A Two Year Study of Pheasant Stocking in the Gallatin Valley, Montana

Abstract

A carefully planned small scale study was conducted in Gallatin County, Montana to secure survival data on game farm pheasants. The, area selected for the study is an agricultural area northwest of Bozeman. Land use practices and natural topography make the area. well suited for pheasants. Five hundred and fourteen 10 week old birds were used in the experiment. In 1948, 96 birds were released. In 1949, 375 birds were released. Approximately one-half of each-release group was released by the gentle method and one-half by the violent method. Four release sites were used. All birds were marked and banded to permit field observations and identification of birds killed by hunters. In 1948 band returns were voluntary but in 1949 checking stations were also used to collect necessary information. During the winter of 1950 trapping operations were carried on to collect further data. Dispersal from release sites suggested that the gentle release birds dispersed at a slower rate than the violents. In 1948; 11 bands (,12.8 per cent of the total cocks released) were returned by hunters. In 1949; 42 banded birds (14.5 per cent of the total cocks released) .were killed by hunters or trapped during the winter. These figures suggest that returns from both years were about the same. Data obtained were compared with those, obtained in other states. In 1949 band returns were analysed on the basis of method and place of release. No marked difference in survival was found for the two release methods. Little information was obtained, when survival and habitat were compared. Checking station data showed that only per cent of the hunter kill were game farm pheasants. Sixty-seven per cent of the birds taken were wild birds of the year. The movement of 48 banded birds taken by hunters and trapping showed that 41.7 per cent moved less than one mile, SO per cent moved from one to three miles, 2.1 per cent moved from four to five miles, and 6.2 per cent moved from nine to fourteen miles. Data indicate that more gentle release birds settled within one mile of release sites than did violents. More violents moved from one to three miles than gentles, and violents were in majority in movements from four to fourteen miles.