with the full satisfaction of knowing that he is there with the blessing of the landowner and that his hunting will not be spoiled by a displeased farmer or conservation officer.

This picture can become a reality on every farm in Nebraska, whether you are the hunter, the farmer, or the conservation officer, simply by courteous cooperation and friendly understanding with each other.

Paul T. Gilbert Executive Secretary

WITH A BACKGROUND of years of continued success are the "Hunting by Permission Only" signs again to be distributed without charge by the Nebraska Game Commission. Thousands of land owners throughout the state, eager and willing to permit hunting on their properties, but also desirous to know—and justifiably so—the whereabout of hunters on their land, have successfully employed the use of the popular "Hunting by Permission Only" signs.

The purpose of the signs is to advise hunters that hunting will be permitted on such posted areas if they merely take time to request permission from the land operator whose name and address appears on the lower third of the sign. Any land owner or operator desiring such signs can obtain such by writing to the Nebraska Game Commission, State Capitol, Lincoln, or by ordering such from the local printer.

Success of the signs requires courtesy on behalf of both the hunter and land operator. The hunter must respect the sign and request permission to hunt while the operator must place the signs at desirable positions, such as a place not above the normal eye vision, not behind obstructions, at the entrance of the farm or ranch and at places where hunters are most likely to stop their car and enter the fields.

GRAHAM PRINTING- LINCOLN, NEBR.

Help Wanted FOR THE WHOOPING CRANE

by Robert P. Allen Reprinted from Audubon Magazine

SINCE MUCH of the population data on Grus americana was assembled and discussed in the recently published monograph on that species (The Whooping Crane, Research Report No. 3, National Audubon Society, 1952), the events of four complete "Whooping Crane Years" have come and gone. While major population changes have been reported in the pages of this magazine, as well as in the press, there has been no detailed analysis of the situation. Many persons have asked for additional information. What is happening to the whooping crane and what is being done about it?

In a population discussion it is necessary to divide the whooping cranes into three distinct categories: (1) the main flock of wild migrants that breeds in the Northwest Territories and winters on the Texas Gulf Coast chiefly on the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge; (2) the resident flock formerly present on the marshes of southwest Louisiana, and (3) the small number of injured cranes that have been kept in captivity. From the beginning, our largest and most promising group has been the Texas-Canadian migrant flock. The Louisiana birds, now gone, had only a brief, tragic modern history which had virtually ended by the time that concerted measures to help the species got under way. They do not enter into our present calculations. The captives no longer have a part in the normal whooping crane existence and are also omitted from this discussion. For better or worse there are only five captive whooping cranes in our recent records, of which two are still living. Any useful consideration of population data must necessarily limit itself to the life and times of the migrant flock, the Texas-Canadian birds that have been, for some years now, our chief concern and our greatest hope.

To begin with, this flock numbered only 18 birds. The modern whooping crane inventory started in 1938, when Jim Stevenson and Everett Beaty, of the newly established Aransas Waterfowl Refuge in Texas, watched eight known breeding adults with their four young, and six additional adults of unknown age and relationship take off for the North in late April 1939. Since that time, these birds and their progeny have made 14 migrations northward. Over these years their fortuneshave gone up and down. Over all, and in the face of a current slump that will become very grave if it continues, it is apparent that they have done amazingly well. In these 14 years this small flock of cranes, against difficult and sometimes fearful odds, have reared a total of 57 additional young and brought them safely from the Canadian wilderness to the distant Texas coast. This number of young alone is more than three times the size of the entire whooping crane flock on the northern breeding grounds in that summer of 1939. It is an average of four young (4.07) each year.

On the other hand, during this same period, a total of 53 whooping cranes was lost -- an average of 3.78 birds per year. Compared with most other species of birds the whooping crane's mortality rate (averaging about 14 per cent over the last 14 years) must be considered quite low. Apparently around 70 per cent of the population is of potential breeding age. We do not know many of the important details of the nesting cycle and so cannot estimate what normal egg and chick losses to expect, but we do know that an average of eight breeding pairs annually produces 4 young, so it would seem that 50 per cent of the adults are either unmated or are unsuccessful parents. Nevertheless, if the total flock were 1,000 birds instead of 20 odd, the present rate of gain would doubtless be sufficient to maintain a comfortable stability. As it is, with such astonishingly few individuals involved, it is a mighty slim margin.

For this reason the loss of even one bird more than the natural laws allow is extremely serious. If the illegal kill could be eliminated, we believe that the present small whooping crane population would stand a good chance of improving its annual gain, and of ultimately showing an increase of real consequence. One adverse factor — illegal shooting — prevents this. Insofar as is humanly possible it must be reduced to a minimum, if not halted entirely. Like so many things of this sort, it is essentially insignificant, this monkeywrench in the works, made up as it is of a scattered fraternity of men and boys, few in number and unknown to one another, but blood brothers nonetheless. Yet some day they may, without censure or remorse, shoot the last whooping crane.

FALL ISSUE 3  

In spite of the immense amount of good will that has been created for the whooping crane, in spite of articles, editorials, reams of newsprint, full page photographs of the birds in leading national magazines and much earnest talk, we have been unable to reach these particular men and boys. In spite of adequate state and federal laws and capable enforcement, the cranes are still shot. In spite of the marvelous record of more than nine million school children that have been enrolled in Audubon Junior Clubs, you may be sure that these men and boys have never been members. In spite of the wholehearted cooperation of scores of agencies and organizations and of hundreds of interested individuals, and despite the advantage of special field studies that have vastly improved our knowledge of the whooper's existence, we cannot make one specific move that will infallibly insure their safety.

All that has been done is of importance, all of it has been helpful, but individually and collectively it has not been enough. The proof of this stares at us from the population tables. In 1950, 1951, and 1952 a total of 24 whooping cranes was lost. This is 45 per cent of all that died or were killed since 1938. It is an average loss of eight per year, more than twice the 14-year average.

Further analysis of these tragic losses indicates that 20 of these cranes disappeared between May and October, either along the migration route or on the nesting grounds. Four other birds died while on winter quarters, and it is believed that they may have succumbed to wounds received while flying south. There is but one other instance of a bird dying in the winter, so the loss of these four fits into the disastrous pattern of the past three seasons. It is our belief that the breeding grounds, isolated and virtually unknown, are fairly safe from unnatural disturbance, and therefore that nearly all losses between May and October must occur along the migratory route. We are not without actual examples. Two of the six birds lost in 1952 were found, while still alive, and valiant efforts were made to save them. One was discovered October 30th near Sharon, Kansas, and the other a few days later near Weyburn, Saskatchewan. Both of these birds died from gunshot wounds.

We know this migration route well. In spring, the whooping cranes fly north from Texas out across Oklahoma, over the salt plains of Kansas, into the stubble fields and onto the sand bars of Nebraska's Platte River, across the wide Dakotas and on into the farming districts of Saskatchewan and the forests and lakes and rivers leading north — we have been over this ground and know pretty well what is involved. The whoopers migrate as they spend the winter season, in closely knit family groups and small bands of yearlings or unmated adults. They are wild and elusive and it is wholly impracticable to attempt to follow them and to ride herd on them over the long route. In fact, it is difficult enough even to see them at any given point as they pass by, as the writer has occasion to recall rather vividly. They must go their own way, aloof and with the solemn dignity of all wild things, as they have always done.

Our only hope is to reach the people who live along the whooping crane migration route, to reach every one who can help, those in the towns and cities, on the isolated farms, and in camps in the northern bush. It is not enough that people know the need that exists; we must show them how they, too, can help. Perhaps a basic medium would be an inexpensive pamphlet, available in unlimited quantities and distributed in every way possible. It might contain an identifying picture of a whooping crane, explain in plain language the danger of this bird becoming extinct and ask the reader to help by passing the pamphlet along to anyone he or she knows who owns a gun. There must be a surprising number of people who would be willing to say a good word for the whooping crane. A few such words may alter the thinking of a human mind, stir a new emotion in a human breast, stay a careless finger on the trigger of a gun — save a whooping crane.

A few well-intentioned people have suggested that the wild cranes ought to be trapped, their great wings pinioned and the entire flock grounded on the Aransas Refuge in Texas. They believe this would prevent the birds from making the long and dangerous migration, on which most losses occur, and their hope would be that the cranes would eventually nest and rear their young in captivity, within the security of a large enclosure. We can fully understand the feelings that have inspired this plan but we would deplore its execution. The safe trapping of wild whooping cranes would be difficult and risky. Not only would the operation of traps inevitably injure some of the precious birds, perhaps fatally, but others would be scattered and placed in danger of being shot as wandering strays beyond the safety of the refuge. The breaking up of the pattern of their winter life would be extremely serious, regardless of other results. It would be a foolhardy and dangerous experiment and in the end, even if two or three birds had been successfully caught, the loss and injury and the scattering of others would be a most deplorable price to pay for highly dubious results. The breeding of these cranes in captivity has not been a success, even while they were at Aransas under nearly ideal conditions. It holds no solution to our problem.

In addition, I can think of no less appropriate a place for the whooping crane to end its days than in a wire pen — like any common barnyard chicken — its flight denied, its proud plumage soiled and ill conditioned from enforced and undignified confinement. I would far rather know that the last cne had been lost as it spread its wings against the sky, free and wild, following the path that had carried its ancestors across a continent for uncounted whooping crane generations. There is a basic wildlife management philosophy involved here that cannot be disavowed. It is one of the concepts of our whole wildlife preservation program, one of the keystones of the entire structure.

Although the present situation is insecure — as it has been for many years — the whooping crane has not reached the end of its tether — not by a long shot! A start was made in 1939 with 18 birds; the flock numbered 21 when they took off for the North in April, 1953. This is not much of a change, to be sure, but it is a gain nonethless. Not long ago there were as many as 30

(Continued on page 10) 4 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

Nebraska WATERFOWLING Past Present Future?

by Harvey Miller Waterfowl Biologist by Harvey Miller Waterfowl Biologist

ALDO LEOPOLD, one of the great men in wildlife conservation, once said, "There are some who can live without wild ducks, and some who cannot."

We of those who cannot, find it only natural for waterfowling to come into our conversations. Long, lengthy and sometimes loud discussion follows which quite often leads to the conclusion that 'the good old days are gone' or that 'the great days of duck shooting are fading into the past.' Is this pessimistic view our only outlook?

Let us compare the past and present waterfowl pictures and then, possibly, we can see what the future has in store.

The past history of Nebraska water-fowling is somewhat vague. The few records that are available tell us that waterfowl of all kinds including ducks, geese, cranes, curlew, snipe and many others abounded throughout the state. The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition tell of encountering nesting Canada geese along all the Missouri river that forms the eastern boundary of Nebraska. Many other explorers who entered this state also mention the large numbers of waterfowl observed.

Some of the older residents of the state can today recall the market hunters who, though most common in states to the east, did some hunting in Nebraska. Their methods were effective; kills of up to a hundred were made with each shot of their swivel cannon. These birds were shipped to Omaha and other more eastern cities to satisfy the appetites of the gourmets. Only the law of supply and demand determined the bag limits of these hunters until their last years.

It was during this period of the late 1800's that a national conservation movement got under way. Americans were beginning to realize the importance of the natural resources in their economy and began to enact laws to protect and govern the use of these assets. The first movement to protect waterfowl came from the American Ornithologists Union which in 1886 formed the Committee for the Protection of the Birds of North America. The main functions of this committee were to dispense information and to work for the enactment of positive legislation. The next important step was the creation by President Theodore Roosevelt of the first Federal Sanctuary for Migratory Birds in 1903.

Next, the McClean Act of 1913, often called the Migratory Bird Law, gave the Federal Government complete control over all species of birds not permanent residents within the borders of any one state. This important step was followed by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, an agreement between the United States and Canada establishing the first seasons and bag limits on a uniform basis for both. It stated among other Biologist things, there would be no spring shooting and that the longest shooting season for any section of either country would be three and one-half months. Mexico signed this treaty in 1937. Another very important law was the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act of 1934 which required waterfowlers to purchase the now familiar duck stamp and requiring that the money from these stamps be used for the purchase of refuge areas. These are probably the most important, though certainly not all the laws1 affecting migratory waterfowl.

The first bag limits going into effect with these laws were apparently aimed at stopping the market hunter. The duck limits in effect for many years after were twentyfive per day and not more than fifty in possession at any one time. It was in the mid-thirties that the increasing number of hunters and the apparent decrease in ducks brought about limit reductions, first to a daily bag of twelve, then ten, seven, five, four and back to five at the present time for the Central Flyway and Nebraska.

Nebraska did its part during this time by forming the Fish and Game Department in 1901. This brought about FALL ISSUE 5   the enforcement of the regulations on a state basis as well as the first hunting license and other laws designed to assist in better game management. 1929 saw the establishment of the present Game, Forestation and Parks Commission which has since continued to strive for better game management and for better public understanding of the principles involved.

The past has shown nothing but tighter restrictions as far as waterfowling is concerned. In order to understand this trend, we must look at some of the many factors that affect waterfowl, directly or indirectly.

The population of the United States has more than doubled since 1910. This has required an increase in land under cultivation from about 400 million acres then to more than 500 million now, an increase that brought about the drainage of over 125 million acres of wetlands. A large part of these wetlands was important as a duck breeding or wintering grounds. In the Prairie Provinces of Canada, land under agricultural use increased nearly fifteen times over during this same period. Each acre of this increase was taken from what we fondly call The nation's duck factory.

The number of waterfowl hunters has increased fourfold since 1935 and the first duck stamp sales. This tremendous build-up of hunting pressure came after the first restricted seasons which indicated a rapidly increasing demand for a supply that can hardly increase in the face of these factors.

As we move from the past to the present, dark clouds still hang heavy on the waterfowl picture but bright spots are beginning to appear and grow rapidly.

Drainage continues and must accelerate if for no reason other than to replace the land lost to erosion, the common result of poor agricultural techniques. One-half million acres of crop land are washed into the sea each year. It has been estimated that in recent years, the prairie states of Minnesota and the Dakotas have lost some 32,000 potholes and similar duck producing acres annually. This has all been prompted by government subsidies to the drainage programs.

As our high standard of living continues, more outdoor recreation is demanded. What better is there than waterfowling? Also, our armed services continue to train men in the use of firearms, the Boy Scouts are trained in nature craft and our womenfolk are taking to the field in ever increasing numbers. All these continue to add to an already terrific demand.

Now, let us look at the bright side of the picture a bit. Following a year's work in a state waterfowl research program may help make these bright spots clearer. It must be pointed out now that the work done in any one state is correlated with that done in all the other states and provinces making up that flyway in an effort to provide as sound a picture as possible of the waterfowl population. All the research work is directed at good game management; that is, making land produce a continued crop of wildlife for recreational purposes.

The first job in a research year is the winter census conducted in those states having wintering waterfowl. Trained observers working simultaneously throughout the wintering area make counts both from the air and on the ground. This determines the number of ducks that have survived the rigors of the summer, the fall migration and hunting season and a part of the winter. It also provides the first clue as to the size of the breeding population that will move north for the next nesting season. It is probably the most accurate count made as the ducks and geese are concentrated, cover is light and the census of the wintering areas is fairly complete.

The next important job, that of measuring the size of the breeding population, shifts to the northern states and the provinces. This is done as soon as nesting gets underway by counting the ducks on sample transects or plots through the important breeding areas and obtaining an index figure from these. If the same routes are used each year, this index figure will tell us whether the population is up, down or the same as before. The pairs are recorded by species in an effort to determine how that species is 6 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   bearing up under the hunting pressure. It is interesting to note that thei breeding pair selects a certain small spot to carry on its activities and that the male remains on this spot or 'territory' most of the breeding season. Therefore, he can still be counted as a pair while the female is off taking care of the nest itself.

The next job involves getting an index to the production for the year. This involves counting the broods of ducklings seen on the same routes used for the other count and recording these broods by species, number and age. As the various species nest and hatch at different times of the season, it is necessary to make at least three counts. Duplications on these counts are easily detected; if a brood of the same species and about the same number but about two weeks older shows up at the same location on a count made two weeks later, it may be omitted as a duplicate.

The results of these last two counts are correlated with those of the other reporting agencies in the flyway and used to forecast the fall flight. From this, the regulations for that hunting season are determined. Any important change in either count will result in a corresponding change in either the length of the season or in the bag limit, every effort being made to keep the breeding population at a maximum year after year.

The last important count is the hunter bag check. The main part of this is carried on through the hunter survey card which many Nebraska sportsmen have completed in the past and will complete again at the end of each hunting season. Detailed bag checks made by the conservation officers and biologists give information on the species, sex and age of the birds killed. This is correlated with the results of the hunter survey cards to give the total kill for the state. Detailed calculations on a flyway basis will then show how hunter success is related to the production which enables game managers to set better seasons, both for the hunter and the ducks, in the future.

Another very important job in waterfowl research that continues throughout the year is banding. Marking of an individual is the only way that information concerning that individual and the group he travels with can be gathered. Band returns determine both the time and routes of migration, the longevity and rate of mortality and the percent of the ducks that the hunter takes. The total population of waterfowl in the country can even be determined by band returns as well as many other parts of a duck's life history.

The big question now is, "What does research mean to the average duck shooter?" The most important point is that game managers now have an accurate check on the waterfowl population over the entire flyway enabling them to control the seasons and bag limits to the point where a maximum breeding population is practically assured for each succeeding year. Other important findings yet to be tested will increase the game manager's ability to control the many factors3 affecting waterfowl.

Another important contribution of research is the flyway management system. It was discovered through band returns that certain groups of waterfowl followed definite migration routes with little overlapping into other routes or 'flyways.' It was also learned that production and hunting pressure varied considerably among these flyways. Those with high production and low hunting pressure could have a more generous season than the others. This enabled the Central Flyway of which Nebraska is a part to have a sixty day season with a five ducks per day bag limit while FALL ISSUE 7   the Mississippi Flyway had only fifty days with four birds per day for 1952.

The important job of coordinating all the information the states submit, gathering information from the Canadian Provinces and of determining the best regulations from this information is handled by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife service. This organization also supervises the refuge areas purchased with duck stamp money.

Other organizations assist in the job of assuring a continual waterfowl population. Ducks Unlimited, with the aid of contributions from all over the United States, is restoring some of the waterfowl habitat that has been lost in the provinces either to drought or drainage. The Game Management Institute has men actively seeking sound legislation for waterfowl management and also working to prevent the passage of legislation detrimental to good management.

Undoubtedly, some of the most important and beneficial work being done is work done along other lines without waterfowl in mind at all. The Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service and similar organizations are gaining a foothold in the battle to conserve America's most valuable natural resource, the soil. Timber and rangeland management is moving forward slowly but surely. Colleges and universities in both their classrooms and extension work are providing the know-how man needs to make the land do the most good for the most people most of the time. Through the efforts of these and other similar groups, Americans are beginning to realize that conservation of those resources we still have, is the way to continued existence as the United States. Reclamation of that we have lost is not only very expensive, but distasteful as well.

In comparing the past with the present, we realize that waterfowl numbers are definitely down. Some species have withstood the inroads of civilization so poorly that they probably will never be important as game species again. We also see that game managers have learned much to help them best utilize what we have and to assure a future crop.

We can see several times as many waterfowlers now as in the past, but we also see that the market hunter is gone. In his stead is the sportsman who hunts for the enjoyment of the sport, not the meat. The daily bag, onefifth as large as it was twenty odd years ago, today seems generous and at least four times as many persons enjoy sharing it.

We see that drainage and poor agricultural techniques are taking a large part of the waterfowl habitat each year, both on the nesting and the wintering grounds. But we also realize that good land management practices are beginning to offset this loss with their farm ponds, wildlife areas, shelter strips and the like. These techniques also lessen the need for drainage and for farming of submarginal lands by increasing the yield of food-stuffs on the land now in use. Many game managers now agree that what is best for the land is definitely good for wildlife. Certainly the people of this country can do nothing but adopt those practices of land and water conservation that will benefit waterfowl.

The future, therefore, looks good. Certainly there are dark spots in the overall picture but just as certainly, the bright spots are growing and pushing the clouds of doom back. It may be that 'the good old days are gone' but the GREAT days of waterfowling are still with us and are likely to remain for quite some time.

Focus The Picture

FOLLOWING are characteristics of a game animal inhabiting Nebraska. How many of the characteristics must you read before you can bring the picture into focus? Name and picture of the animal appear on page 25.

1. This animal, a native of Nebraska, is of little use. It is apparently no serious threat to any of our other wildlife species and isn't a particularly desirable addition to our native fauna.

2. Its food consists of anything and everything. The flesh it consumes is primarily obtained from carcasses.

3. It is too slow, clumsy and stupid to make much of a living from active prey.

4. Its young, when first born, are naked and fleshcolored. The mouth of a newborn is but a tiny opening, almost pin-point in size.

5. Average length of a newborn is considerably less than one inch, including tail and all. The young weigh less than a gram at birth.

6. Tails of this animal are prehencil and are used in swinging from a branch.

7. Young travel while clinging to the parent.

8. This is a marsupial mammal. The females possess a pouch in which the young are carried and nursed during infancy. Only other marsupials on earth are found in Australia and nearby islands.

9. This animal has an appearance of extreme stupidity. It has a shambling gait, head like a swine and tail like a rat. It has a toothy grin and beady eyes.

10. When attacked or when it appears that an attack will be made, this animal will suddenly fall limp and inert and draw back the gums from his long rows of glittering teeth. He then looks like he's been dead for at least a month. Due to this characteristic, many people say this animal is "playing p-------m."

8 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

HUNTING REGULATIONS

SPECIES OPEN SEASON AREA OPEN LIMIT BAG POSSESSION DUCKS Ocl. 16-Dec. 14 Entire State 5 10 (Mergansers not included in above bag possession limits. The daily bag and possession limit for American and red-breasted mergansers is 25 singly or in the aggregate of both kinds, and for the hooded merganser 1 a day or in possession.) (The bag and possession limit on ducks of 5 and 10 may include one wood duck.) GEESE Oct. 16-Dec. 14 Entire State 5 5 (Daily bag and possession limit on geese is 5, including in such limit not more than a) 2 Canada geese or its subspecies, or (b) 2 white-fronted geese, or (c) 1 Canada goose or its subspecies and 1 white-fronted goose.) COOT (Mudhen) Oct. 16-Dec. 14 Entire State 10 10 COCK PHEASANTS Oct. 24-Nov. 30 Entire State 3 3 (All pheasants taken must retain sex identification. Either head or feet must be left on the bird.) (All counties open to pheasant hunting except for Federal and State sanctuaries and refuges and areas posted by Game Commission as "Phesant Restocking Areas' which are closed to hunting during the pheasant season.) Oct. 10-Oct. 15 Restricted Area GROUSE (Prarie Chicken and Sharp-Tailed) (The following counties are open to grouse hunting: Arthur, Brown, Box Butte, Cherry, Dawes, Grant, Hooker, Keya Paha, Mcpherson, Rock and Sheridan counties except Federal and State sanctuaries and refuges in these counties. All other counties are closed.) QUAIL Nov. 1-Nov. 26 Restricted Area 6 6 (The following counties are open to quail hunting: Adams, Buffalo, Butler, Cass. Clay, Dawson, Douglas, Fillmore, Franklin, Gage, Hall, Hamilton, Harlan, Howard, Jefferson, Johnson, Kearney, Lancaster, Lincoln, Merrick, Nance, Nemaha, Nuckolls, Otoe, Pawnee, Phelps, Polk, Richardson, Saline, Sarpy, Saunders, Seward, Thayer, Webster and York counties, and that portion of the following counties located south of U. S. Highway No. 30: Colfax, Dodge, Platte, and Washington, except for Federal and State sanctuaries and refuges in these counties. All other counties are closed.) RABBITS Sept. 25-Jan. 31 and Apr. 1-Dec. 31 Entire State 10 10 SQUIRRELS Oct. 1-Dec. 31 Entire Stale 5 5 RACCOON OPOSSUM Jan. 1-Dec. 31 Entire Stale No limit DEER (Area 1)** (2,000 permils) Dec. 1-5 *** Banner, Cheyenne, Deuel, Garden, Keith, Kimball, Morrill and Scotls Bluff counties. 1 1 DEER (Area 2)** 2,000 permits) Dec. 1-5 *** Box Butte, Dawes, Sheridan and Sioux counties. 1 1 DEER (Area 3)** (300 permits) Dec. 7-11 Blaine, Cherry and Thomas counties. 1 1 DEER (Area 4)** (500 permits) Dec. 7-11 Boyd, Brown, Holt, Key Paha and Rock counties. DEER (Area 5)** (500 permits) Dec. 7-11 * * * Cedar, Dakota, Dixon and Knox counties. 1 ANTELOPE (150 permits) Sept. 14-18 Only that portion of Cheyenne county south of Highway No. 30

NOTES** Where entire counties are open, these do not include Federal or State sanctuaries and refuge areas except that the Bessey Division of the Nebraska National Forest in Blaine and Thomas counties is specifically open to deer hunting only.

***In areas Nos. 1, 2 and 5, antlerless deer may be taken only during the last two days of the season. There is no antlerless deer season in areas Nos. 3 and 4. Antlered deer may be taken in al areas during all days of seasons.

"A"denotes year-around hunting season on raccoon and opossum except for period between April 1 and August 1 when hunting with dogs is prohibited. (Continued on page 10)

Trapping Regulations

SPECIES OPEN SEASON AREA OPEN BAG LIMIT Restricted Area No limit MUSKRAT, MINK AND BEAVER Dec. 15-Mar. 15 (Zone 1) (Zone 1 includes Arthur, Blaine, Box Butte, Brown, Cherry, Dawes, Garden, Garfield, Grant, Hooker, Logan, Loup, McPherson, Perkins, Sheridan, Sioux and Thomas counties, except for State-owned lakes or marshes or areas closed by Federal, State or Municipal law.) Nov. 15-Jan. 15 Restricted Area No limit MUSKRAT, MINK AND BEAVER (Zone 2) (Zone 2 includes Adams, Antelope, Banner, Boone, Boyd, Buffalo, Burt, Butler, Cass, Cedar, Chase, Cheyenne, Clay, Colfax, Cuming, Custer, Dakota, Dawson, Deuel, Dixon, Dodge, Douglas, Dundy, Fillmore, Franklin, Frontier, Furnas, Gage, Gosper, Greeley, Hall, Hamilton, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Holt Howard, Jefferson, Johnson, Kearney, Keith, Kaya Paha, Kimball, Knox, Lancaster, Lincoln, Madison, Merrick, Morrill, Nance, Nemaha, Nuckolls, Otoe, Pawnee, Phelps, Pierce, Platte, Polk, Red Willow, Richardson, Rock, Saline, Sarpy, Saunders, Seward, Scotts Bluff, Sherman, Stanton, Thayer, Thurston, Valley, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler and York counties except for State-owned lakes or marshes or areas closed by Federal, State or Municipal law. RACCOON, OPOSSUM, BADGER SKUNK, CIVET, FOX Jan. 1-Dec. 31 Entire State except for State-owned lakes or marshes or areas closed by Federal, State or Municipal law. No limit

IMPORTANT: Anyone trapping beaver must first obtain a Beaver Trapping Permit which is available from permit vendors througout the state at a cost of $5. Permittees will find instructions on the reverse side of the permit as to the procedure of contacting conservation officers and sealing the beaver hides.

Hunting Regulations (Continued from page 9)

One-half hour before sunrise to sunset Grouse Cock Pheasants Rabbits Squirrels One-half hour before sunrise to sunset except on opening day when hunting commences at noon Ducks Geese Coot One-half hour before sunrise to one ! our before sunset Quail All hours Raccoon Opossum One-half hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset Deer Antelope

Tagged Catfish Named "The Traveler"

THE NEBRASKA TRAVELER." That is the appropriate name given a catfish caught recently by Lloyd C. Hagenbuch of Monroe.

Dr. Walter Kiener, fisheries biologist for the Nebraska Game Commission, said Hagenbuch reported catching a tagged catfish on Aug. 27 in the North Loup river, two and one-half miles west of Monroe. The catfish, tagged on the tail by the Game Commission, was originally released in the North Loup river near Burwell on March 18.

Hagenbuch's catfish traveled approximately 111 miles from the point it was released to the point caught. The catfish's distance covered averaged a little more than one-half mile per day.

On March 18, the Fisheries Research department of the Game Commission released 999 tagged catfish in two branches of the Loup river. One-half of the fish were stocked in the Middle Loup at Halsey in Thomas county and the other half in the North Loup river above Burwell in Garfield county.

Purpose of the tagging is to obtain information about movement of catfish, both up and down stream. There are many different opinions as to the movement of catfish in the spring prior to spawning, and again in the fall before the water freezes.

To date a total of 23 tags have been returned, the first occurring on May 6. Fifteen of the tags came from fish released in the North Loup. Eight of these fish were taken near Ord, a distance of approximately 22 miles down the river.

Eight tags from fish stocked in the Middle Loup river have been received. The average distance traveled by these eight fish, however, was considerably more than those in the North Loup.

All anglers catching tagged catfish in the North or Middle Loup rivers are urged to remove the tags and send them, together with the following information to the Nebraska Game Commission, State Capitol, Lincoln: Where and when the fish was caught and by whom. In the event the tag is lost, the number will suffice.

Help Wanted

(Continued from page 4)

migrants on this spring flight, but that was the peak for recent years. There is reason for hope, but much depends on what happens to the whooping cranes this summer and fall. Never will the fall arrival of migrant whoopers at Aransas Refuge be watched with more interest, or with more trepidation.

Meanwhile, we must make every possible effort to publicize the urgent need for restraining those who might shoot a whooping crane. If you live within or close to the migration route of the whooping cranes, you can help. Talk to your local newspaper editor and the manager of your local radio station. Get them interested in publishing stories and repeated pleas during the critical period while the cranes, with their new offspring in tow, are making the flight south. They travel in small groups, perhaps only a pair or family group of three. The flights begin at the northern end of the pathway in late September, continue through October and will finally be completed sometime in early November. To be on the safe side, communities in the Canadian Provinces (particularly in Saskatchewan) should be alerted from the first of September on, the remainder of the route from the last week of September until November 15th. Bring the plight of the whooping cranes to the attention of all of your friends or acquaintances who are hunters or outdoorsmen. Enlist their help. YOU may save a whooping crane.

10 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

WILFLIFE AND THE CROP PRINCIPLE

by Dr. J. Henry Sather Fur Investigations Biologist

{AUTHOR'S NOTE: It is hoped that the following article will help clarify for the reader one of the many basic principles of game management. In an effort to avoid confusion only the bare outline, stripped of technical details, is presented.)

THE CROP principle is nothing new to the reader. It is a principle in such common practice insofar as domestic plant and animal crops are concerned that it is more or less taken for granted. Despite this fact, it is difficult for many to consider our game and furbearing animals as crop producers.

The land is a fundamental necessity for crop production. That land varies in its ability to produce domestic crops is a widely known and accepted fact. Not so widely known and accepted is the fact that land varies in its ability to produce game and furbearing animal crops, "Carrying Capacity" is a term that is coming into common usage to describe the ability of a particular portion of land to support a certain crop. To the game manager, the carrying capacity of a particular area for a certain type of animal is the maximum number of individuals that area can support the year around. Of course there is a seasonal variation in carrying capacity. During the summer and fall, there is an abundance of food and cover, and the carrying capacity is at its highest level. During late winter and early spring, food and cover are at their lowest ebb—the most critical period of the year. The number of individuals the land can support at this critical period is, in the last analysis, the best measure of its carrying capacity.

Animal populations are extremely variable in numbers. This variability can be attributed to the fact that every living organism is capable of producing a surplus that is over and above what is needed to assure adequate breeding stock. Each species is capable of producing more young than a particular area can support during its critical period or period of minimum carrying capacity. Facts gathered from a sandhill muskrat marsh can be used to illustrate this point. This particular marsh had a carrying capacity of 30 breeding pairs during the critical period of late winter and early spring. As the growing season progressed, food and cover conditions improved which in turn raised the level of the carrying capacity. Simultaneously, the reproductive season got under way. Muskrats on this marsh had an average of 2.5 litters a breeding season, and each litter contained an average of about 7 young. In other words, each of the 30 pairs on the marsh produced about 17 young during the entire breeding season.

The total production of young was about 510—this was the surplus. A variety of natural mortality factors—disease, predators, cannibalism, etc.—began to whittle down this surplus as soon as it was produced. A trapper took 200 of the surplus animals, and natural mortality agents accounted for the remainder. By early spring, the entiresurplus had been eliminated; the lake again was supporting its early spring carrying capacity of 30 pairs. The important point here is that the surplus of this marsh was doomed. It was a matter of migration to new surroundings or death.

The annual increase in numbers of an animal is dependent upon two basic factors which biologists call the "biotic potential" and "environmental resistance." The biotic potential is nothing more than an animal's ability to reproduce and survive; in other words, its ability to increase. Environmental resistance refers to the factors in the animal's surroundings that act in opposition to the animal's ability to reproduce and survive. Disease, unfavorable climatic conditions, predation, cannibalism, etc., are all environmental resistance agents. When these factors are equal in their influence, the population neither increases nor decreases. There is a population decline if the environmental resistance is greater than the ability of the animal to reproduce and survive. On the other hand, a decrease in the environmental resistance results in a population increase.

The effects of differences in environmental resistance on pheasant populations can be used to illustrate this point. Alfalfa fields are favorite nesting areas of pheasants. The mowing of alfalfa is an environmental resistance factor that acts primarily upon the all-important nesting population. There are certain portions of the state where rather large blocks of land are devoted almost exclusively to the growing of alfalfa. In these areas, the only available nesting cover is alfalfa. There is evidence that pheasant populations in such areas are held at a lower level than populations in adjacent general farming areas. It seems quite apparent that such differences can be attributed to a difference in environmental resistance; in this particular case, the environmental resistance factor responsible seems to be the mowing of nesting cover.

The ability of an animal to reproduce and survive is an innate characteristic that the game manager has little chance of influencing. The environmental resistance, however, is a horse of a different color. The game manager can, to a limited extent, manipulate an animal's surroundings. Careful study of an animal and its surroundings will reveal environmental resistance factors that can be manipulated in such a way as to increase the carrying capacity of the surroundings. Such manipulation could very well result in a population change.

The point should now be clear that each game and fur-bearing animal produces a surplus that is doomed to be lost sometime before the following breeding season. This surplus is not only large enough to assure adequate breeding stock in the event of normal losses due to environmental factors, but is also large enough to bear the brunt of abnormally large losses. Man's share of the surplus must always be restricted to that portion produced to sustain abnormally high environmental losses. If man's harvest cuts into the portion that otherwise would be lost to normal environmental factors, a decrease in the population could be expected. It is quite generally conceded among game managers that man's portion of the harvest is, in most cases, negligible as compared to the losses to other environmental factors. In other words, sportsmen interested in maximum sustained yields could well focus more attention on food, cover, and water requirements of the various game and fur-bearing animals. Attention to these basic environmental requirements is needed to change man's share of the crop.

FALL ISSUE 11   Wildlife Club Chatter

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This Issue of OUTDOOR NEBRASKA introduces a new feature, "Wildlife Club Chatter" which carries reports on the activities and schedules of events for cooperating wildlife clubs. All clubs are invited to submit reports on forms to be mailed to them by this office. Pictures will be used when space permits.)

Four Corners Rod and Gun Club (Mills) Oct. 4—Blue rock shoot. Oct. 18—Blue rock shoot. Oct. 31—Blue rock shoot. Nov. 11—Championship shoot (members only). Nov. 22—Blue rock shoot.

"During the summer months, this club has been at sort of a standstill, but now that haying is over and most work completed, things are starting to buzz again. Hunting season is coming on and the 'shooting irons' are getting more attention, especially with a deer season being held in this area this year." — Martin Peterson, president. CLUB MEMBERSHIP—60.

Norfolk Ikes

Regular meetings third Thursday of each month.

Family night first Monday of each month.

Indoor target shoot night each Friday.

Mo-Skee-To shoot each Friday.

Bar-B-Q sometime in October.— Orville H. Carlisle, corresponding secretary CLUB MEMBERSHIP—249.

Ravenna Ikes

Sept. 23—Movie "Out of the North."

Oct. 28—Family picnic and speakers.

Nov. 25—Slides on travels in South America.

Dec. 30—Slides on travels in Nebraska and club activities.

"All of the meetings will be family nights. Reports on the flushing bar are read. Habitat plantings are discussed. Lunch is served each meeting. Any questions asked pertaining to hunting regulations, fishing or habitats are answered by our local conservation officer Burman Guyer. Ira Glasser of the Game Commission also helps with the answers. If time permits, we generally have three or four square dances as our meetings are held in a large barn loft."—Bud Kemptar, president. CLUB MEMBERSHIP—107

Oakdale Rod And Gun Club

Sept. 20—Blue rock shoot. Sept. 21—Regular monthly meeting. Oct. 19—Regular monthly meeting. Nov. 16—Regular monthly meeting. Dec. 21—Regular monthly meeting.

"The Oakdale club has scheduled a blue rock shoot to be held Sept. 20 and plans to have a number of shoots during the fall months. Preparations are under way for sponsoring a dance at the Oakdale Pavilion. No date has been set and all arrangements have not yet been completed. From proceeds of the dance, the sportsmen of the club will make a contribution to 'Ducks Unlimited.' "—Everet O. Armstrong, secretary. CLUB MEMBERSHIP—46

Lincoln County Wildlife Club

Sept. 11, 12 & 13—Fall Hunters' Special.

Sept. 1—Membership party by Sutherland Unit.

"The annual Fall Hunters' Special will be held Sept. 11, 12 and 13 at the Gun range of the club at North Platte. This Shoot annually attracts over 500 shooters from all over Nebraska and neighboring states.

"The Sutherland Unit of the club will hold a membership party in Sutherland on Sept. 1, at which Ole Herstedt of Ole's Big Game bar in Paxton will show his movies of hunting trips he has made. "Lee Soltow, chairman of the banquet committee, announced that the club will hold a banquet just before the start of pheasant season and that he has been in contact with Bud Jackson and other prominent speakers to obtain an outstanding speaker for the event. "The club has built some outdoor toilets and fireplaces for the lake area at Maloney reservoir."—Bill Owens, secretary. CLUB MEMBERSHIP—1,200 Cedar Valley Sportsmen's Club

Oct. 21—Monthly meeting and sports film.

Nov. 18—Monthly meeting and sports film.

Dec. 16—Monthly meeting and sports film.

"Organized only since January of 12 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   1952, this club has passed the two hundred mark in membership and has a number of outstanding accomplishments to its credit. Early this year, the club cooperated with the Game Commission in seining and draining nearby Pibel lake. After the water was drained, we found the lake bed too shallow for good fish production. Different methods of improvement were considered by the club and the Commission.

"After due consideration, funds were raised by subscription, donation and other activities to hire bull dozer equipment to completely remove the shallow areas of the lake. After riprapping the dozed banks, the lake will be ready to be refilled and stocked.

"The club has also undertaken a project of rearing game fish. Thirteen bass, a few bluegill and bullheads were stocked in two small sandhills ponds in March. Recently from these ponds, we removed about 6,000 bass and 6,000 bullheads and bluegill to the Cedar river and farm ponds open to the public for fishing. We believe we have solved the problem of keeping our local lakes

(Continued on page 25)

Hunting Prospects

Pheasants

Statewide outlook: Fewer birds than last year.

Local changes: Northeastern and some southern areas somewhat reduced in population.

Young birds: Some southwestern areas brought off fewer young than usual, but in general the western pheasant areas had a better reproductive season than the east.

Areas of best pheasant population: As usual, conditions vary from farm to farm and from one part of the state to another. The good areas aren't all in one particular part of the state. Again as usual, better-than-average areas are located in central, southern, western and northeastern counties.

Hunting conditions: In areas where young birds make up most of the local population hunting may be good. In areas where young birds are "short" hunting will be rugged.

Look for the cripples: The percentage of birds shot down but lost is higher in pheasant hunting than in any other hunting. Spending time looking for downed birds will increase the take-home bag.

Watch the tails: The pheasant is our only long-tailed upland bird. Grouse are short-tailed birds. Grouse are protected by regulation during the pheasant season. So watch the tails.

Quail

General outlook: Good. Summer checks indicate 1953 as a near-average year.

Local differences: In the southeast, quail are more uniformly distributed over the country than further west, because the hedgerows and thickets are well-distributed. The creek and river valleys, plus the shrubby draws and rough lands, hold most of the quail in central and western areas.

Dry year: Quail hunting usually improves in late fall. Late hatched young are larger and more active then. Quail normally hatch later than pheasants, and a dry year can make late-hatched birds more common. This was the case in 1952.

Grouse

General outlook: Good. 1952 was a peak year, which gave 1953 a good breeding population. Reproduction apparently good in 1953.

Hunting conditions: The earlier season in 1952 brought improved hunting and the 1953 season remains in October. Many hunters found the birds unapproachable in the November seasons two and three years ago.

Grass and grouse: Nebraska has a good grouse population because the grasslands are in good condition. Grass is the key to grouse management.

Watch your smokes: One slip with fire can ruin a big piece of grouse range. Well-meaning grouse hunters cooperate with the ranchers in protecting the grass.

Hunting means work: Grouse hunting separates the men from the boys, so to speak. Grouse make long flights, and grouse hunters expect plenty of leg-work when they work the big flats and the shrubby hillsides for these birds of the rangeland.

Watch the tails: Grouse have shorter tails. The long tails are on the pheasants. All areas are closed to pheasant shooting during the grouse season.

Pheasants, Quail and Grouse

With all of these birds, fall hunting is always largely dependent upon the birds hatched in the several months preceding the season, that is, young-of-the-year. Each year brings its own bird conditions and local changes.

FALL ISSUE 13

WILDLIFE IN ONE REEL

 

What DUCKS Them Are?

HOW OFTEN have you asked a fellow duck hunter how shooting was and had him reply, "Fine, got my limit yesterday—two butter balls, a gray duck, a whistler, and a green head." We all know that a green head is a drake mallard, but for "gosh sakes" do we all speak the same language when we refer to butter balls and gray ducks? Why is it that the same sportsman who can expertly differentiate between a smallmouth bass and largemouth bass may toss 4 ducks (a hen mallard, a young pintail, a baldpate, and a gadwall) into a heap and remark, "gray ducks."

The underlying cause for this difficulty in identification is, no doubt, partially the fault of "Mr. Duck" himself. The juvenile duck, the adult hen and even the adult drake that are in the process of changing from the female like plumage of eclipse toward the winter dress, do not usually appear as they do on most color plates of hunting magazines or bird books. Then, too, the common names of ducks that may be understood in one part of the country may be used to describe an entirely different species of duck in other parts of the country. The purpose of this article and the accompanying table of duck identification is to present a means of helping you identify dead ducks in the hand during the hunting season this fall.

The spread wing is the most accurate identification media in keying down each species of duck since the wing of the adult bird is the only feature of plumage which does not vary in pattern during the molt. The wings of juvenile birds resemble those of the adult, especially later in the season. I have often shot young shovellers that had only a fleck of blue coloring on the wing in the same manner that a young mallard drake may have only a peppering of green on his hen-like head. The inquisitive waterfowl hunter will use every clue to properly identify the most difficult birds.

In viewing the top of the spread wing of a duck we are primarily interested in the speculum and coverts. The first ten feathers from the tip of the wing are the primary wing feathers. The secondary wing feathers continue on from the primaries to the body of the duck. The speculum is the portion of the secondary feathers which is visible in the spread wing as viewed from the top. The coverts are the overlapping feathers above the speculum.

Most experienced Nebraska waterfowl hunters can tell in a moment, as they glance through the willows camouflaging their blind, the difference in flight characteristics between a flock of diving ducks such as redheads and a flight of pond ducks such as mallards or shovelers. But to the newer member of the Platte, Missouri river, or the sandhill lake hunting fraternity, each drab-looking duck is of questionable parentage.

The first step in identifying a duck just retrieved from the water is to check the foot and hind toe. Remember that the hind toe of the pond ducks is without the flap or lobe that is present in the diving duck. In addition, the legs of the pond ducks are placed nearer the center of the body in comparison with the legs of the diving ducks which are placed further back on the body. Also, if the wing has any bright colors, the bird is a pond duck. The diving duck's wings are brown, gray, black, or white in varying combinations.

The pond ducks are by far the most numerous of the Nebraska ducks, although on certain sandhill lakes and during certain brief periods on the Platte and Missouri Rivers, there may be more lesser scaup, redheads, and canvasback shot than mallards, pintails, and teal.

Of the pond ducks the shoveller with his spoon-shaped bill is without doubt the easiest to identify even if he is a young bird shot early in the season. It 16 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   is interesting to note that the shoveller's spread wing is very similar to the wing of his smaller cousin - the blue-winged teal (blue coverts and green speculum). The spread wing of a green-wing teal has both green and black feathers in the speculum and the coverts are brownish-gray. A row of buffy feathers separates the speculum from the coverts. The feet of the green-wing are bluish gray while the blue-wing teal has dull yellow feet.

The cinnamon teal, a rather rare duck over most of the state, has a wing identical to blue-wing teal and therefore it is very difficult to tell the difference between a hen or young cinnamon teal and blue-wing teal. Only in the adult drake with cinnamon-red feathers that first appear on the chest, is identification easy.

Undoubtedly the mallard is the most desired and best known of our Nebraska ducks. In both the drake and hen, the speculum is blue bordered with black, edged in white. The black duck, an easterner that occasionally migrates through the state, resembles a dark-colored female mallard but has a purple speculum.

Our early season shooting on the sandhill lakes, rivers, farm ponds, and reservoirs often coincides with the fall pintail flight. The long-necked, longtailed male beauty is easily recognized while the hen, and her late brood may be more difficult. The speculum of the hen is a rather nondescript brown peppering on a lighter background and a white edging. The adult drake speculum is a brighter color (violet, bronze, and green) edged in white. The feet and bill of the pintails are blue-gray.

The gadwall, which is occasionally confused with the hen pintail, has yellow feet, a speculum with white feathers and black feathers, and may have some brick red and black color on the wing coverts.

The baldpate or American widgeon is another rather common Nebraska duck that is occasionally confused with the gadwall and hen pintail and because of the color of its bill is occasionally confused with the bluebill or scaup. A rather small percentage of the baldpate shot each season has the easily recognized green speculum and white forehead of the adult drake in full plumage.

The wing of the baldpate has coverts varying from brownish-gray (feathers edged in white) to solid white (adult male). The speculum is dark gray to black sometimes with green color.

The wood duck is a teal-size duck that only occasionally is found in Nebraska. The drake wood duck in full breeding plumage is considered by many as the world's most beautiful duck. His crested head and his back contain many of the colors of the rainbow (metallic green, blue, and purple), his chest a spectacular glossy purplish-chestnut. In the fall he is less spectacular in color but nevertheless is a striking bird. In contrast the hen and late-hatched young are a rather drab looking, grayish-brown duck with an elongated crest and bluish color on the wing. Not only is the bluish color on the speculum and coverts but the primary wing feathers are also tipped with blue.

In the diving ducks which occur in Nebraska, wing colors are much less spectacular than they are in the pond ducks but nevertheless the wing pattern is important in their identification.

To the average hunter the "can" or canvasback is the prince charming of the diving duck clan. His large size, sloping forehead and long black bill are a ready means of telling him from the round and puffy head of the redhead, his nearest kin. The spread wings of the redhead or canvasback differ from the other ducks by their uniform gray appearance.

The lesser scaup (blue bill) has a brownish-gray wing with a white speculum and the ring-necked duck has a darker grayish-brown wing with a pearl-gray speculum. The ring-necked duck is named after the narrow chestnut collar around the neck of the drake that is visible only when the drake is in breeding plumage. This duck is often nicknamed "ringbill" and rightly so for both sexes have a blue-gray bill with black tip and white band.

The American golden-eye or, whistler as he is commonly called, is often bagged at Lake McConaughy and elsewhere throughout the rivers and lakes of the state especially late in the season. The dark gray wing contains patches of white feathers in both the speculum and coverts. The golden-eye wing is very similar to the wing of the bufflehead but his larger size and yellow feet make identification between these species possible. The white feathers on the head behind the eye of the bufflehead is another clue to identifying this teal-size diving duck.

The ruddy duck is often called "butter ball" by local hunters. Although small in size he weighs more than the teal and bufflehead and almost as much as the shoveller, a duck with much larger body proportions. The ruddy duck can be described as a small, round, brownish-gray duck with a spike tail. His wings are short and a solid brown-ish-gray color.

Most of us who consider ourselves duck hunters will argue for hours that ours is the supreme sport of all. What pleasure is greater than the predawn sound of booted feet churning the water and the occasional splash of the decoy as it takes its strategic place in the wooden flock? Then the solitude of the watchful period as we crane our necks and force our eyes to penetrate the lifting river mist for a sight of the morning's first flock. What a thrill to see the high-flying flock circle and set

(Continued on page 25) FALL ISSUE 17

Dead Duck Identification of Common Nebraska Ducks

I. POND DUCKS — Hind Toe Without Lobe - Legs Placed Near Center of Body - Speculum Usually Colored. SPREAD WING AVERAGE WEIGHTS SPECULUM COVERTS DRAKES HENS FEET BILL Lb. Oz. Lb. Oz. OTHER * Green on black, black edged in white brownish-gray edged in buff 13 12 bluish gray Small duck DUCKS * Blue, bordered with black, white edgings brownish-gray 2 11 2 6 Greenish Yellow Mallard Green on black * blue with white edging 15 14 dull yellow Small duck Blue-winged Teal Green-winged Teal Green on black (Similar to Blue-winged Teal) Blue may have white edging 1 7 1 4 *long and wide Shoveller (Spoonbill) Black with some green color * White or gray feathers with white edging. 1 11 1 9 blue-gray blue-gray drakes with white crown Baldpate (Widgeon) * White and black feathers brownish gray. May have brick red color on feathers 2 1 13 yellow dull orange to black Gadwall (Gray duck) * Brown (may have brick red or greenish tinge). White edging brownish-gray 2 2 1 13 Blue-gray Blue-gray Tail pointed elongated or Pintail (Sprig) II. DIVING DUCKS: Lobed Hind Toe - Legs Placed Further Back on Body - Speculum Less Bright. SPREAD AVERAGE HEAD WING DRAKES WEIGHTS HENS FEET BILL OTHER DUCKS * Red to brown (round forehead) Gray 2 8 2 4 bluish-gray bluish-gray Redhead * Red to brown (sloping forehead) Gray 3 2 13 bluish-gray *black long Canvasback Brown to black (sometimes with purple tinge). Hens may have white face patch near bill. *Brownish-gray white speculum edged in brownish-gray 1 14 1 12 bluish-gray bluish-gray Lesser Scaup (Blue-bill) Brown to black dark brownish black 'gray speculum 1 11 1 8 Gray *Gray with white ring Ring-necked Duck (Ring-bill) Brown to black (sometimes White & black speculum with metallic green)-drakes White & black coverts may have white spot between eye and bill. 2 11 Yellow Black, short Yellow eye. American Golden Eye (Whistler) Brown to black. 'White White & black speculum marking behind eye. Dark Dark & Sometimes white eye. coverts. 12 Varies-light to dark Short Gray to *Small Duck black Bufflehead (Butter balL Brown to black cap. White coloring on cheek.* Brownish-gray. Short 2 Blue-gray Gray, broad 'Spike tail Small round duck Ruddy duck (Butter ball) * — Indicates major identification points. Other ducks that are occasionally shot in Nebraska: Black duck: Looks like a dark-colored hen mallard but has a purple speculum. Cinnamon teal: Brownish color on features - wing identical to bluewinged teal. Wood duck: Medium-sized duck, crest on head, bright blue on speculum and coverts. Pond Ducks NOTES ON GEESE I White-cheeked Goose Types Canada Goose Lesser Canada Goose (Commonly called Hutch Goose) Richardson's Goose II Other than White-cheeked Geese Lesser Snow Goose White goose with black wing tips. Blue Goose Brownish-gray goose, adults with white head, pink feet. White Fronted Goose (Specks) Brownish-gray goose (adults with yellow feet and speckled belly) Average weights 9 Lbs. (From 7 to 13 Lbs.) 5 Lbs. (From 4 to 7 Lbs.) 4 Lbs. (From 3 to 5 Lbs.) 5 Lbs. (From 4 to 6 Lbs.) 5 Lbs. (From 4 to 6 Lbs.) 5 Lbs. (From 4 to 7 Lbs.) Diving Ducks Important Reminder: Be sure to check the legs of the ducks you have shot to see if your ducks are banded. If they are banded, remove the bands and send the bands with information on when and where they were shot to Fish & Wildlife Service, Washington 25, D. C. 18 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

Outdoor NEBRASKA Quiz

Select Name From Following: (a) Beagle; (b) 1. _____ 4._____ Coon hound; (c) Fox 2._____5. _____ terrior; (d) Labrador; 3. _____ 6. _____ (e) Springer spaniel; (f) cocker spaniel; (g) Pointer; (h) Water spaniel; (i) Raccoon; (j) Bulldog; (k) English setter. Select Name From Following: (a) Blue goose; 7. _____ 8._____(b) White-front goose; (c) Canada goose; (d) Snow goose; (e) Mallard.

AT THE right are questions pertaining to the six accompanying photographs. Select the correct answers from those given and compare with answers found immediately below (upside down). Credit 10 points for each correct answer. A score of 80 is excellent, 70 very good and 60 good.

Outdoor Nebraska Quiz Answers

1 (h) Water spaniel; 2. (e) Springer spaniel; 3, (d) Labrador; 4. (i) Raccoon; 5, (g) Pointer; 5. (k) English Setter; 7. (b) White-front goose; (d) Snow Goose

Random Notes...

1. (h) Water Spariel 2. (e) Springer Spariel 3. (b) Labrador 4. (i) Raccoon 5. (g) Pointer 6. (k) English Setter 7. (d) White-front goose 8. (d) Snow Goose

Random Notes...

Printed copies of the new 1953 Nebraska Hunting and Trapping Regulations are expected to be available by the second week in October. The regulations can then be obtained from permit vendors, the Nebraska Game Commission office in Lincoln and conservation officers .... The new 1953-54 Game Law Book will also probably be available sometime in October.

Three new conservation officers—Fred Salak of Schuyler, Carl E. Gettmann of Lincoln and Herman Schmidt, Jr., also of Lincoin—were selected recently to supplement the Game Commission's law enforcement staff. An alternate—William F. Bonsall of Fairbury—was also named.

Twenty thousand copies of this issue of OUTDOOR NEBRASKA have been printed for distribution .... This year's pheasant season is the 27th consecutive such hunt held in Nebraska .... Charles Bohart of Grand Island is the new assistant habitat restoration leader for the Game Commission. Leader is Wade Hamor of Crete.

FALL ISSUE 19

More Than 2,000 Habitat Areas Planted Since '47

by Wade Hamor Habitat Restoration Leader

THE MAJORITY of hunters who take to the fields this fall in pursuit of upland game birds will view the results of the Game Commission's Habitat Restoration project. For those observant sportsmen, it will be possible to see plantings varying from a single line of multiflora rose across a farmer's field to a fifteen acre tree and shrub plantation. More than 2,000 such sites now exist in Nebraska and many more are planned for the future.

The indivdual hunter, unless he is very observant and has a knowledge of game managment techniques, will see little rhyme or reason to the pattern of plantings as they occur on the various farms and ranches. If, however, he were able to view the entire state from an airplane and pick out each planting, a location pattern would be evident. Since the inception of the present program in 1947, a two mile distance between wildlife areas has been in effect. This, of course, is not true of multiflora rose sites. It is known that pheasants will move a distance of two miles in seeking suitable shelter from winter storms, consequently the two mile limit was imposed. This distance also aided planners in scattering wildlife areas throughout each county. This gave more farmers and sportsmen an opportunity to observe results first hand. This was an important factor in the early years of the program and is only slightly less so at present.

A planting pattern also exists within each individual wildlife area, be it a rose fence or a tree and shrub planting. For the roses: The plants are spaced 12 to 13 inches apart within the row and each hedge has at least one half of its length immediately adjacent to cropland. A multiflora rose hedge is used by quail especially as runway cover. The close proximity of cropland and cover offers the birds an opportunity to feed with a minimum chance of becoming a meal for some predatory bird or animal which happens into the same area. The wildlife areas, which average about two acres in size, are also required to be located near cropland—again the factor of food and cover near each other.

The planting pattern within the site is one of the most important factors considered by game technicians. Some variations in patterns are to be seen on Nebraska farms. Such variations are a result of the growing pains of the program. Present day planners feel that after considering the dynamics of snow control, average snowfall during unusually severe winters, depths and lengths of drifts, etc., the pattern used now will provide maximum protection for our birds during the winter months. The planting pattern consists of a row of multiflora rose completely encircling the planting where good soil conservation practices permit. Inside this and on the north and west sides two or three rows of conifers are planted. These are the snowcatchers and windbreakers. One or two rows of Russian olive or Chinese elm follow in the pattern. These trees provide height to catch the wind and pile the snow up quickly before it can reach the east, southeast and south parts of the area. The latter areas will remain comparatively free of snow in a mature planting and provide the "survival area" for the harassed birds. The remainder of such sites is planted to low growing and brushy type shrubs such as native wild plum, Nanking cherry, sand cherry and honeysuckle.

The winter protection afforded by such sites is of course the primary purpose for the existence of these plantings.

Nebraska sportsmen are only too well acquainted with the results of severe winters on pheasant numbers. Huge losses of breeding stock occur during these periods and it is a part of the game manager's job to affect a remedy which will at least partially relieve the situation. He recognizes these winter storms as obstacles in the path of maximum pheasant production and has launched a program to reduce that obstacle. Theoretically a greater percentage of birds could be carried through the winter if suitable cover is provided. Again, theoretically, a greater harvestable surplus of birds will be available to the hunters in the fall if a large breeding stock is present in the spring.

The overall purpose of the Habitat Restoration Project is not to substantially increase pheasant population numbers, but to tend toward leveling off the five or ten year average population at a somewhat higher figure than would exist in the absence of such a 20 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   program. In other words, it is the game manager's desire to reduce the huge down swings in bird numbers and the subsequent lower bag limits which result from losses in breeding stock.

It now appears quite within the realm of possibility that our rose planting program may well tend to increase the bobwhite population. In fact, it might be the one thing which will save that bird for Nebraska farmers and sportsmen. The recent onslaught made on the osage orange hedges has destroyed much valuable quail cover in the southeastern counties. Such hedges have served their purpose and in many cases are now outdated by reason of their location. Some line the road sides and interfere with communication and power lines. Others are so located on farms as to interfere with water diversion outlets and so must be removed in the name of good soil conservation and land use practices. Multiflora rose grows well in the eastern half of Nebraska and particularly well in the eastern one third of the state. Farmers who desire to divide fields on terrace lines are finding multiflora rose the answer to their fencing problems. This plant located on top or to one side or the other of a terrace will, in a few years if properly cared for, provide that farmer with a stock tight fence—a fence which requires no further maintenance. A wire fence in such a location would be very difficult and expensive to maintain. The use of rose provides the farmer with an inexpensive, maintenance free and stock tight fence and also will bring the bobwhite back to his farm to feed on the annoying and costly insects as well as the weed seeds.

The spring of 1954 will find ten Game Commission crews taking to the fields to plant one and a half million trees and shrubs on private farms. In addition Soil Conservation Service personnel and individual farmers will plant over a half million multiflora roses furnished by the Nebraska Game Commission during the same period. The Game Commission crews consist of a foreman who is an experienced tree planter and two men. In many cases at least one of these men will possess a good knowledge of planting. Each crew is provided with a tractor and a modern tree planter capable of planting two to three thousand trees per hour.

The foremen who are responsible for getting the trees and shrubs in the ground at the proper time are: Jack Stuart, Central City; Elwin Hall, Norfolk; Charles Stenstrom, Columbus; Ira Glasser, Shelton; Cal Sampson, Steele City; John Ferry, Stuart; Herman Kloke, Hastings; Marvin Nelson, Albion; William Eral, Wilcox and Richard Vest, Chappell.

May our efforts produce a better Nebraska and happier Nebraskans.

1952-53 Hunting Accidents (Reprinted from N.R.A Uniform Hunter Casualty Report) Total Victim moved into line of fire .......................... 93 Victim covered by shooter swinging on game .... 192 Victim unseen by shooter 361 Victim mistaken for game 189 Shooter stumbled and fell ...................... 157 Trigger caught in brush .. 55 Clubbing game or cover with firearm.............. 16 Removing weapon from vehicle ........................ 59 Weapon fell from insecure rest ................. 59 Riding in vehicle with loaded weapon .......... 40 Crossing fence with loaded weapon .......... 38 Horseplay—"Didn't know it was loaded" .......... 21 Loading .............................. 55 Unloading .......................... 41 TOTAL 1,376 % of all Accidents Rifle Shotgun Fatal 7% 14% 26% 14% 11% 4% 1% 4% 4% 3% 3% 2% 4% 3% 100% 28 30 79 121 59 17 3 12 18 14 13 14 16 16 440 65 158 278 63 96 37 13 44 41 25 25 5 37 25 908 19 18 33 58 40 17 9 20 11 20 11 4 10 6 276 Non-Fatal 74 174 328 131 117 38 7 39 48 20 27 17 45 35 1,100 FALL ISSUE 21

Rabbit Dissecting IS NO CHORE

1. Make a short slit in the center back of the fur, then take a firm grip of the hide and tear lengthwise of the body. The skin will come off over the legs.

2. A sharp cut through the hip joint removes the hind legs.

3. Small diagonals, or side cutters, are the very handiest to snip off the cord and bone of the legs.

4. Slit the outside membrane along both sides of the spine and lay this membrane back to get at the loin or muscle.

5. Sever the connecting muscle at the neck and base of the pelvis.

6. Insert your knife and cut in along the spine, above the ribs to loosen the loin.

7. Lift out as you cut being careful at all times not to puncture the bowel of the rabbit.

8. Repeat this procedure on the other side of the spine.

9. Sever the front joint to remove the legs.

22 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

Antelope Hunters Shoot Terrific Score

A record hunter success score in Nebraska big game hunting was virtually assured in the state's antelope season two days before completion. After three days of hunting, 121 of the 150 hunters killed antelope for a success score of 80 per cent.

Two days of hunting remained during which time the antelope hunters had the opportunity to top the 84 per cent score registered last year when 851 of 1,000 hunters took doe deer. No final total on antelope kill was available when this magazine went to press.

Matt Mauel of Stratton shot the heaviest antelope on the opening day of the season. Manuel dropped a pronghorn which "hog-dressed" at 109 V2 pounds. Average "hogdressed" weight of the antelope was considerably under 100 pounds.

First antelope taken was shot by Roy Bauer, a Sidney policeman. Bauer got his antelope at 5:08 a.m., three minutes after the season got under way.

10. Here is nice clean meat that will compactly store in your refrigerator. The bowel and head remain intact for easier disposal minus the offensive odors derived when the gutting method is used.

"Just a note from the cook. After my husband has prepared this meat, as above described, I soak it in salt water for an hour before freezing it. My preparation of it for eating is very much as country fried chicken. Salt and pepper your flour in a paper sack, toss in the meat, shake in flour and fry brown in comparatively deep fat. Drain off, place a few slices of onion over the rabbit, a few chopped carrots, a little moisture and bake at 300 for time to allow tendering. About one-half hour before completion I place potatoes across the top of the meat and bake till done. With gravy and a salad we have a 'Hunters Delight.' "— Mrs. Illene Duemy, Lincoln.

B.O.W. Clubs Win Award

FOR ITS WORK in developing the Boys of Woodcraft Sportsmen's clubs, Woodmen of the World recently was presented OUTDOOR LIFE'S annual Conservation Award. The presentation was made by William Rae, editor of that magazine.

From a single club in 1949, Boys of Woodcraft, under the direction of E. E. "Blue" Howell, former All-American football player at Nebraska U., has grown rapidly to 450 clubs scattered over the country. Aim of B.O.W. is to teach its 25,000 members, aged 8 to 16 the principles of good citizenship and the conservation of natural resources.

New B.O.W clubs are being charted monthly and there are now summer encampments in 14 states; the Nebraska encampment having been held at the National Guard Camp at Ashland.

FALL ISSUE 23

Pheasant Hangouts

Groves and tree claims Draws and canyons Grassy sloughs Hedgerows Old stack-yards Sorghum or cane fields Fenced farm pond areas Weed or grain dry lagoons Wind blown tumbleweeds and thislles Abandoned building sites Unplowed stubble Meadow edges Willow bottoms Shocked grain Lightly grazed prairie Strawstacks Fencerows 24 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

Notes On Nebraska Fauna

(Continued from page 26)

Favorite feeding times are early morning and just before sunset. Canada geese, after leaving the night roost, arrive at the feeding grounds singly, in pairs or in small groups. Some authorities believe the small groups represent combinations of families.

Canada geese fly in compact or irregular bunches and at lesser altitudes while near the feeding grounds or elsewhere on short flights. The V-formation flight is used only during migration. In such formations, the leadership will change, dependent upon the length of the flight.

Canada geese and ducks are different in regard to mating. Whereas a duck seeks new spouses each year, the Canada goose is more conservative. It mates for life. It has been reported that should a partner either die or be killed, the survivor would never mate again.

The nests of Canada geese are usually made on ground near water and will as a rule vary in type in accordance with the locality. The nest is generally made in a depression in the ground and lined with such material as sticks and grasses. Some nests are lined with down of the goose. Some Canada geese have been known to nest in abandoned nests of other large birds. Still others, in certain parts of the country, have been found in trees.

The usual set of Canada eggs consist of five or six which are creamy white in color. Period of incubation is from 28 to 30 days. The gander is always near the nest to protect the family if necessary. He does not, however, set on the eggs. This is the job of the goose.

While the young are attaining their growth—usually in July and early August—the adults lose their primary feathers and are unable to fly. This is the only moult experienced by Canada geese. The adults regain the ability of flight again about the middle of August, at about the same time the young begin to fly.

The Fall migration southward begins as early as September. The largest number of flocks, however, are seen winging their way south during October and the first half of November. Canada's are some of the earliest water birds to begin migration in spring. The greatest spring movement is observed in March.

Great flocks of Canada geese will probably soon be winging their way across Nebraska, providing the state with traditionally good goose hunting. The geese will be legal game if taken during the period Oct. 16 to Dec. 14. Hunters in Nebraska will be permitted a daily bag and possession limit of five geese, including in such limit not more than (a) 2 Canada geese or its subspecies, or (b) 2 white-fronted geese, or (c) 1 Canada goose or its subspecies and 1 white-fronted goose.

Wildlife Club Chatter

(Continued from page 13)

and rivers stocked with game fish. The handling of our fish was supervised by our conservation officer.

"It has been through the coordinated effort of so many of our individual members donating time, equipment and money that those projects have been made possible."—Clem Ballwig. CLUB MEMBERSHIP—207.

Omaha Fish and Wildlife Club

"This club is cooperating with the committee in building a bigger and better zoo in Riverview Park. The directors are serving on the zoo committee. The directors are also serving on the committee of Carter Lake Conservation Inc. to save the lake. Solicitation of funds and liberal contribution by O.F.W.C."—C. E. Stubbs, secretary treasurer. CLUB MEMBERSHIP—525.

Sandhill Rod & Gun Club (Ainsworlh) 2—Regular monthly meeting. 7, 14, 21 and 28—Night trapshoots, weather permitting. 6—Regular monthly meeting. Nov. 4, 11, 18 and 25—Night trapshoots, weather permitting. Bird shoot for turkeys, duck and geese on 25th. Dec. 4—Regular monthly meeting. Dec. 20—Bird shoot for turkeys, ducks and geese.

Trapshoots may also be held on Sunday afternoons during December, weather permitting. All shouts open to public. Come and get acquainted.

"This club is (1) operating a pheasant booster unit for j600 birds; (2) operating three nursery ponds rearing trout for release in the trout streams of the area; (3) bought 100 adult pheasant hens from out-of-state hatchery and released them. We sponsor and pay for winter feeding of game birds in the area; (4) policing of recreational spots in the area to keep them clean and attractive. We do our best to promote friendly relationship between the sportsmen and land owners. Club posts a standing offer of $100 for information leading to conviction of anyone killing pheasants illegally."—Ralph L. Mefferd, secretary. CLUB MEMBERSHIP—475.

What Ducks Them Are?

(Continued from page 17)

their wings for the sharp spiral toward our decoys! The tempo of our thumping hearts soon forces us to our feet and pulls the trigger as our gun instinctively finds the leading duck. What pleasure it is to see our faithful Chesapeake, Lab., or Spaniel strut back to the blind with the season's first duck. If horse racing is the "Sport of Kings," there is no adjective in the English language that can aptly describe the sport of duck hunting.

This article is written by the author in a humble attempt to make the sport of waterfowling a bit more enjoyable to those of you who have not in the past made a concerted effort to know your ducks or to keep records of your hunting. The identifying chart on page 18 will be most useful if it is kept in some readily available place. Because ducks are in gradual molt during the hunting season, no one-page identification chart can be devised that is perfect. There undoubtedly will be ducks that do not conform to this chart. A book such as The Ducks, Geese and Swans of North America, by F. H. Kortright, would be a great help to any hunter who desires more information on waterfowl identification.

Notes on NEBRASKA FAUNA

This is the fifteenth of a series of articles and drawings depicting Nebraska wildlife. The article was written by Editor Dick H. Schaffer and the drawing prepared by Staff Artist C. G. "Bud" Pritchard. The Winter Issue of OUTDOOR NEBRASKA will feature the opossum.

WITHOUT a doubt, one of the most majestic sights encountered by man is that of a great flock of Canada geese, V-shaped in formation, pushing its way southward in the crisp fall of the year. Seemingly disrespectful of mountains, coastlines and river valleys, it appears to adhere to the straightest, shortest and safest route to its wintering grounds in the south, passing over cities, towns and hills and dales.

Often its presence skyward is first announced by the loud and resonant honks emanating from the flock which flies by day or night. Doors and windows burst open as men, women and children alike hurriedly cast their eyes to the heavens to locate the source of the far-carrying clarion calls. Though visibility is limited during the hours of darkness, identification is readily made by hearing the distinct honks. Identification is even simpler during daylight hours as viewers associate the honks with the large, greyish bodies with long black, stocking-like necks outstretched in a slight downward curve.

Most observers can readily identify the passerbys as Canada geese because of their clarion notes and body outline and color. But, relatively few can actually tell what types of Canada geese they are. The Canada goose species is composed of five varieties or subspecies. These are: (1) Common Canada goose, (2) Western Canada goose, (3) Lesser Canada goose, (4) Richardson's goose, and (5) Cackling goose.

All five Canada goose subspecies are similarly marked with the outstanding features being the long black neck (or stocking as many people call it) and the white cheeks. The entire head and neck (full length) is black with the exception of the white cheek patches which usually meet under the throat. The cheek patches are sometimes stained rusty.

The major points of distinguishing the different varieties of Canada geese from one another are size and shade of body color. Two of the five varieties are considered large birds, weighing approximately nine pounds each. These are the Common Canada goose (also called "honker" by many) which is light colored, and the Western Canada goose which is dark in color.

One variety, the Lesser Canada goose, weighs between five and six pounds and is considered the medium-sized bird of the group. The remaining two subspecies, the Richardson's goose and the Cackling goose, are quite small, weighing approximately three and one-half pounds. The Richardson's goose is light in color while the Cackling goose is dark.

Information relative to weights of Canada geese obtained from the Game Commission's trapping and banding projects at the Garden County Refuge and Overton areas during; the past winter was somewhat similar to that just mentioned. The Lesser Canada geese averaged a little less than six pounds while the Common Canada's averaged about nine pounds. The females in both instances weighed about one pound less than the ganders.

Most Nebraskans are readily familiar with but three of the five varieties—the Common Canada, Lesser Canada and Richardson's—as they are the only subspecies frequenting the state. The Common and Lesser Canada's are common in geese bags while the Richardson's subspecies is taken less often.

"Canada geese," according to BIRDS OF AMERICA, "breed from limit of trees in valley of the lower Yukon, northwestern Mackenzie, and central Keewatin south to southern Oregon, northern Colorado, Nebraska and Indiana; formerly bred casually south to New Mexico, Kansas, Tennessee, and Massachusetts; winters from southern British Columbia, southern Colorado, southern Wisconsin, southern Illinois, and New Jersey (rarely southern Ontario and Newfoundland) south to southern California, Texas, and Florida; accidental in Bermuda and Jamaica."

The loud resonant honk associated with Canada geese is that uttered in flight by the Common Canada goose. The sound made by the Lesser Canada is the same as that of the Common Canada but higher pitched and sharper, while that of the Richardson's goose is more like a cackle or cluck. It is not a honk.

Food of Canada geese is primarily vegetable. It is secured by grazing in the stubble of grainfields and pastures. During spring, migrating flocks feed somewhat on young wheat, barley, corn and oats. In marshes, they feed on wild rice, sedges and other aquatic plants and insects, larvae, crustaceans and small mollusks.

It is here that Canada geese have something in common with ducks. Both are surface feeders, tipping up with their tails and feet in the air and reaching down to the bottom of the shallows with their long necks. The Canada's, however, unlike ducks, spend a considerable time on land. In fact, it is known that some flocks of Canada geese spend more time on land than on water. And—they often feed quite distant from water, unlike ducks. This is probably due to the fact that they are capable of walking much easier than ducks. The legs on a Canada are set further forward on the body than on ducks.

While feeding on land or water, the flocks are constantly on guard against danger. At all times, several long necks are always stretched up on the alert for approaching trouble. At the least warning, every head is immediately raised. (Continued on page 25)

26 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA     Postmaster: If undeliverable FOR ANY REASON, notify sender, stating reason, on FORM 3547, postage for which is guaranteed. FORWARDING POSTAGE GUARANTEED OUTDOOR NEBRASKA STATE HOUSE Lincoln, Nebraska The 10 Commandments of Safety 1. Treat every gun with the respect due a loaded gun. This is the cardinal rule of gun safety. 2. Carry only empty guns, taken down or with the action open, into your automobile, camp, and home. 3. Always be sure that the barrel and action are clear of obstructions. 4. Always carry your gun so that you can control the direction of the muzzle, even if you stumble. 5. Be sure of your target before you pull the trigger. 6. Never point a gun at anything you do not want to shoot. 7. Never leave your gun unattended unless you unload it first. 8. Never climb a tree or a fence with a loaded gun. 9. Never shoot at a flat, hard surface or the surface of water. 10. Do not mix gunpowder and alcohol.