THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN 
CHRIS L. CHRISTENSEN        COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE                      
 '" 
'Dean and 'Director 
K. L. HATCH                           MADISON 
o ssoc. 'Dir. q2gr. Exten. 
NOBLE CLARK                                        November 30, 1931. 
Asst.  Dir. o gr. Exl,. Sta. 
J. A. JAMES 
, ssistant 'Dean 
A. J. HAAS 
Executive Secretary 
Mr. Aldo Leopold 
University Avenue National Bank Building 
905 University Avenue 
Madison, Wisconsin 
My dear Mr. Leopold: 
Your secretary has told me that you have not received a copy 
of the grouse report of Washburn county prepared by F.J.W. Schmidt 
of the Conservation Commission. 
I received my copy in today's mail and I am enclosing it 
herewith for your purusal. 
It strikes me that the material will need considerable editing 
before we have it in final shape to be included in our Washburn County 
report. If your time permits I would much appreciate having your 
suggestions in c6nnection with this editing. In particular it would 
seem to me well worth while to be more specific regarding the particular

food plants available in the county which make the area suitable for 
grouse. If some of these plants are present in inadequate numbers it 
will be well to call attention to this fact. 
The one limiting factor in grouse in Washburn County, so far 
as I can gather from the manuscript, is winter feed which Mr. Schmidt 
seems to believe can be taken care of if patches of buckwheat and corn 
are left standing. Do you think the problem is as simple as this? 
How much can we reasonably expect to increase the number of 
grouse in the county, provided the additional winter feed is supplied 
in the manner indicated by Mr. Schmidt. Certain areas in the county are 
libted by Mr. Schmidt as being especially suitable for grouse, but he 
does not indicate which species of grouse he has in mind. He speaks of 
increasing the grouse population 30 times by proper management in 
England and Scotland and infers that similar increases can be obtained 
with the prairie chicken and the sharp tailed grouse. Are we to believe 
that some buckwheat and corn planted in Washburn County will make possible

a grouse population 30 times the present number? 
I do not want to appear as being unduly critical of Mr. Schmidt's 
report because he undoubtedly has made a large number of very careful 
observations. Vv whole purpose is to get the information in as clear cut

form as possible so that when we publish the report we may give the 
residents of Washburn County as definite information as is available regard.

ing the grouse conditions in their county, and the potentialities of the

area in terms of gamewithout unduly raising hopes which can not reasonably

be gratified.