09-06-2004, 04:25 AM
Sharp-tailed grouse and partridge hunters may have to work a little harder to find birds this year, according to Jerry Kobriger, upland game management supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Dickinson.
The season opens Sept. 11 for sharptails, partridge and ruffed grouse. Sage grouse season does not open until Sept. 27.
The past year has been anything but normal for sharptails, Kobriger said. Drought conditions in the southwest and south central parts of North Dakota hurt production last year, Kobriger said, and while winter was relatively mild in those areas, the northwest and north central portions of the state experienced a winter with colder temperatures and more snow than normal.
Precipitation during the nesting season this year varied from too little moisture in the southwest to excess moisture in the northeast, Kobriger said, with a variety of amounts in between. "Precipitation is normally good, as it provides the habitat necessary for nesting and brood rearing," Kobriger added. "But too much rain coupled with low temperatures can cause loss of chicks not only by hypothermia, but also by limiting abundance of small soft bodied insects that are critical food for chicks from hatch to about 3-4 weeks of age. Chick loss can be high if the food tray is empty."
Preliminary results from surveys this summer indicate fewer sharptail broods than last year, and an average brood size that may be a new record low. "These two population stats will mean fewer sharptails in the field this fall," Kobriger said. "The season won't be a complete bust, but hunters are going to have to work a little harder, and perhaps spend more time in the field to get their birds."
Contrary to other years when some portions of the state seem to do better, this year the decline seems to be statewide, Kobriger mentioned. "Another barometer of habitat is the buffaloberry crop, and that also seems to be a complete bust this year, particularly in the southwest," he added. "If weather is hot during the opener, grouse will be using the shrubs for shade even though the food source is not there. If it is cool, windy, or wet, the birds will probably be scattered in taller grass areas and harder to find."
All indicators were pointing to a better gray or Hungarian partridge crop this year until brood surveys started. Harvest last year was up, the wing sample was up, and rural mail carriers saw more partridge than in the past several years. In fact, Kobriger mentioned, the RMC count, on a statewide basis, was nearly up to the 1993 level. "As most partridge hunters may recall, the partridge population plummeted in 1993 and reached a low in 1998," Kobriger added. "A slow but steady increase has occurred since 1998, but brood surveys this summer have not produced many partridge broods. The cold damp month of June may have affected partridge production. Surveys are not quite complete, and Huns have a way of showing up at the tail end of the survey period. Hopefully things will pick up in the next couple of weeks."
North Dakota's ruffed grouse survey indicated a 27 percent population decrease this spring compared to 2003, according to Stan Kohn, upland game bird biologist. "That has been the trend the last three years," Kohn said of the low population counts, "but we finally may be at the low end of the current population cycle."
Sunrise counts taken on survey routes this spring showed decreases in male grouse drumming activity in the Turtle Mountains, Pembina Hills and McHenry County (J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge).
Upland game hunters are encouraged to use their wing envelopes and return their hunter survey card included with their wing packet.
For further season information and regulations, hunters should consult the North Dakota 2004-05 Small Game Guide.
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The season opens Sept. 11 for sharptails, partridge and ruffed grouse. Sage grouse season does not open until Sept. 27.
The past year has been anything but normal for sharptails, Kobriger said. Drought conditions in the southwest and south central parts of North Dakota hurt production last year, Kobriger said, and while winter was relatively mild in those areas, the northwest and north central portions of the state experienced a winter with colder temperatures and more snow than normal.
Precipitation during the nesting season this year varied from too little moisture in the southwest to excess moisture in the northeast, Kobriger said, with a variety of amounts in between. "Precipitation is normally good, as it provides the habitat necessary for nesting and brood rearing," Kobriger added. "But too much rain coupled with low temperatures can cause loss of chicks not only by hypothermia, but also by limiting abundance of small soft bodied insects that are critical food for chicks from hatch to about 3-4 weeks of age. Chick loss can be high if the food tray is empty."
Preliminary results from surveys this summer indicate fewer sharptail broods than last year, and an average brood size that may be a new record low. "These two population stats will mean fewer sharptails in the field this fall," Kobriger said. "The season won't be a complete bust, but hunters are going to have to work a little harder, and perhaps spend more time in the field to get their birds."
Contrary to other years when some portions of the state seem to do better, this year the decline seems to be statewide, Kobriger mentioned. "Another barometer of habitat is the buffaloberry crop, and that also seems to be a complete bust this year, particularly in the southwest," he added. "If weather is hot during the opener, grouse will be using the shrubs for shade even though the food source is not there. If it is cool, windy, or wet, the birds will probably be scattered in taller grass areas and harder to find."
All indicators were pointing to a better gray or Hungarian partridge crop this year until brood surveys started. Harvest last year was up, the wing sample was up, and rural mail carriers saw more partridge than in the past several years. In fact, Kobriger mentioned, the RMC count, on a statewide basis, was nearly up to the 1993 level. "As most partridge hunters may recall, the partridge population plummeted in 1993 and reached a low in 1998," Kobriger added. "A slow but steady increase has occurred since 1998, but brood surveys this summer have not produced many partridge broods. The cold damp month of June may have affected partridge production. Surveys are not quite complete, and Huns have a way of showing up at the tail end of the survey period. Hopefully things will pick up in the next couple of weeks."
North Dakota's ruffed grouse survey indicated a 27 percent population decrease this spring compared to 2003, according to Stan Kohn, upland game bird biologist. "That has been the trend the last three years," Kohn said of the low population counts, "but we finally may be at the low end of the current population cycle."
Sunrise counts taken on survey routes this spring showed decreases in male grouse drumming activity in the Turtle Mountains, Pembina Hills and McHenry County (J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge).
Upland game hunters are encouraged to use their wing envelopes and return their hunter survey card included with their wing packet.
For further season information and regulations, hunters should consult the North Dakota 2004-05 Small Game Guide.
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