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abundance in this chukar habitat is not a problem as it <br />• is in most chukar areas. While water is not generally a <br />problem, the western 1/4 of the planning unit has poor <br />water distribution and additional sources would expand <br />chukar habitat. <br />uail <br />Gambel's quail has been found in two locations in the <br />planning unit. One is the area on both sides of the <br />Fire Mountain Canal which extends from Hotchkiss to <br />Paonia (overlay p4), and the other along the Gunnison <br />River from Delta to Whitewater. <br />Little is known of the actual numbers or coveys existing. <br />extent of actual habitat, and limiting factors. <br />Bandtail Pigeon <br />The bandtail occurs mainly in an area from Hotchkiss to <br />the upper reaches of the oakbrush and aspen vegetative <br />types. Colorado is not considered wintering area for <br />bandtails, but this unit is within the northern extent <br />of the birds' breeding range. The birds make use of <br />native budding and fruiting trees and bushes, and cause <br />some depredation on commercial orchards. There is a western <br />slope season on the birds, but only a few thousand are <br />harvested in the whole state. Hunting season lasts about <br />thirty days and 5.9 birds per hunter is the success ratio. <br />Bag limit was 5 per day in 1975. <br />Turke <br />A few wild turkeys can be found scattered through the <br />areas outlined in overlay ~3. The birds make most of <br />their use in the oakbrush type. The birds were planted <br />in the area during the mid-1960's and became established. <br />A few wily birds occur in a big area, so nothing is known <br />about the population. The North Fork Planning Unit is <br />• part of small game management unit 19. No hunting is <br />NF-WL-III-19 4/76 RWM <br />