Pennsylvania Game News - January 2012 - 7

through July 31, and the hunting of pheasants. In the Pike Run WPRA, 591 wild ring-necked pheasants from South Dakota were released in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Densities in the Pike Run WPRA were 1 hen/ mi2 in the core area and 1 hen/mi2 overall this year. The 6-year release and monitoring effort on this WPRA is now complete. In the Central Susquehanna WPRA, 993 pheasants trapped in South Dakota and Montana were released during the 3-year population establishment phase. In 2011, spring hen densities were 12 hens/mi2 in the core part of the Turbotville-PPL study area portion of the WPRA, and 6 hens/mi2 in the Turbotville-PPL study area overall. In both the core area and overall study area of the Greenwood Valley portion of the Central Susquehanna WPRA, spring hen densities were 3 hens/mi2. Population monitoring on this WPRA will conclude in 2012, the third year post trap and transfer. No additional wild pheasants will be released on this area. In the Somerset WPRA, winter 2011 marked the third and final year of wild pheasant releases. There were 297 birds (273 females and 24 males) released in 2011, following 318 pheasants (282 females, 36 males) in 2010 and 346 (277 females, 69 males) in 2009. We radiomarked 50 of the incoming females for survival monitoring, and were tracking 27 of these birds as the fiscal year ended. Spring 2011 hen densities in the Somerset WPRA were 2 hens/mi2. Pheasants will be monitored from 2012 through 2014, now that trap and transfer is completed. The initial wild pheasant releases in the Hegins-Gratz Valley WPRA occurred in winter 2011, with 298 birds (274 females and 24 males) from South Dakota. We radiomarked 65 of the incoming females and were still tracking 37 as the fiscal year closed. The first year for estimating hen densities on this WPRA will be in the spring of 2012. Two more years of releases (300 birds/year) are planned, and monitoring will continue during the remainder of the transfer/release period (2012-13) and for an additional three years after trap and transfer is completed (2014-2016). Study areas and habitat types have been delineated in the Franklin County WPRA. We also conducted crowing counts on several routes within the WPRA to obtain baseline data on the existing pheasant population prior to initiation of trap and transfer. The first releases of wild-trapped pheasants (obtained from Midwestern states) on this new WPRA are anticipated in winter 2012, with a goal of releasing 300 each year for three years. Pheasants will be monitored during the transfer/release period, and for an additional three years after trap and transfer is completed (2012 through 2017). The PGC’s four game farms continue to operate with a reduced production quota of 100,000 ring-necked pheasants. Propagated birds remain popular with sportsmen and provide many hours of hunting recreation. Commission staff released 112,350 pheasants for hunting in 2010-11, of which 15,220 were released at designated sites throughout the commonwealth in early October for the youth pheasant hunt. The Game Take survey indicated that 5,048 resident junior hunters harvested 4,617 pheasants during the 2010 youth hunt. During all pheasant seasons, 71,579 hunters harvested 103,366 pheasants. Populations of northern bobwhite quail have declined by 75 percent to nearly 100 percent over the last 40 years across most of their historic range, including a 97 percent decline in Pennsylvania. Achieving the Northern Bobwhite Quail Management Plan’s goal of maintaining and restoring wild breeding populations of northern bobwhite quail in suitable habitats in Pennsylvania will likely require significant investments in research, monitoring and farmland habitat improvements. No quail restoration projects were active in 2010-11.
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Pennsylvania Game News - January 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - January 2012