OUTDOOR Nebraska

PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY NEBRASKA GAME, FORESTATION AND PARKS COMMISSION Editor: Dick H. Schaffer Associate editor: Peie Czura Artist: Claremont G. Prilchard Photographer-writer: Gene Hornbeck Circulation: Phyllis Martin OCTOBER, 1958 Vol. 36, No. 10 25 cents per copy $1.75 for one year $3 lor two years Send subscriptions to: Outdoor Nebraska, State Capitol Lincoln 9 NEBRASKA GAME COMMISSION Floyd Stone, Alliance, chairman Leon A. Sprague, Red Cloud, vice chairman Don F. Robertson, North Platte George Pinkerton, Beatrice Robert H. Hall, Omaha Keith Kreycik, Valentine Robert F. Kennedy, Columbus DIRECTOR M. O. Steen DIVISION CHIEFS Eugene H. Baker, engineering and operations Glen R. Foster, fisheries Lloyd P. Vance, game Dick H. Schaffer, information and education Jack D. Strain, land management and parks PROJECT AND ASSISTANT PROJECT LEADERS Orty Orr, fisheries (Lincoln) Phil Agee, game (Lincoln) Clarence Newton, land management (Lincoln) Dale Bree, land management (Lincoln) Malcolm D. Lindeman, operations (Lincoln) Frank Sleight, operations (Lincoln) Harvey Miller, waterfowl (Bassett) Bill Bailey, big game (Alliance) DISTRICT SUPERVISORS DISTRICT I (Alliance, phone 412) L. J. Cunningham, law enforcement Lem Hewitt, operations John Mathisen, game Keith Donoho, fisheries Robert L. Schick, land management DISTRICT II (Bassett, phone 334) John Harpham, law enforcement Delmar Dorsey, operations Jack Walstrom, game Bruce McCarraher, fisheries Gerald Chaffin, land management DISTRICT III (Norfolk, phone 2875) Robert Benson, law enforcement Lewis Klein, operations Gordon Heebner, game H. O. Compton, big game George Kidd, fisheries Harold Edwards, land management DISTRICT IV (North Platte, phone 4425-26) Samuel Grasmick, law enforcement Robert Thomas, fisheries Chester McClain, land management (North Platte) Gale B. Mast, game DISTRICT V (Lincoln, phone 5-2951) Bernard Patton, law enforcement Robert Reynolds, operations George Schildman, game Richard Spady, land management Delvin M. Whiteley, land manager RESEARCH BIOLOGISTS Karl E. Menzel, coturnix quail (Lincoln) Raymond L. Linder, pheasants (Fairmont) AREA CONSERVATION OFFICERS William J. Ahem, Box 1197, North Loup, phone 89 Robert Ator, Box 66, Sutton, phone 4921 Cecil Avey, 519 4th Street, Crawford, phone 228 William F. Bonsall, Box 305, Alma, phone 154 H. Lee Bowers, Benkelman, phone 49R Dale Brutha, York Loron Bunney, Box 675, Ogallala, phone 247 Ralph L. Craig, Box 462, Chappell, phone 4-1343 Robert Downing, Box 343, Fremont Lowell I. Fleming, Box 269, Lyons, phone mutual 7-2383 Raymond Frandsen, P.O. 373, Humboldt, phone 2411 John D. Green, 720 West Avon Road, Lincoln, phone 8-1165 Ed Greving, 501 So. Central Ave., Kearney H. Burman Guyer, 1212 N. Washington, Lexington, phone Fairview 4-3208 Larry Iverson, Box 201, Hartington, phone 15F120 Norbert J. Kampsnider, 106 East 18th, Box 1, Grand Island, phone DUpont 2-7006 Jim McCole, Box 268, Gering, phone 837 L Jack Morgan, Box 603, Valentine, phone 504 Roy W. Owen, Box 288, Crete, phone 446 Paul C. Phillippe, Syracuse, phone 166w Fred Salak, Mullen, phone KI 6-6291 Herman O. Schmidt, Jr., 1011 East Fourth, McCook, phone 992W Harry A. Spall, 820 Clay Street, O'Neill, phone 637 Joe Ulrich, Box 1382, Bridgeport, phone 100 Lyman Wilkinson (unassigned) Richard Wolkow, 817 South 60th Street, Omaha, phone Capital 1293 V. B. Woodgate, Box 403, Fremont, phone PArk 1-5715 Donald J. Wolverton, General Delivery, Rushville, phone David 72285

IN THIS ISSUE:

1958 HUNTING PROSPECTUS QUAIL (George Schildman) Page 3 PHEASANT (Raymond Linder) Page 5 WATERFOWL (Harvey Miller) Page 6 GROUSE (Gordon Heebner) Page 7 RABBIT (George Schildman) Page SQUIRREL (Bill Bailey) Page 8 1958 HUNTING AND TRAPPING REGULATIONS Page 9 WHAT TO WEAR Page 10 (Pete Czura) SHOT OR NOT Page 13 FOLLOW THE GULLS Page 14 (Gene Hornbeck) SCATTER-GUN AIDS Page 17 (Pete Czura) BOON TO GROUSE? Page 18 (Gene Hornbeck) DON'T END UP AN ACCIDENT STATISTIC Page 20 (Dr. E. A. Rogers) DEAD OUT Page 22 WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR DEER Page 23 FALL CAMP-OUT Page 24 OUTDOOR ELSEWHERE Page 25 NOTES ON NEBRASKA FAUNA (BLUE GOOSE) Page 26 (Pete Czura) AGE GAUGE TELLS THE STORY Page 28

1958 HUNTING PROSPECTUS

Phenomenal increase in birds gives state a rare population —largest in years, and one that will probably diminish soon by George squama District Game Supervisor

NEBRASKA'S most liberal quail season in 40 years or more is the result of what is believed to be a rare population (see accompanying chart). It is a rare population because it is considerably larger than any Nebraska has had in over 20 years, and because the Game Commission believes it will diminish in the near future. It is impossible to fortell the future with certainty, but based on the current population level and past fluctuations, the present population is considerably above what we should expect, except for those rare occasions.

For the aforementioned reasons Nebraska's 1958 bobwhite population is considered a rare one. Let's hope that the anticipated decline, for whatever combination of reasons it occurs, is not too severe.

"Game is where you find it." This old adage can be the prevailing condition on any given day of hunting. But when the many efforts are averaged out for the 44-day season, Nebraskans should experience perhaps the finest quail hunting they have ever known.

This exceptional bobwhite increase was general over most of the state, except in the south-central area. Heavy snows that hit this area last March resulted in some losses. However, this area has some locally good populations, and prospects are that hunting success should be nearly as good as last year.

The eastern third of Nebraska and primarily the southeastern quarter contain the state's primary bobwhite range. It is in this region that the phenomenal increase has occurred.

Those living in the north-central and panhandle areas have their first opportunity in many years to hunt bobwhites. In rather localized sections, where special conditions are suitable, current population densities are comparable to some sections of eastern Nebraska. These areas experience more severe winters than the southern and eastern areas, and annual shootable populations are not the rule. It is very possible that the short 1958 season may be the only one until another series of mild winters permit birds to reach harvestable numbers.

In the past, when the Commission opened a new territory to quail hunting, there were individuals critical OCTOBER, 1958 3   of such a decision. There would be no misgivings on their part if they understood these facts:

1. Past regulations have never resulted in a harvest that has cut into the breeding stock for the following year;

2. The present limited season will not jeopardize the present population in any way;

3. We cannot stockpile game;

4. A limited season this year will provide recreation and utilize a portion of the resource before it is lost to another severe winter as has been done repeatedly in the past;

5. There is every desire on the part of the Game Commission to safeguard the welfare of all game species.

Most quail hunters use a 12 gauge shotgun. Highvelocity loads are not desirable, and Nos. 7V2 or 8 shot are satisfactory. A good bird dog adds much to the enjoyment of the hunt, and will reduce the number of lost birds from about 20 per cent to around 8 per cent.

When the season opens October 25 (in all areas), quail coveys may be found scattered over the landscape in some most unlikely looking cover. As the season progresses, more and more of the coveys will work their way into winter quarters.

An understanding of quail habits and requirements will help you select a hunting spot and improve your chances of finding birds. Quail prefer an open, short grass area for roosting. Depending on weather and kind of day, the covey will generally leave the roost near sunrise to an hour after. The birds usually travel on foot to the feeding area, following a route that is not too far from escape cover. Depending upon the weather again, they may feed until midmorning, then work their way to loafing cover. Hedgerows, plum thickets, or large weeds may provide the type of area they feel secure to dust and loaf in and themselves until late afternoon. They again head for a place to fill their craws before going to roost for the night. Rain, wind, cloud cover, and approaching storms will all effect the time and pattern of activities.

Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

THE END (Only counties for which long series to date is available) Population levels in 10 southeastern counties 4 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   by Roy Linder Research Biologist Good winter survival and bumper chick crop add up to state's best pheasant population in decade. Cover, though continues heavy, so all is not roses. Dog will boost chances

NEBRASKA'S best pheasant hunting in years is in prospect this fall, for all signs point to a lot of birds in the field. In fact, M. O. Steen, Game Commission director, said the pheasant population is approximately double that of 1957.

"We have more birds than we have had in a decade," Steen reported, "but taking them will be no easy task. Cover is again extremely heavy. If you don't mind work, chances are you'll get your birds. But you will have to go after them; they won't come to you."

Those hunters with dogs will find the going easier and will probably be rewarded with more birds.

Last year's pheasant increase was followed by good survival through to spring, and the 1958 nesting season saw improved success. Greater winter survival and greater production per nesting hen always add up to bigger bird populations.

Two techniques are employed by the Game Commission to determine population trends and reproduction. One method, the rural mail-carrier counts, follows population trends. The other, records kept by Commission technicians and conservation officers, determines reproductive success.

Rural mail carriers count all pheasants seen on their routes over a specified four-day period. These counts are made in winter, spring, and late summer. Winter counts are to obtain postseason sex-ratio estimates, spring counts to determine breeding population trends, and summer counts to evaluate hatching success and to follow trends of pre-hunting season populations.

Technicians and conservation officers collect information about pheasant broods during the nesting season. From this information, success of the nesting season can be determined.

The 1958 spring rural mail carrier count showed a 32 per cent increase in the breeding population over 1957. Counts made in August showed an increase of 140 per cent over 1957. These increases were state-wide, with a substantial increase in all regions. Highest populations were in south-central central, and panhandle areas.

The tremendous increase in summer population, as shown by rural mail carriers, may be explained by the higher breeding population and reproduction during the 1958 season. Game Commission records show that 73 per cent of all hens seen were accompanied by broods. These averaged seven chicks per brood. These figures indicate excellent reproduction.

There are some things for each hunter to remember. If the hunt is to be on private property, first get the owner's permission. Know the game laws, particularly those concerning the game you are hunting.

Also, a little knowledge of the daily habits of the pheasant should pay off with more birds in the bag. The pheasant spends the night roosting in some type of low vegetation, usually stubble fields. Early in the morning, the pheasant begins moving from the stubble fields in search of food. In Nebraska, during fall, this is primarily corn, milo, and weed seeds.

Before the warm part of the day, pheasants seek heavy cover to loaf in, such as weed patches or dense growth in field crops. Late in the afternoon, they again begin to feed. They start moving toward the stubble field shortly before dark to roost. These typical daily movements should determine hunting habits. For example, early morning results should be best in stubble fields, as the birds leave the roost. After leaving the roost, birds will be foraging for food in corn and milo. During midday any dense cover is used for loafing until feeding activities begin again in the afternoon. Usually cover with a food supply nearby will be most productive. For those hunters still in the field until sundown, the last few minutes might be spent profitably in stubble fields

Some things of interest pertaining to hunting seasons have been shown in intensive (continued on page 21)

OCTOBER, 1958 5   by Harvey Miller Assistant Project Leader Ducks, habitat, and food are abundant, so much so that state's gunning may start early...and end late

PROSPECTS for the waterfowl seasons are generally rosy. Everything that can be predicted is as good or better than during recent years, so if Nebraska hunters have their share of luck, 1958 could well be a banner year.

Of course, most waterfowl hunters are duck hunters, and what to expect in the fall flight of ducks is of paramount interest to Nebraskans.

First, in regard to ducks wintering in the Central Flyway, a whopping increase of nearly 50 per cent over the average of the three prior years was noted. This reflected the tremendous reproduction of the 1957 season.

Next, the breeding populations of ducks in all areas contributing to Nebraska and other Central Flyway states were equal to or greater than in 1957. By species, the mallard showed spectacular increases everywhere. There were lesser increases in most of the common species found in Nebraska. Exceptions were the diving ducks such as redheads and canvasbacks which again showed the same serious decrease noted the past several years.

Weather and water conditions varied considerably throughout the nesting areas. Good habitat conditions existed in all the Central Flyway states (except the Dakotas) in Alaska, the North West Territories, and the northern Prairie Provinces. However, conditions in southeastern Alberta, southern Saskatchewan, southwestern Manitoba, and the Dakotas (the famed "Duck Factory" of the Central Flyway) were poor.

A dry 1957 combined with a light snow cover during the 1957-58 winter severely reduced the number of water areas available to the breeding ducks. Some relief came in the form of late-June and July rains over South Dakota and part of North Dakota. The rest of this area, however, remained so dry that crops were generally ruined. The weather, though variable, was generally favorable throughout the nesting grounds.

Duck production, of course, is dependent upon water remaining through the brooding season and in this case, very nearly followed the availability of such water areas. All areas except drought region reported excellent production, with the result that increases were predicted in the fall flight of ducks. The drought area reported decreases of as much as 50 per cent in production. These declines, however, were offset somewhat by the increases in breeding populations.

To sum things up, Nebraskans should see about the same number of ducks as they did in 1957, which was a respectable year for duck hunters.

For those who like to hunt geese, the picture is encouraging. The breeding population of geese was about the same as in 1957; however, Canada-type geese showed a healthy increase. All reports from the breeding grounds indicate that these geese should have produced a good crop, and the fall flight forecast for geese is equal to or better than that of 1957.

Now, after painting all these bright pictures of good fall flights, it may be well to look at the seasons and bag limits for 1958 and see just what they mean. First, the 90-day season will allow hunters more opportunity to hunt ducks. There are 13 weekends in the season, along with more equalization of chances for, say the Sand Hills hunter as compared to the North Platte River hunter. The restricted bag limit on redheads and canvasbacks is made necessary by their ever-decreasing populations.

Next, the staggered goose seasons have their reasons. The populations of blue and snow geese are doing well, and there is no particular need to hold the harvest down. So, we have a 75-day-long season. The small subspecies of Canada-type geese are also doing well. The big honker and the white-fronted geese, however, are decreasing, so it has become necessary to offer them additional protection. This was accomplished by setting an earlier season, which will allow hunters to harvest the earlier-migrating small Canadas but will protect the honkers. The latter usually migrate in late November. In particular, it will protect those indvidual flocks wintering in Nebraska which have been steadily decreasing for the past decade.

Summer's bountiful rains have provided almost unlimited hunting areas throughout the state. The rainwater basins of southeast and south-central Nebraska are full and hunting should be outstanding. Lagoons have been formed in the wheat fields of southwest and western Nebraska, and even in northeast Nebraska where water is usually at a premium. Farm ponds and lagoons are brimful. Hunting in early season will be good throughout the state.

The ducks are there, they have all the habitat and feed they need to make them come early and stay late, so, with some help from the weather, Nebraskans can look forward to an outstanding waterfowl season during 1958.

THE END 6 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   by Gordon Heebner District Game Supervisor Good prairie-grouse prospects are in view for the discriminating hunters

WHEN most Nebraskans think of the coming hunting seasons, they immediately think of the pheasant. The general public shows great interest in any hunting regulations pertaining to this particular bird, but less than five per cent of all Nebraska's hunting permit holders take advantage of the prairie chicken and sharp-tailed grouse seasons.

During 1958, the census of the prairie-grouse breeding population indicated an increase of 110 per cent over 1957, and a 53 per cent increase over 1956. The total prairie-grouse breeding population in Sheridan, Cherry, Brown, Rock, and Keya Paha Counties showed an increase of 58 per cent in birds per square mile, as compared to a decrease of 11 per cent from 1956 to 1957. Prairie-grouse populations are quite uniform over most of this area.

In most instances, the prairie grouse in Nebraska are birds of the upland prairies. Extensive areas of lightly grazed or unused grasslands are an essential portion of their habitat requirements. The interspersion of brush and corn with this type of grassland will practically guarantee the presence of a local grouse population.

Once this type of area has been located, the leg work starts. Experience is an aid in locating these birds during the different times of the day or under various weather conditions, but the trial-and-error method also has its place with these unpredictable birds. Following are some practices followed by experienced grouse hunters.

1. Hunt the corn fields and stubble-field edges in early morning and evening. These same areas are often good throughout the day during cool weather.

2. Clumps of brush are commonly used for loafing sites during the hot part of the day.

3. On windy days, prairie grouse can often be found in grassland along the crest of the hills. On such days, the birds often flush wildly and they may be difficult to get within range.

4. If none of these areas pay off and you have a lot of energy, pick out the highest hills in the area you are hunting, climb to the top, and hunt out this high open grassland. The use of a good pointer or setter will be invaluable in these areas.

The fall outlook for prairie-grouse hunting is excellent with the best hunting expected in the north-central counties of the state. If you've never hunted prairie grouse before, give it a try. You'll like it.

THE END Rabbits galore will provide lots of shooting over all of Nebraska by George Schildman District Game Supervisor

OUR 1958 cottontail crop is BIG. We have A LOT of them. These terms offer only a vague description, but if we were able to get a total statewide population figure, it would convey little more to our comprehension than do BIG and A LOT.

Cottontails have apparently enjoyed a good production year, and the result should be a sizable increase over last year's fall population. The liberal regulations of year-round shooting and daily bag and possession limits of 5 and 10 respectively should provide a lot of recreation and a bunch of good meals.

Nebraska's 1958 crop is not as big as in the past, but the state does have a good population. Although the cottontail is an overlooked source of recreation in many parts of the state, he is constantly gaining popularity. Only in the eastern portion of the state is there any appreciable harvest of this abundant and renewable resource.

Cottontail hunting is or should be a leisurely and enjoyable sport. A good dog will add to the pleasure of the hunt and reduce the crippling loss. Many hunters wait for the advantages of a snow to go rabbit hunting.

There are nearly as many variations of hunting techniques as there are hunters. Many use a .22 calibre rifle and search out the shiny black eye of a rabbit in his form. Others flush the rabbit and hope that it will stop within sight and shooting distance.

There are probably more hunters, though, who use a shotgun rather than a rifle in pursuing the bunny. Be it a 410 gauge or a 12 gauge, light leads are preferred.

Cottontails are widely distributed throughout Nebraska, and any spot with some escape cover near food is likely to harbor cottontails. Escape cover may consist of hedgerows, brush, weeds, cornfields, a rock pile, or a hole in the ground. Cottontails generally are active after dark or in the late evening or early morning hours. Daylight hours are spent in a grassy form a short dash from escape cover. On the coldest of winter days, however, they are likely to find an underground retreat in which to spend the day.

Edge is what you are looking for, when seeking a hunting spot early in the fall. A grassy area near escape cover is where he is likely to be spending the day. As the days get colder and cover disappears, he is apt to be found in the heavy weed patches and similar heavier cover areas. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

THE END OCTOBER, 1958 7   Sharp of ear and quick in the trees, the squirrel offers a test for keenest marksmanship, and makes tasty dish for the hunter, his wife and children by Bill Bailey Assistant Project Leader

SQUIRREL hunting is one of the oldest outdoor sports in America. All of us can recall stories of the skill of Daniel Boone and other frontiersmen in "barking squirrels" with their Kentucky rifles. This served as recreation and a test of marksmanship as well as providing a tasty potpie for the wife and kids.

Squirrel hunting remains a top sport for many people. It provides relaxation and a closeness to nature seldom experienced in other types of hunting. Either sex, young or old, can participate with a minimum of cost and effort. No special or expensive equipment is needed.

Since Nebraska's squirrel season opened September 13, nimrods have already been out after "old bushytail." A lot of hunting remains, through, for the season extends through December 31.

The distribution of squirrels in Nebraska is governed by suitable food and cover. A good food source must be adjacent, interspersed or within timber for high populations of bushytails. Consequently, our better squirrel hunting is in eastern Nebraska. In western Nebraska, squirrels are almost limited to timber along stream courses, and only sparse populations occur.

When scouting for a place to hunt, look for large trees (cottonwood, bur oak, elm, box elder or walnut) adjacent to cornfields. In the fall and late summer, corn serves as one of the primary foods for fox squirrels in Nebraska. If there are bur oaks or walnuts in the grove, mast from these trees also provides a good source of food. Abandoned farmsteads with a large windbreak near stored corn is always a good bet.

Fox squirrels build leaf and twig nests as well as den trees for loafing and rearing young. This is usually a good check to determine if squirrel populations occur in an area. The nests are normally about a foot in depth and 14 to 15 inches across. They may appear as a big ball of leaves or twigs that have accumulated in the forks of a limb or crotch of a tree.

Additional sign can be detected from within the trees. Squirrels will often drag or carry ears of corn from a cornfield into a tree area. If mast trees occur, such as walnut or oaks, you can usually find cuttings, or the remains of the nut.

The greatest period of activity is in early morning and late afternoon, so this is usually the most productive time to go hunting. Early morning is normally more productive than late afternoon.

If it is not possible to go out until midday, you may still have a good hunt. Fall is a period of heavy work for squirrels, as they store and cache foods. They may spend several hours a day pursuing their work. This increased activity provides an advantage for the hunter.

Hunting bushytails is primarily a stalking and waiting game. It is not a sport for the heavy-footed or impatient individual. Fox squirrels have a well-developed sense of hearing, and foreign noises will often cause them to hide in a tree top or take refuge in a den. They are also quick to detect movements, but often they cannot distinguish a motionless hunter in the shadows.

Some sportsmen prefer to hunt while leaves are still on the trees, and to take advantage of warm fall days. The esthetics at this time are excellent, since the brilliant colors of changing leaves and the activities of other wildlife provides a good background for your hunt. Others prefer to go out after leaves have dropped, providing maximum visibility.

When stalking squirrels, the hunter should advance quietly from point to point, remaining quiet and motionless for a time at each stand. Each point should provide good visibility where you can easily view surrounding trees.

Squirrels are often curious. If you remain quiet, one may come out of hiding to check on the intruder, giving a chance for a shot. Scan the tree tops for hidden squirrels. You may detect a fuzzy ball flattened against a limb. Then play a waiting game. Eventually he will move and you can add another to your potpie.

Some hunters prefer a .22 caliber rifle; others prefer a shotgun. Squirrels may be taken with either weapon.

Hunting squirrels is one of the most satisfying and relaxing of all hunts. Give it a try and see for yourself.

THE END 8 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

1958 NEBRASKA HUNTING and TRAPPING REGULATIONS

NOTE: Where entire state is open to hunting, this does not include federal and state sanctuaries and refuges, game farms, or areas closed by any federal or state laws or city ordinances.

COCK PHEASANTS SEASON DATES: October 25 through December 7. OPEN AREA: Entire state. BAG LIMIT: 3 (three). POSSESSION LIMIT: 9 (nine). SHOOTING HOURS: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Note: All pheasants taken must retain sex identification (either head or feet must be on the bird). QUAIL (Southeast area) SEASON DATES: October 25 through December 7. OPEN AREA: Adams, Butler, Cass, Clay, Douglas, Fillmore, Gage, Hall, Hamilton, Howard, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Merrick, Nance. Nemaha, Nuckolls, Otoe, Pawnee, Polk, Richardson, Saline, Sarpy, Saunders, Seward, Thayer, Webster, York, and that portion of Washington, Dodge, and Colfax Counties located south of U. S. Highway 30, and that part of Platte County located south of U. S. Highway 30 east of Columbus and that part south of State Highway 22 to the Nance County line, except federal and state sanctuaries and refuges. BAG LIMIT: 6 (six). POSSESSION LIMIT: 12 (twelve). SHOOTING HOURS: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset. QUAIL (Southcentral and Northeast area) SEASON DATES: October 25 through November 23. OPEN AREA: Antelope, Boone, Buffalo, Burt, Cedar, Chase, Cuming, Custer, Dakota, Dawson, Dixon, Dundy, Franklin, Frontier, Furnas, Gosper, Greeley, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock. Kearney, Keith, Knox, Lincoln, Madison, Perkins, Phelps, Pierce, Red Willow, Sherman, Stanton, Thurston, Valley, Wayne, and that part of Washington, Dodge, and Colfax Counties, and that part of Platte County east of Columbus and north of U. S. Highway 30, and that part of Platte County north of State Highway 22 to the Nance County line, except federal and state sanctuaries and refuges. BAG LIMIT: 6 (six). POSSESSION LIMIT: 12 (twelve). SHOOTING HOURS: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset. QUAIL (North Platte Valley and Northcentral areas) SEASON DATES: October 25 through November 2. OPEN AREA: Banner, Blaine, Boyd, Brown, Cheyenne, Deuel, Garden, Garfield, Holt, Keya Paha, Kimball, Loup, Morrill, Rock, Scotts Bluff, and Wheeler Counties, except federal and state sanctaries and refuges. BAG LIMIT: 6 (six). POSSESSION LIMIT: 12 (twelve). SHOOTING HOURS: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset. DUCKS SEASON DATES: October 1 through December 29. OPEN AREA: Entire state. BAG LIMIT: 4 (four)'. POSSESSION LIMIT: 8 (eight)*. SHOOTING HOURS: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset. * Daily bag limit may not include more than (a) two canvasbacks, or (b) two redheads, or (c) one canvasback and one redhead. Possession limit may not include more than (a) four canvasbacks, or (b) four redheads, or (c) four in the aggregate of both canvasbacks and redheads. Limits may not include more than one wood duck and one hooded merganser. In addition to the daily bag and possession limits, the bag limit on American and red-breasted mergansers is five and the possession limit is ten. GEESE SEASON DATES: October 1 through November 29 for Canada geese and its subspecies and white-fronted geese. October 1 through December 14 for blue and snow geese. OPEN AREA: Entire state. BAG LIMIT: 5 (five)* * POSSESSION LIMIT: 5 (five)* * * * Bag and possession limits may not include more than (a) two Canada geese or its subspecies, or (b) one white-fronted goose, or (c) one Canada goose or its subspecies and one whitefronted goose. SHOOTING HOURS: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset. SEASON DATES: October 1 through December 29. OPEN AREA: Entire state. BAG LIMIT: 10 (ten). POSSESSION LIMIT: 10 (ten). SHOOTING HOURS: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset. WILSON'S SNIPE (JACKSNIPE) SEASON DATES: October 1 through October 30. OPEN AREA: Entire state. BAG LIMIT: 8 (eight). POSSESSION LIMIT: 8 (eight). SHOOTING HOURS: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset. RAILS and GALLINULE SEASON DATES: October 4 through December 12. OPEN AREA: Entire state. BAG LIMIT: 15 (fifteen). POSSESSION LIMIT: 15 (fifteen) . . . Except on sora rails, on which bag and possession limits are 25 and 25. SHOOTING HOURS: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset. WOODCOCK SEASON DATES: October 4 through November 12. OPEN AREA: Entire state. BAG LIMIT: 4 (four). POSSESSION LIMIT: 8 (eight). SHOOTING HOURS: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset. PRAIRIE CHICKEN and SHARP-TAILED GROUSE SEASON DATES: October 1 through October 12. OPEN AREA: Grouse may be taken only in that area which lies within and is bounded by the following highways, rivers, and lines. Beginning at the South Dakota-Nebraska state line, thence south along Highway 137 to Highway 20, east along Highway 20 to Highway 11, south along Highway 11 to the North Loup River, west along the North Loup River to Highway 7, west and south along Highway 7 and 2 to the Dismal River, west along the Dismal River to Highway 83, south along Highway 83 to Highway 92, west along Highway 92 to Highway 61, south along Highway 61 to the North Platte River, west along the North Platte River to Highway 26, west along Highway 26 and 26 N to Highway 19, north along Highway 19 to Highway 2, east along Highway 2 to Highway 27, north along Highway 27 to South Dakota-Nebraska state line. BAG LIMIT: 2 (two). POSSESSION LIMIT: 4 (four). SHOOTING HOURS: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset. COTTONTAIL RABBIT SEASON DATES: January 1 through December 31. OPEN AREA: Entire state. BAG LIMIT: 5 (five). POSSESSION LIMIT: 10 (ten). SHOOTING HOURS: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset. SQUIRREL SEASON DATES: September 13 through December 31. OPEN AREA: Entire state. BAG LIMIT: 5 (five). POSSESSION LIMIT: 10 (ten). SHOOTING HOURS: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset. RACCOON and OPOSSUM SEASON DATES: January 1 through December 31. OPEN AREA: Entire state. BAG LIMIT: None. POSSESSION LIMIT: None. SHOOTING HOURS: All hours. TRAPPING REGULATIONS MUSKRAT, MINK, and BEAVER SEASON DATES: November 15 through February 28. OPEN AREA: Entire state* LIMIT: None. TRAPPING HOURS: All hours* * RACCOON, OPOSSUM, BADGER, SKUNK, CIVET, and FOX SEASON DATES: January 1 through December 31. OPEN AREA: Entire state.* LIMIT: None. TRAPPING HOURS: All hours. * Except for state-owned lakes or marshes or areas closed by federal, state, or municipal law. * * All hours except that the hour for commencement of trapping of fur-bearing animals on the first day of the season shall be 12 o'clock noon. OCTOBER, 1958 9

WHAT TO WEAR

by Pete Czura Associate Editor Nothing can spoil your day or make you so miserable as the wearing of non-insulated and improper clothing

MEMO to Nebraska outdoorsmen: It's later than you think. Frost has already splattered its white hoary blanket over many northern states. Teal are moving over the marshes in nervous flocks. Young mallards, already wing strong, are dining each evening in a "new" stubble field or pothole.

And soon, on some cold, windy night, perhaps under a full Nebraska moon, high from the sky will come the lonesome clarion call of wild geese.

You might wonder, as you read this, "Why the pep talk? I'm all set for hunting."

How about your gear? Is it ready to give you comfort and warmth afield? Is it wind-proof and waterrepellent? Better check before you go out.

Nebraska hunters should pay particular attention to the kind of clothing they wear afield. Good hunting gear should be warm, comfortable, rugged, durable, and waterrepellent.

Today, the modern sportsman can enjoy every modern comfort, but yet, if he is not properly attired, he will be miserable. Worse yet, his outdoor adventure could develop into a nightmare of prolonged illness because his dress is not suited for the weather he encounters afield.

Let's begin from the skin out, and see if we can't suggest and advise some worthwhile tips; not so much for the old-timers, but for the tyro who is planning his first outdoor adventure.

The first layer, the underwear, is very important. A good combination is the knitted type of undershort and 10 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   regulation-type Navy tee shirt. It's lightweight and ideal for early fall hunting.

When the air gets nippy, the long Johns usually, the insulated "Arctic" underwear are hauled out of the moth balls. This is the two-piece job suitable for both uplandgame and waterfowl hunters.

The experienced sportsman wears a wool shirt, with long sleeves for added comfort and warmth. Such a shirt is always right for wearing afield, regardless of weather. Because of its porosity, the wool shirt provides warmth on the coldest day and is cool comfort on warm fall days. Many wool shirts are water-repellent, because of the natural oils in the wool.

When it comes to selecting hunting jacket and pants, the hunter has such a wide range of color, material, style, and cost that the choice is often difficult and perplexing.

The time-honored canvas hunting coat is probably in greater demand than ever. It continues to meet all practical needs, resists barbs and briers, turns wind and rain, and wears like iron. Ask for plenty of slack under the arms, permitting easy movement of arms.

Modern hunting clothing is not heavy or bulky. The lightweight jobs do a splendid job of turning cold and retaining body heat.

Trouser materials vary according to conditions. Khaki is popular, cool, cheap, hard-wearing, and can be washed and with no regret, tossed away. But, it can also get very wet in a rain. Some trousers are made of cotton drill processed to shed rain. However, for all-round use-iron-clad wear, rain-repellent, and comfort the processed canvas trouser is in a class by itself.

Modern stag pants are really breeches in that they taper at the bottom and lace smoothly into a stocking or boot. However, closely woven forestry and Mackinaw cloths are well liked and appropriate under certain conditions.

Most jackets and pants come from the factory treated with a special water-repellent. However, should you later have your gear cleaned, instruct the cleaner to treat your clothing with a water-repellent. Or, you can buy waterproofing material at most sporting stores and do the job yourself.

Feet will falter in agony if not properly protected from the elements. Cotton stockings are harsh and uncompromising. They tend to make feet perspire, stay wet long, wrinkle easily, and invite blisters. Wool is far more practical from every angle. It cushions the feet, giving them elasticity and spring.

Moisture permeates socks, and a foot encased in wool will dry out much quicker. Cotton, on the other hand, is a poor conductor of wet. Socks remain damp, as do the feet themselves, and damp feet easily become sore feet.

If not dry and warm, your feet will be the first part of your body to scream for rest. So, choosing the right type of boot is extremely important. If you favor short boots, make certain they are insulated and of rubber. These will keep your feet dry and toast-warm in the coldest weather. Get a size which won't squeeze or pinch your toes.

Lately, many hunters have been switching to insulated, lightweight hip boots. Their value to the waterfowl enthusiast is obvious. But the boots, too, are a big help to the upland-game hunters, particularly in wet, heavy cover.

Should you decide to use hip boots, make sure that they fit snugly. Get them light and flexible, and woollined with sponge cushion insoles to insulate you against OCTOBER, 1958 11   cold. Such boots will keep your feet dry and warm, and at the same time keep your pants dry, too.

What about leather boots? No matter how waterproofed they may be, they will soon become water-logged and will remain wet most of the day, producing a condition not conducive to good health.

Hat or cap? Either one is O.K., depending on where and what you hunt in. Hats are fine, if lightweight, for upland-game hunting. Caps, with ear flaps, are ideal for miserable weather encountered in waterfowl hunting. A hat can act as a sun shade and will keep rain off the neck and face in wet weather. However, the many poplin and canvas hunting caps will serve just as well; in some cases, even better than a hat.

Keeping your hands warm means more enjoyment afield, so the right kind of gloves or mittens is important. There are gloves with little plastic knobs on the palms to prevent your grip from slipping on a gun stock. When it's raw cold outdoors, split mitts are ideal. With a slit in the palm of your mitt, you can easily slip your hand out for quick, accurate gun handling.

Don't overlook hand warmers. Small and flameless, they do a fine job of keeping your hands warm in even the coldest of weather, And, those of you who suffer from cold kidney aches and back chills, the body belt warmers, wrapped around your middle, will keep you snug.

Last but not least, choose hunting garb with a vibrant color hue. Tests reveal that yellow not red is the safest color to wear afield. A simple yellow vest can be slipped on or off in a minute. Decked out in yellow, no hunter will ever look like anything but a guy in a gaudy yellow garment. The brighter the better.

Nash Buckingham had the right words when he told us: "A pair of boots not water-proofed, or too tight, or a shirt that binds and strangles you, can ruin your day afield." Don't let this happen to you.

THE END

Best Outdoor Magazine

Frank T. Tesar, Omaha: "As far as I am concerned OUTDOOR NEBRASKA is the best outdoor magazine published. I particularly liked July's 'Camping in Comfort', also 'Poison in The Rough'. I do hope OUTDOOR NEBRASKA will continue to provide such interesting, educational, and pleasant reading as it has since the first of the year."

Free Brochures Still Available

"In Nebraska", a new 24-page brochure featuring Nebraska's fishing and hunting resources, state parks, recreation grounds, and scenic and historical attractions, is available without charge upon written request to OUTDOOR NEBRASKA, State Capital, Lincoln 9, Nebraska.

Published by the Game Commission, the guide features a multitude of striking black-and-white and fullcolor photographs, along with accompanying informative and easy-to-read text.

12 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

SHOT OR NOT

GAME Commission biologists recently took a short but revealing look at 285 Nebraska pheasants. The scrutiny didn't reveal what makes this bird tick, but it did leave reason for questioning the eyesight of some hunters.

The 285 pheasants, all road-killed birds collected from state trafficways by Game Commission fieldmen this spring, were held under refrigeration at Lincoln pending this study. Of the 285 birds collected, 196 were cocks, the rest hens.

The study involved fluoroscopic counts of shotgun pellets in the birds. Since each bird had survived at least one hunting season, biologists were able to get an indication of the number of pheasants which were hit by shot and survived, and the number of hens which were illegally shot.

Of the birds examined, 12.6 per cent, or 35, had from one to seven pellets of shot in them. Fourteen, or 10 per cent of the hens, and 21, or 14 per cent of the cocks, were carrying shot.

From these findings it is apparent that some state hunters are not cautious, or particular, in their shooting. There are plenty of birds for everyone, within limits set up each season. Shooting only at legal birds, and taking only those shots in effective range, thus limiting cripples, will benefit Nebraska by bolstering future pheasant numbers.

Aside from helping establish current seasons and limits, the study, which is the third of a series, will provide aid for game managers in requesting new legislation. Reevaluation of penalties for shooting hens may be a particularly important result.

THE END

13

This system, I found, made catching a limit of white bass a lead-pipe cinch

EVERETT Cramer, my fishing partner, shot his lure toward a skittering shad, just as a gull dropped down to scoop it up. The lure barely hit the crest of a wave before his rod arced, signalling another strike. As the big whitecaps of Harlan County Reservoir rocked our boat, I stood spraddle-legged, hanging on to my own bucking rod. Pandemonium reigned.

My white bass was still "green", I learned, when trying to boat him. He mustered his remaining energy when I lifted him up to the rail, and with one flip, tore loose from the hook and splashed triumphantly back into the water.

Everett successfully boated his white bass, then tossed it into the fish box to join a dozen others that had fallen for our lures.

Taking a deep breath before casting again, I surveyed the frenzied scene around me. Screaming gulls dove again and again, catching hapless shad. And from below, white bass pursued the small bait fish relentlessly.

A shad would break off the crest of one wave and into another, only to disappear with a "plock—plock", as a trailing "white" snapped him up.

This was my introduction to following the gulls to find the big schools of feeding white bass. The excursion was planned the evening before, as Bill Bonsall, McCook area conservation officer, met me at Cramer's boat dock on Harlan County Reservoir. Bill introduced me to Everett Cramer and wife Rae over a cup of coffee. The Cramer's have been at Patterson Harbor on the big reservoir for five years. They cater to fishermen and boating enthusiasts.

Bill mentioned that I'd like to get a story on fishing the big reservoir. Everett stated that the white bass "are really hitting now" and that perhaps they'd fill the bill. I was game, so Everett and I made a 6 a.m. appointment for the next day.

The light was just cracking the eastern sky as I arrived at Everett's place. A couple cups of hot coffee, a stack of wheat cakes, and we were off. We hurried through the early morning light to the dock. A bobwhite quail whistled some where in the distance, and was joined by the raucous cackle of a rooster ringneck. A heavy gray overcast scudded across the wind-swept waters of the reservoir as Everett reved up the motor on his 20-foot inboard. I loaded the fishing tackle aboard, then made myself comfortable as Everett backed away from the dock.

As we cleared Patterson Harbor, Everett eased the throttle open, sending the big boat bucking across the waves. Foam-flecked spray spewed in our wake as we headed for the northeast corner of the big backwater. Everett told me to watch for the gulls feeding anywhere in the area.

I looked at him questioningly. "Gulls," I asked, "what do they have to do with white bass?"

He proceeded to tell me that "whites" will work on a school of shad, forcing them to the surface or into the shallows, and then begin feeding on them. This is to the delight of the gulls, for they hover over the area, and when the shad begin to skip and jump, trying to elude the white bass, they dive in and snatch them from the water.

14 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA  

We stopped shouting over the roar of the motor and began searching the waters for feeding gulls. About half a mile to the northeast, I noted a gull wheeling over the water, then plunge downward. I tapped Everett and pointed in the direction of the bird. He swung the boat to starboard. Approaching the area, we watched more birds join in the melee.

Everett cut the throttle and we eased into the area looking for the feeding fish. We couldn't spot any activity in the whitecaps that indicated white bass. The gulls were diving into the waves with regularity, seldom coming up with out a shad.

Then it happened. Everett spotted a school of fish 50 yards off the bow, and working toward us. He dropped the anchor overboard and we quickly tied lures on our spinning outfits. I chose a small, scale-finish, flatfish-type lure. Everett tied on a weighted spinner-bucktail in a black-and-white combination. I watched with interest as he flipped his lure in front of a skittering shad. The lure landed with a splat on top of a wave and bounced a couple feet. Then he began the retrieve. Wham! Everett's rod doubled up as a pugnacious bass banged the lure.

I followed suit, dropping my lure where a shad was breaking water. Cranking the spin reel slowly, I expected a strike momentarily. However, my lure made it back to the boat without so much as a nudge. Everett, meanwhile, had already tied on to a second.

"Speed up your retrieve a little," he urged, "they want their breakfast on the move."

My second cast landed almost on top of a swirling bass. Raising the tip, I skidded the lure for a couple of OCTOBER, 1958 15   feet, paused a second, then started a fast retrieve. A jolting strike almost jerked the rod out of my hand, as a "white" took my line in a sizzling run around the boat.

"If all these white bass have as much zip as this one," I yelled, "bring on more."

As I was reaching for a net, Everett said, "Forget it. Just lift the fish over the side. Lures get tangled in the net and you spend most of your time fighting the net instead of the fish."

I hoisted the three-quarter-pound bass over the rail, unhooked him, and sent my lure back into the school. Another white bass latched on to my lure. Whissh! A bass came sailing by my head, as Everett tossed another into the fish box.

For 15 minutes, action was so furious that I lost count of our catch. And then, as if on a signal, the fish left. We cast the area fruitlessly for a few minutes. Then Everett said, "It's no use. We better look for the gulls again."

Another boat had drifted into the area and was enjoying the same sport. Pulling up anchor, we cruised over and Everett said hello to some friends of his, Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Schultz from York.

The Schultz's have a standing order with Everett that he is to give them a buzz the moment the "whites" start hitting. He had called them only a couple of days before. From the looks of their stringer, they had about the same success as we did, a dozen or so one-half to three-fourths pound white bass.

Using field glasses, Schultz located a flock of gulls within 100 yards of the north shore. Everett was a little apprehensive about the location, for there wasn't much more than a foot of water in the area. Nevertheless, both boats were off to check on the activity.

The scene was a carbon copy of our previous encounter. Shad skipped frantically along the surface, bombarded from the air by the gulls and from beneath by the "whites."

This time I switched to a small silver spoon, and Everett snapped on a pearl finish in about the same size. And again, fish after fish slammed into the trebles with abandon. Our catch doubled before the school sounded and took off.

We had located five schools of white bass by about 9:30, when the sun burst through the low overcast and both the gulls and the "whites" ceased activity. With near limits in the fish box, we headed back for shore. Enroute we talked over the white bass fishing that has boomed on the reservoir since the orginal planting of 500 fish in 1953.

Everett filled me in on the when's and where's of fishing the silvery, pencil-marked little gamesters, which, by the way, are minature copies of the salt-water striped bass. Mid-August and September will find fishing at its peak, with a gradual decline as the waters begin to cool. During this peak period it is not uncommon on a calm morning to see a half an acre of white bass swarming after schools of shad. In the spring, as the waters begin to warm, the "whites" will once again go on a feeding spree. The annual urge to spawn brings the fish into the upper ends of the reservoir and provide lots of angling action. After this period of activity they seem to work their way back into the deeper waters at the eastern end of the reservoir.

Artificials such as we used are very successful. The fly-rod fan should keep in mind that a light pattern in the streamers of bucktail-type fly will be most productive. It is sometimes a necessity to attach a spinner ahead of the fly to give it that added flash that brings strikes.

Most productive fishing for the schooled bass occurs for two hours after sunup and again two hours before sundown. During the rest of the day quite a few can be taken by trolling any of the mentioned lures. Minnows are the top live bait, and are especially good when the fish are not hitting too well.

Returning to shore, we cleaned and filleted our fish. I left the Cramer's with reluctance, for they'd introduced me to a new style of fishing the white bass. And as I bade them goodbyes, Everett piped up: "Well, Gene, now you know that fishing white bass is for the birds, eh?"

"Yes," I grinned. "For the sea gulls, that is."

THE END

State's Experts Give: SCATTER-GUN AIDS

HOW often have you wished that you were a better shooter? Be honest with yourself. It is about every time you fire your gun, right? When you miss a shot, you usually blame it on the shells, poor visibility, poor reflexes from a long night out with the boys, and, as a last resort, you might even blame your gun.

Would it surprise you if you found someone who would agree that your gun could be at fault? Choosing the right gun, choke, barrel length, and type of shot is like matching the right line to a fishing rod to insure angling success.

Many experts say that the most important factor in becoming a skilled shooter is the acquisition of a gun that you like and feel confident with. It makes no difference what type you get, be it a pump, auto loader, double, or over and under, as long as it inspires confidence when it's in your hands.

As to what type of gun the average gunner should obtain and use, I contacted three of the Game Commission conservation officers, who are considered by gunning authorities as being among the best shooters in the state. They are Jim McCole of Gering, Roy Owen of Crete, and Loron Bunney of Ogallala. All have compiled remarkable competitive shooting records in trapshooting, and their opinions carry considerable prestige in gunning circles.

The three experts unanimously agree that the average Nebraska gunner will enjoy more shooting success with a 12-gauge gun than any other. However, they stipulate, should a gunner be slight of build or, perhaps, a flincher, he should definitely go to the smaller gauges like the 16-gauge or the 20-gauge.

The choice of chokes, the experts say, has always been a bone of heated contention and controversy. Rarely will you find two gunners in accord as to what choke is best. Both McCole and Bunney say that a modified choke will insure bagging game. A modified choke will provide a better pattern in bringing your game down, especially with a novice shooter afield. Roy Owen, on the other hand, maintains a full choke is best.

"My reason for selecting the full choke," said Owen, "is that the average gunner's reaction time is comparatively slower than an expert's. When this happens, the game is out a considerable distance before the gun comes up, making a full choke mandatory to obtain clean kills."

If the above should leave you in doubt as to which type of choke to use, the solution is simple. Why not try a double, or an over and under double with one barrel bored full choke, the other modified or improved cylinder?

Barrel lengths should be an important factor in selecting your ideal gun. Many experienced gunners claim that the ideal length, especially for the upland game hunter, is a 28-inch barrel. However, there has been a definite trend to shorten that length to 26 inches. Many outdoorsmen who have adapted the latter, claim that it has many advantages over the 30-inch barrel.

Some like it because it makes a gun lighter. Others have found out that it's easier to swing and point a shorter barreled gun. Of utmost importance to the upland game hunter, who uses a 26-inch barrel, is the fact that such a short-barreled gun offers faster handling afield. And in using the same load, practically speaking, a 26-inch barrel will deliver a load with as much velocity as a 30-inch barrel.

Experts McCole, Bunney, and Owen do agree on what shot sizes are best for certain types of game. They say No. 6's are best for ducks, rabbits, and pheasants; No. 2's and 4's for geese; IWs and 8's for quail; 8's and 9's for skeet; and 7V2's and 8's for trapshooting. If you enjoy pass shooting at waterfowl, the experts advise you to use No. 4's in the light magnum loads.

To obtain the maximum success afield, Owen suggested that each gunner pick out a certain shot size, such as No. 6's, and use it for all-round hunting. A gunner becoming accustomed to its ranges, penetration, and pattern will soon improve his shooting ability and fill his game bag more frequently.

A gunner should take the time to learn what kind of a pattern his gun shoots. To obtain an accurate picture of pattern performance of a particular gun and shell, it is recommended that 25, preferably 50, patterns be fired and counted. Most experts record patterns by shooting at a blank sheet of paper. The usual pattern distance is 40 yards for full choked guns; sometimes 25 yards is used for skeet and improved cylinder bores. After the pattern is fired, a 30-inch circle is drawn around the greatest concentration of shot on the paper, and the pellets striking inside the circle are counted. The pattern percentage is determined by comparing this number of pellets with the number in the load.

McCole, to prove a certain point about short barrels, uses a 28-inch barrel on his 12-gauge pump gun. Asked what shot size he prefers, McCole stated that his favorite load was the No. 6 shot. He uses it with great success afield and thinks it's one of the finest all-round loads for the average gunner to use.

Well, you've read it—the opinions of three of Nebraska's finest shooters. The rest is up to you.

THE END OCTOBER, 1958 17

Boon To Grouse?

by Gene Hornbeck Photographer—Writer

PRAIRIE grouse, both sharptail and prairie chicken, are symbols of early America. These birds were once slaughtered by the thousands and shipped to eastern markets. Today, however, grouse are unknown to many gunners in the United States, and not hunted heavily even in Nebraska. Perhaps the biggest factor in their decline is intensive land use. "Clean" farming practices, coupled with cyclic fluctuations of populations are largely responsible for this decline.

Although there is a current upsurge in the cycle, there can be but little hope for a return of the huge flocks of the past.

Nebraska's seasons have had very little effect on grouse numbers; many generations of birds may live and die without ever being flushed by hunters. Yet, grouse population continues to diminish because of overgrazing, mowing losses, and natural habitat destruction.

Every state with a sizable grouse population is experiencing this same loss from dwindling habitat. Many states are embarked on habitat-restoration programs. Wisconsin and Michigan have a problem with excess vegetation in grouse ranges and are using controlled burning and herbicides to combat this heavy growth.

Conversely, Nebraska and other prairie states are suffering from loss of heavy grass cover. Through landmanagement and conservation practices, these states are attempting to restore suitable grouse range. Once this has advanced sufficiently, grouse restocking remains as a major problem for game biologists. Game-farm or hatchery propagation of birds offers little hope, at present, due to excessive losses of grouse in captivity. Until these losses can be eliminated or controlled, natural reproduction and transplanting will be the only tools for re-establishing our decimated population.

Prairie grouse are among the hardiest of birds in their natural environment, but in captivity are prone to disease, deformation, and malnutrition. Many game-farm breeders have given them a try with varying results. None have encountered enough success to warrant large-scale operations.

Jim Coats, formerly with the Kansas Fish and Game Commission, made some progress in raising these birds. Coats completed the cycle from egg, to young, to adult, to breeders; but his success was only a beginning in artificial propagation. Malnutrition was his major unsolved problem, although his experience with different types of pens for chicks, breeders, and adults formed a foundation for future studies.

After encountering trouble getting chicks to eat, Coats fed them a diet of meal worms rolled in chick starter. The birds seemed to thrive, but losses from diet deficiencies continued. About 50 per cent of the eggs taken from wild nests were hatched by Coats' breeders. Many chicks were deformed at hatching. Persistent efforts and changes in incubation technique failed to solve the problem.

Harold Malicky, lay conservationist from Burwell, this spring was granted a permit to attempt artificial propagation of prairie chickens and sharptails. Malicky collected 16 prairie-chicken eggs and began incubation at 99 V20 F., and 92 per cent relative humidity. Hatching success was 100 per cent.

The first week, the chicks were placed in a box brooder and fed finely mashed, hard-boiled eggs, with all birds 18 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   eating readily from a shallow container. A moist chick starter was offered but ignored. Knowing young chicks in the wild are fond of grasshoppers, Malicky fed about 20 'hoppers per chick, per day, at five days of age. He now considers this unnecessary as the birds were eating prepared food well and showing a good growth rate.

A Nebraskan's experiments with sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chickens may sound the tocsin for more birds

A 20 per cent protein chick starter was added to the eggs starting the second week. At 10 days, cottage cheese was added along with finely chopped lettuce. The first trouble appeared during this period (10-14 days), as one bird developed a leg weakness. Malicky added vitamins to the water, along with l/16th teaspoon steamed bone meal in the feed.

The diet remained the same during the third week and four more birds began to show leg weakness. He then switched from chick to turkey starter, doubling the vitamin dose in the water and adding a blackhead preventative. Game-bird starter was used to replace the turkey starter in the fourth week. The leg weakness had been curtailed and corrected on all but one bird, and grasshopper feeding was discontinued. A dry starter feed was added, free choice, and accepted by the chicks.

After 28 days, a completely dry feed was tried without cottage cheese or lettuce. After two days, four birds appeared droopy so the diet was switched back.

At 35 days, one bird died. Examination disclosed blackhead as probable cause. Nine birds were treated with furazolidone and double doses of Enhoptin added to the water. From this period through the eighth week, the sickness went through the flock. They did not eat, had no control over actions, wing hinges were down, feathers ruffed, and they acted sleepy and droopy. At the end of the eighth week, eight birds had recovered and were eating well.

The bird first stricken with blackhead was the first of the flock to die. Seven others died, but had none of the usual liver tissue damage or other disease symptoms.

A check of the pen, by Lloyd Vance of the Commission, revealed favorable environment except perhaps in the immediate pen-site area. The pens were placed at Malicky's home near the Loup River, where soil conditions may not be as favorable as in the uplands away from the moist, heavy bottom-land soils.

There is no previous history of blackhead on the pensites, but Malicky plans to place the birds on wire as a precaution. The disease does not appear to be a governing factor in artificial rearing of prairie grouse, because control can be maintained.

It is obvious that a dietary problem still exists, but Malicky has made some progress in surmounting these basic feeding difficulties. He had no trouble getting the young chicks to eat prepared feeds. In past game farm experience, newly captive wild species become adapted to imprisonment after one or two generations, building an immunity to domestic fowl diseases, and thriving on commercial feeds.

Should Malicky's efforts prove successful in producing several generations, it is possible his birds will complete the job.

THE END OCTOBER, 1958

Don't End Up An ACCIDENT STATISTIC

by E. A. Rogers, M. D., M. P. H., Director State Department of Health

THOUSANDS of Nebraska hunters will again invade the fields and waters of the state as the 1958 hunting seasons get under way. Unfortunately, some of these sportsmen may wind up as accident victims, swelling the tragic statistics of dead and wounded.

Nearly all hunting accidents are due to carelessness, whether they are accidents from guns or from other causes. Guns are dangerous only when in the hands of careless persons.

It is always better to go on a hunting trip with a companion, especially when going into a remote section of the country. For your own protection and for the sake of others, have a thorough knowledge of first aid, and always carry a first-aid kit in your car. An inexpensive kit could save your life. Be prepared for the unexpected. A life may be lost because there is no one to take charge in case of an accident. It is just as important to avoid doing the wrong thing, as it is to do the right thing.

A wound is a break in the skin or mucous membrane, either within the body or on its surface. Wounds are subject to infection and bleeding. They may be complicated by injury to internal organs or by fractures. In the case of wounds from gunshot, or from other causes, the basic objectives are to prevent contamination, control bleeding, and guard against further damage. In dealing with an external wound, the first and most important thing is to control bleeding, if it is present.

Keeping the injured person alive is a primary objective. Examine him carefully without moving him, unless it is necessary to remove him from immediate danger. Keep him as comfortable and quiet as possible until medical aid can be obtained. If he is lying in a doubledup position, check carefully for possible broken bones before trying to straighten him. Remove enough clothing so that you can see the wound, cutting or ripping gently without disturbing the injured part.

20 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA  

If clothing sticks to an injury, leave it alone. Pulling it off may do much harm. Move slowly and carefully when handling an injured person. Use common sense and avoid unnecessary motion or shifting. Treat the most serious injury first.

If breathing has stopped, start artificial respiration immediately. Every second counts.

Chilling may be dangerous to a seriously injured person, so keep him warm. Cheerful words, a calm attitude, and personal attention are very reassuring. Keep the victim from seeing his injury, if you can, and avoid unnecessary talk about it.

Shock is a depressed state of body functions which, unless treated, is dangerous. It usually accompanies all serious injuries. Measures should be taken to prevent it or to lessen its severity, as soon as the urgent life-saving measures have been taken. Keep the victim lying down. If his face is pale, elevate his feet unless head is injured or chest is punctured. Be sure to keep a check on his pulse and breathing. If he is conscious, sips of warm water or other fluids may be given. If the face is flushed, do not give stimulants. If the face is pale, coffee or tea are good. Signs of shock may not appear for some time after an injury. A person in a state of shock may seem stupid, and lose interest in what is happening, or he may be partly or totally unconscious.

A common first-aid procedure associated with hunting accidents is transportation. More harm is often done through improper moving than through any other measure in emergency care. Poor moving methods may easily result in increased injuries. Many times it is best to summon a physician to the scene of the accident rather than to attempt to transport the victim. If you can't reach a doctor promptly, call the nearest local or state police. If necessary, ask a telephone operator to report your emergency and give the exact location. If moving must be done, take time to plan and execute the job in such a way as to avoid aggravating injury or shock.

The seriousness of a gunshot wound is often not detectable from the immediate appearance. It is usually deep, calling for expert care. Since the individual will probably need surgery, food and liquids should not be given. Keep the victim in a lying down position and control bleeding by pressure over a compress, then bandage the compress in place.

In case of a possible bone fracture, either in connection with a gunshot wound or from some other cause, it is very important to keep the victim quiet. Since a fracture is an injury beneath the skin surface, it usually cannot be seen. Direct evidences are swelling, tenderness to touch, deformity, and pain on motion. If a fracture is suspected, treat as though it were a certainty. Never test for a fracture by having the victim move the part or by attempting to walk upon a possible broken limb. Give first aid for shock.

Be alert to the dangers of hunting accidents. Take a course in first aid before the hunting season opens, and be qualified to meet your responsibilities as a good hunter. Know what to do and how to do it in case of an accident to yourself or to your companion.

Don't end up an accident statistic!

THE END

Are You Changing Your Address? If so, please complete the following form and send to OUTDOOR NEBRASKA, State Capitol, Lincoln 9, so that you will continue to receive your copies of the magazine. Allow six weeks for processing. Name Old Address City State Please look on the mailing label of your magazine, find the number which appears on the right hand side, and copy it here: New address City State

Pheasants

(Continued from page 5)

studies carried-out in south-central Nebraska. First, over 60 per cent of the hunting occurs on the opening weekend, and about 20 per cent on the second weekend of the season. Hunting pressure during mid-weeks and the remainder of the weekends during the season is light and on some days nonexistant.

Second, harvest of cocks is light and a greater percentage of the cocks could be taken without endangering the breeding population. The winter sex-ratio is usually about 2V2 hens per cock in the region with some of the heaviest hunting pressure in the state. This sex-ratio could be increased three-fold with no ill-effects.

Another effect of hunting has been revealed through a study of the illegal kill of hens. This is done by picking up highway-killed pheasants during the spring, and later fluoroscoping these birds to determine how many are carrying shot. Results from three years show that 22 percent of the fluoroscoped cocks and 13 per cent of the hens were carrying shot. All hunters are reminded that hens are important to next year's reproduction. Let's not shoot the bird that lays the golden egg.

THE END

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS

Rates for classified advertising: 10 cents a word: minimum order $2.50 TAXIDERMY Mounting fox, raccoon, or badger rug, $10; coyote or bobcat, $15. Strange, Nebraska City, Nebraska. OCTOBER, 1958 21

DEAD OUT

by Peie Czura Associate Editor

TWO men, with shotguns draped over their shoulders, knocked politely on the door of the ranch house in western Nebraska. One of them reported excitedly, "I'm telling you, Harry, this place is loaded with pheasant and grouse."

The door creaked open slowly, and there stood a lean, wisened old man. He eyed the two coldly.

The gabby hunter grinned a warm, "Howdy, sir."

"What do you want?" snapped the old man.

"We were wondering if you'd let us hunt on your la—"

"Never, never," the rancher cut in. "You have five seconds to make tracks out of here." The door slammed shut in the faces of the stunned men, who moments before had envisioned a pleasant day of hunting on this rancher's land.

Slowly and sheepishly, they returned to their car and drove off. This same thing happened three more times that day. Finally, the hunters left for home, completely disgusted and puzzled by the hostile reception.

In any situation like this, there must have been some disturbing influence, for hunter-land owner relations are normally quite good. In this particular case there was a contributing reason. Last fall, two hunters accidentally started a fire on a neighboring rancher's land which destroyed over 10 sections of land.

What causes a fire? Who causes a fire? Cold, hard statistics reveal that 99 per cent of all fires are caused by human beings like you and me.

Nebraska is not gifted, as her sister states, with vast tracts of beautiful forests. But Nebraska does have much valuable grazing land. And it is this land that becomes bone-dry in the fall.

A raging, uncontrollable fire is frightening. Once it roars across vast, unprotected ranges it will strip, with its red-hot heat, all living matter in its path.

Any effort expended by you to curb that tiny spark, to prevent any fire—no matter how small—is worth it. Strive to leave the ranges, the plains, or the woods as you found them—full of growing beauty and teeming with wildlife.

"What can I do to prevent destructive fires?" you might ask. If you do ask, you are on the road to making a sincere effort to curb fires. Your desire to know what to do is the first step in the right direction.

Here are a few precautionary measures which, if followed, will help prevent the fires which destroy our fields and wildlife:

1. Crush out your smokes. When out-of-doors, stop to smoke in safe places only. With the side of your shoe, clear a space in the surface litter down to the mineral soil. Drop your cigar, cigarette butt, or pipe ash on this cleared space. With the heel of your shoe, grind it into the ground until you are certain it is out. When driving, make it a habit to use your ash tray. Never throw burning material from any vehicle.

2. Break your match in two. This safety test will insure that the flame is extinguished. Always feel the burnt end before you throw your match away. Be sure your match is DEAD OUT—a good habit at home or afield.

3. Drown that campfire. Before you build your campfire, scrape away all inflammable material from a spot six feet in diameter. Dig a hole in the middle and build your fire there. Keep it small. Before leaving your campfire, stir the coals while soaking them with water. Make sure the last spark is DEAD OUT by feeling the embers with your bare hand.

4. Use care in burning. Since Nebraska has no state law forbidding the burning of brush or debris, local fire ordnances do prevail in many cities. Outside the cities, no law exists, but people who do controlled burning should excercise common sense when doing it. Have plenty of help available, tools and water handy. NEVER burn slash, grass, leaves, or brush in unsually dry, hot, or windy weather.

Perhaps what Joel said in 1:18-19 best expresses what we mean about fires. "A fire can plague forest and field, man and animal. How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. O Lord, to thee will I cry; for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field."

Remember, only you can prevent fires!

THE END 22 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR DEER

If you want to enjoy savory venison, proper field'dressing is a necessity. Here are a tew simple rules to follow

GETTING the greatest possible amount of good eating from your deer is not hard. It simply requires following a few easy rules.

First, go properly equipped. This includes a keenedged, sturdy knife, a short piece of rope, a small bag for heart and liver, cheesecloth to shield the carcass while cooling, and some clean, dry cloth with which to wipe out the body cavity and wrap around the carcass while it is being transported.

If you can pack the carcass out without encountering too much dirt, open the body cavity from throat to tail. But if you have to carry or drag the deer, open the cavity only from lower ribs to tail. Removing the lungs, heart, and gullet is obviously more difficult, but the shorter cut makes for easier carrying of the animal and at the same time keeps out more dirt. But whatever cutting is necessary, remember to open the animal just as soon as possible, so that cooling can begin.

Begin your cutting at the base of the throat, splitting the skin. Work with the knife edge cutting away from the flesh, cutting to the tail. Then start at the lower rib and cut through the flesh, opening the body cavity. Be very careful not to cut the intestines or other organs. Digestive juices are odiferous and do not add to venison flavor. You'll need a short piece of rope to tie off the lower intestines, then carefully remove the viscera.

To remove the lungs, heart, and gullet when the animal is hog-dressed, cut away the diaphragm, pull the lungs and heart out, reach into the lung cavity with your knife, and sever the gullet as close as possible to the throat.

Cool the carcass as soon as possible. If there are no trees, you might be able to pile brush, then spread the carcass, skin down, on the pile to permit air circulation around it. If you have a truck with a cattle rack and can bring it to the site, you can hoist the carcass on it. Another trick, if you have a buck, is to wedge the antlers into the fork of a tree. If this isn't possible, try draping a rope over a branch of a tree and haul your deer up by the head or front legs.

Some hunters build a wide-spread tripod for field dressing. This is particularly effective when you've bagged a deer without a rack.

Any method that will get the carcass off the ground and cool it in a hurry, while maintaining cleanliness, is good. The faster a clean carcass is cooled, the better the venison steaks will be. A clean stick wedged into the cavity will allow more air circulation and expedite cooling.

Never wash the meat with water. Hanging will speed draining. If any dirt or pools of blood remain on the meat after the fast, early draining is finished, wipe off with clean cloths. Cover the carcass with cheesecloth. Make sure carcass is shaded, and sprinkle with pepper to repell insects.

Let the meat "cool out" for several hours, then move as fast as possible to a cold-storage plant's chilling room. Venison should age for from two to four weeks, in a dry room at a constant 40° temperature. Proper aging is the guarantee of tender, delectable steaks. Leaving the hide on during the aging process will prevent the meat from drying out.

Transporting deer from the field to the aging room rates some mention. After you cool and clean your deer, don't wrap it in a dirty tarp or throw it in a hot trunk or over the radiator. Instead, wrap it in a light clean cloth. If possible, hang the wrapped carcass in the rear of a pick-up. There it can continue cooling and draining. Next best way is to carry the carcass on a car-top carrier. If that isn't possible, wrap carcass lightly and place inside the car, in the back seat with open windows. Or, in the trunk, with the lid partly raised. But never in a closed trunk or over the hood.

After you have him in the aging room, it is best to have a professional meatcutter package your steaks and roasts. If the head is a trophy you wish to keep, contact the taxidermist and ask how he wants it handled. Then follow his instructions.

Don't forget the hide from your deer; it too, is valuable and should be treated accordingly. If processed by a competent tanner, the hide can be used for gloves or jackets, or even as a rug for your den.

Broiled or roasted, your hunting trophy can provide many delicious meals, if you take the right steps within the first few minutes after making the cleanest possible kill.

THE END OCTOBER, 1958 23

FALL CAMP-OUT

FOR three months out of each year, Nebraskans reap dividends from some major state investments, as thousands flock to state-owned or managed parks, recreation grounds, and reservoir areas. But for the other nine months, these outdoor facilities are practically deserted.

Take the 1957 count of persons visiting the state parks, for instance. January, February, and March saw 19,217 persons enjoying these areas. In April and May, 37,145 visitors were counted.

Apparently the summer school vacation really opened the gate, as 114,791 persons were recorded in the state parks in June, 129,220 in July, and 133,861 in August. Return of children to school dropped the count to 47,821 in September. In October it continued downward to 21,522, while November and December registered only 17,413.

It is as though someone turns on the camping switch along about Memorial Day and turns it off again after Labor Day. Certainly you couldn't expect anyone to camp, or picnic, during a January blizzard, but one major objective of the park and recreation area directors is to encourage the camping public to enjoy these facilities for more of the year.

What do these recreation directors sell?

In the autumn there are clear, crisp mornings with the tangy spice of wood smoke drifting on the breeze; brilliant tints of frost-splashed colors, and incredibly blue skies. There's an early dawn coffee break at the camp fire before embarking on the season's first bird hunt. Then there are lazy evening around the same fire, as an owl auditions in the tree-tops; wood smoke and solitude.

Sounds like something out of travel folder, but it isn't. It is just a sample of what a few thousand enlightened campers enjoy each spring and fall in Nebraska.

Sure, they go out on summer camping trips to enjoy the cooling breezes from Nebraska's lakes and streams, and the shade of lowland woods. You will find these early birds out on the first clear weekend of spring and the last open days of autumn. Combine camping with your hunting and fishing pleasures for full appreciation of the state's outdoor offerings.

How does this compare with your method of operation during these seasons? Are you a typical eastern Nebraska duck hunter—in the station wagon Friday evening and driving half the night to a motel, with meals at the cafe next door? Are you missing the chance to pitch a tent, or sleep in your "wagon", and enjoy real outdoor living instead of driving to within 400 yards of your rented blind, walking straight in and out, driving back to town for the night?

Or, do you drive half the night, each spring weekend, to your favorite lake, eat sandwiches and drink thermos-jug coffee, and fish until you have the limit and drive back? No sleep, food, hot coffee, or even that all-important chance to rest and relax.

So what, the livid-skinned fellow in the rear booth says. "I like my duck hunting the easy way. Nice cabin, good blind, and easy living; nuts to this roughing it."

Roughing it the man says. In this age of warm, inexpensive sleeping bags; light, quickly erected tents; station-wagon camping outfits; gasoline camp stove and lanterns; light, warm, water-proof clothing, and modern camping areas with water and toilets? Yeah, this is outdoor living in the raw.

Why the soapbox? Mister, that's easy to answer. The state of Nebraska operates 18,000 acres of recreation grounds, for your benefit. In 10 locations, these grounds include well-equipped cabin camping areas. Less fancy camp sites are at 57 locations, and you can "go native" in many more. Included are two areas of the Nebraska National Forest.

For at least five months each year when Nebraskans could be enjoying themselves on these grounds, the campsites are practically deserted. Most of the state park visitors, outside the months of June, July, and August, and the Labor Day weekend, are day visitors.

May could be an excellent camping month, as could April, with the latter part of March lending itself to fishing camps. As for late September and October, there may be finer camping times for the outdoor sportsman and his family, but they will be hard to find.

Think about it. Next time you're ready for a lone-wolf hunting trip, instead of drowning out all protest from the family about their lonely weekends, try this. Pull the tent down from the garage rafter, throw in some cots, blankets and sleeping bags, slip in a .410 for the cook, and some fishing gear for the dishwashers—then go out for a weekend hunting trip, not a couple of half-day affairs. Make it a family outing. It might even work without the wife and children. Complete camping gear can be stowed in a fairly light back pack, giving you a chance to sweep that range you've been waiting for years to cover but just couldn't walk over in one day. There are some regions in Nebraska where you might even pick up nice trophy buck by doing your deer hunting from a portable camp.

Who knows, even if you miss getting the game you want you just might find something worth a lot more, living on your own for a couple of days. Try it, and see what happens.

THE END 24 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

Outdoor Elsewhere

Duck Stamp Fee Up by 1959

WASHINGTON, D. C. . . The federal duck stamp has been raised to $3, but the increase doesn't become effective until July 1, 1959. Waterfowl hunters this year will still buy their stamps for $2. The new law allocates all duckstamp funds to acquisition of needed waterfowl wetlands, except only the funds required by the Post Office Department for the actual stamp costs. According to the Wildlife Management Institute, this change "should permit achievement of national waterfowl refuge goals in 25 years rather than the 300-odd years that would have been required under the earlier program."

* * * * Alabama Jubilee

ALABAMA ... A phenomenon, known as "Jubilee", in southern Alabama, started telephones ringing along the Mobile Bay coast line early the morning of August 12. Some, as yet undetermined element in the water of the bay sporadically drives fish, crabs, shrimp, eels, and stingarees into shallow water, and sometimes up onto the beach. Residents along the bay front caught hundreds of pounds of flounder, sometimes by gigging from boats, using hand nets and even pitchforks. Baskets and tubs were filled to overflowing with crabs and large shrimp along the 16 or more miles of the Jubilee, extending from Daphne to Mullet Point. Some say the pheonomenon was caused by the meeting of salt and fresh water. The August 12 jubilee lasted several hours. (Submitted by Velma Brackman, Summerdale, Ala.).

* * * * Dig This Crazy Diet

NEW HAMPSHIRE ... Joe Barbour and his son got a good idea of a turtle's appetite and of what its diet consists awhile ago when they caught a big snapper, which Barbour estimated weighed about 60-pounds, in the Contoocook River. The Barbours found the recognizable remains of two small wild ducks and a baby muskrat in the turtle's stomach.

* * * * Short Course in Hunting

NORTH CAROLINA . . . North Carolina State College has added game hunting to its list of short courses. From November 30 to December 5, the school will offer its first hunting course at Southern Pines, There, hunters will find thousands of unspoiled acres of pine forests, swift streams, and gently rolling fields which offer dove, quail, pheasant, deer, fox, raccoon, rabbit, and squirrel hunting. The cost, $175, covers board and room, guides, dogs, instructions from experts, and four major hunting trips. Trap and skeet shooting will be included to sharpen marksmanship. Women are welcome to enroll.

* * * * Operation "Goose Transplant"

NEW MEXICO . . . Eighty-seven Canada geese were flown here from North Dakota in an attempt to establish this state as a nestins site for geese consist of 85 goslings and two young adults. All birds were banded and collared, and were to be released at La Cueva Lakes north of Las Vegas. Migratory waterfowl by nature return after southward migration to the place where they were hatched. It appears, however, that if moved from the hatching area while young enough, they may return to the area where they spend their first summer. The adult birds were wing-clipped and will act as decoys to bring the young flock back to the resting area. In a transplant elsewhere, it was observed that when the goslings took off, the older geese set up such a clamor that the youngsters returned.

* * * * Traffic Takes Toll

TEXAS . . . Officer W. R. Long, Denton County, jotted down the number of birds, animals, and reptiles seen on the highways during a 30day period: raccoons, 4; opossums, 18; squirrels, 3; armadillos, 19; jack rabbits, 26; poisonous snakes, 1 (copperhead); non-poisonous snakes, 16; quail, 1; mourning doves, 9; song birds, 22; box turtles, 9; other turtles, 2; frogs, and toads, too numerous to count; domestic pets, 4; and fox, 3. Admittedly, Long said, this isn't an important figure. However, he continued, multiply this one month by 12 for the year's figures; then multiply the total by the 254 counties in the state, and a rough idea may be had of the tremendous wildlife toll taken by automobiles.

* * * * Lines Are Taboo?

SOUTH DAKOTA ... If a fish discovers a line attached to the lure you offer him, chances are he won't go for it. This observation was passed on to the Department of Game, Fish and Parks by a large tackle manufacturer. A researcher, working with all species of salt-water sport fish, discovered that what's at the end of a line either catches or frightens fish. While his wife used different kinds of tackle and lures, the researcher watched the reactions of the fish. He noticed that many times a fish would dash up to a lure, look it over, and then refuse to hit. Trying to find the reason, he made countless changes in terminal tackle and learned that anything bright or prominent ahead of the lure, such as a snap, swivel, connecting link, etc., caused many of the fish to pass up the lure. When the lure was tied directly to a monofilament leader, the fish hit consistently. Short wire leaders scored low, but five to six-foot monofilament leaders tied directly to the plug or spoon worked best. The invisibility factor at the end of the line is one of the reasons spinning is so effective, because the spinning line is actually all leader.

OCTOBER, 1958 25

Notes on Nebraska Fauna

BLUE GOOSE

by Pete Czura Associate Editor Avoracious eaters, blue geese average 4 to 6 pounds. One major resting spot is in Nebraska, where they made up 40 per cent of state's 7954-57 goose kill

IN recent years many Nebraska sportsmen have been observing, with gladening hearts, a steady increase in the blue goose population. The blue goose, or Chen caerulescens, is known in other areas as brant, blue wavey, whiteheaded goose, brant goose, blue, blue brant, and many other colloquial names too numerous to mention. Average length is 28 to 30 inches; weight, four to six pounds.

The massed flight of the blue goose and his companion, the snow goose, is a sight of incomparable beauty. Formerly, the blue was considered a rare bird, but the renaissance of this species means that many of us now have many opportunities to see them, particularly during their spring migration.

In fact, Nebraska has become one of the major resting spots for the blues Last spring, the blues concentrated in the freshwater basin country, especially in Fillmore, Clay, York, and Seward Counties The birds were attracted to the many pot holes in this area like iron filings to a magnet. North of Utica, for instance, observers estimated massed flocks of blues and snows at 75,000 birds. There are other popular sites which attract blues, such as Salt Lake, just west of Lincoln.

The spring migration of blues is a leisurely one, lasting about 11 weeks, with many stopovers for rest and food. However, if pressed for speed, the blue could negotiate the distance in two weeks. Following the flyway, which takes them through Nebraska, they gather near Winnipeg, Canada. During the two or three-week stay there, the clan masses for the final leg of the flight to the Baffin Island nesting grounds, northwest of Hudson Bay.

During the autumn migration, blue geese frequent the eastern part of Nebraska. On rare occasions, they have drifted westward toward Ogallala, Alliance, and Bronco Lake. Their stays here are of brief duration, as they merely settle down overnight on their journey to the southern wintering grounds of Louisiana. In the fall, blues can be found also in the lagoon country, wheat fields, and along the Missouri River bottoms.

During the waterfowl season, the upland-game hunter may come upon a feeding blue and add him to his bag. Nebraska conservation officers have checked mixed bags of pheasant, quail, and blues.

26 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA  

The blue goose is small to medium-sized, occurring in large mixed flocks of snows and blues. During the spring migration, observers in eastern Nebraska noted the ratio of blues in the mixed flocks was 1 blue to 3 snows. However, those that pass through central Nebraska occur in the ratio of 1 to 10. In Iowa, the ratio is reversed.

The hunter-report-card surveys for the past four years, as filed by Nebraska outdoorsmen, revealed some interesting kill facts. In 1957, 40 per cent of the 12,500 geese killed were blues and snows. The percentage of blues and snow was about the same in 1954, '55, and '56. These figures clearly indicate the important role the blue goose in playing in Nebraska hunting.

One way to identify blue geese is to observe the flight pattern of a flock passing overhead. Flight of the blues is very irregular; they fly in long wavy lines, from which they derive the name "wavey". Their V's are not at all like the precision flight of the Canada's, and their formations consist of curves, bars, and lines resembling an army in rout step.

Their white head and neck, contrasted against their lead-gray under parts, makes them easy to recognize at a distance. Flying at speeds of 40 to 50 m.p.h., and constantly changing positions, they perform such aerial gymnastics as side-slipping, to lose altitude, with ethereal grace. In flight, they are a very gabby lot. Conversationally their noisy gabble is ga-ga-ga-ga-ga; flight talk might be either a high-pitched goup# or, au-unk, au-unk. A clear shrill whistle indicates the call of a young blue.

For years, the hunt to discover their nesting grounds intrigued many ornithologists. Isolated areas, like Devon, Ellesmore, Labrador, and Greenland, produced nothing but discouraging results. However, on June 26, 1929, J. Dewey Soper, the most persistent searcher, located the blue geese nesting on a portion of the great western tundra of Baffin Island.

The area presented a picture of utmost desolation. It is a region of reeking mud flats and perpetual snow and ice. It is here that the young blue is born and raised.

The nest of blue goose, composed of grasses and other vegetation, and well lined with down, is found atop slight rises of the open tundra bordering rivers and bays. Nests are large and bulky. Their eggs are usually five to six in number, with a slight bluish cast, appearing white at first. They are minutely granulated or pitted.

An unusual trait of the blues is the manner in which they construct their nests, almost atop each other. Most species of geese will not tolerate such close nesting.

The blues time their arrival after the snow and ice have melted off the tundra. Nesting is under way by the later part of June and incubation occurs within 25 days. The blues have only one chance to "bring off" a clutch. Time is too short for another. The young blues are olive-green, darkest on the upper parts, with a tiny white spot on the chin and yellowish underparts.

During the nesting period most males stand by the nest, guarding and protecting the eggs from predators, and according to Soper, some take turns at incubation. T. H. Manning, a noted waterfowl authority, disagrees most emphatically. He said, "I have never collected a male with the least indication of an incubating patch."

The young blues born in July are ready for the fall flight by September, when they are nearly full grown. They gain weight at an astounding rate; from 16 to 20 times their birth weight, in two months.

The annual autumn migration of the blues begins sometime during the first half of September. Coming southward, they follow the eastern coast of Hudson Bay and assemble at Hannah Bay. Resting and gorging, they become so fat that when shot by hunters, some burst open upon impact with the ground.

On leaving James Bay they follow an almost direct, narrow, southwest route, crossing the eastern parts of Nebraska, on their way to Louisiana. Here, along a narrow strip, extending along the coast of Louisiana, from the Delta of the Mississippi to a short distance west of Vermillion Bay, the blues spend their winters.

Jack and Mary Musgrove, authors of "Waterfowl in Iowa," make a remark which might raise a few eyebrows. They say, "In no other bird of the waterfowl family is there as much plumage variations as among the blue geese. Many have white on the back, and some are almost all white with the exception of the wings, which remain typical of the blue goose."

The young birds of last season's hatch have dark heads only lightly flecked with white; others with mature plumage show considerable white on their heads, and the aged veterans, of many migrations, with the white of their necks running down to the shoulders.

The blues are avoracious eaters. They relish grazing on grain, weed seeds, and grasses. If available, sprouting grain and corn form a large part of their diet. Some farmers, in the past, have complained of damage to their wheat fields by large flocks of blues. However, after a thorough investigation, the damage to the crop was proved to be insignificant, as the roots of the plant are not destroyed.

Out of all the exciting sounds that exist in the outdoor world, none can compare to the thrilling call of the high-flying goose. In the fall, just before the frost hits the pumpkin, it's a signal to the Nebraska sportsman that the fall migration is on. This signal activates the waterfowler into a feverish bustle of gun examinations, mending torn hunting jackets, respainting stools, and he has a devil of a time curbing that itch on his trigger finger.

This magnificent species of our Nebraska fauna will not perish from the earth, if the necessary measures of management are accorded the blues. They will continue to grace our Nebraska landscape.

THE END OCTOBER, 1958 27

AGE GAUGE TELLS THE STORY

WITH the use of a plastic age gauge, Nebraska hunters will be able to determine in the field whether the pheasants they shot are young or old. Furthermore, their findings will reflect that approximately 70 per cent of all ringnecks harvested this fall will be birds of the year.

Pheasants are an annual crop, and the Nebraska Game Commission knows that it is wise to harvest the annual surplus. Pheasants are a short-lived species, and as such, are impossible to stock-pile.

The lady of the house, too, will benefit from the age gauge. She will know how long to ready the bird for the table, depending on the bird's age.

Using the age gauge is simple. Slip it on the pheasant's leg, and if the gauge passes over the spur, it is a bird hatched this year. If not, it is on old bird.

How accurate is the age gauge? When used on individual birds, as hunters do, it is accurate 9 times out of 10. However, game technicians handling thousands of ringnecks obtain about a 98 per cent accuracy because of compensating errors.

Sportsmen and housewives can obtain a free age gauge, as long as they last, by writing to OUTDOOR NEBRASKA, State Capitol, Lincoln 9.

OUTDOOR NEBRASKA STATE HOUSE Lincoln, Nebraska