Fall Hunting Prospects
By RGS's Senior Biologist Dan Dessecker
July 22, 2008

Minnesota –
Similar to the rest of the Great Lakes region, ruffed grouse drumming survey data document a 9% increase in northern Minnesota, the heart of the ruffed grouse range in the state. This is good news given that hunter success during the 2007 season was a bit less than expected. Like much of the Midwest, spring temperatures have been cool in Minnesota, but not to the extent that they should drastically affect grouse brood survival.

The woodcock singing-ground survey showed a 6% decline from 2007. Unfortunately, woodcock experienced their second consecutive spring of very poor weather for brood production. Up to 24 inches of snow fell on northern Minnesota during the first week of April this spring, with more snow the following week. Theses snows almost certainly forced most nesting hens to abandon their nests. In addition, local residents reported finding emaciated, dead birds along the sides of gravel roads in numerous locations.

In April of 2007, northern Minnesota also had significant snowfalls. Data from the woodcock wing-collection survey documented that there were few young birds taken by Minnesota hunters in 2007. It’s likely that this spring’s late snowstorms will again negatively affect woodcock recruitment.

Wisconsin –
Statewide ruffed grouse drumming counts increased 7 % over 2007 levels. The northern region of Wisconsin, which supports the bulk of the ruffed grouse habitat in the state, showed a 12% increase in drumming activity from 2007. Like Michigan, this is the third consecutive year the state’s ruffed grouse population has increased as it climbs toward its cyclic peak.

Unfortunately record rainfall and flooding in southern and central Wisconsin during the first part of June has not been favorable for grouse broods. Fortunately, northern Wisconsin has been spared much of the rainfall and conditions have been better for broods, although a bit cool.

Singing-ground survey data show that woodcock are down 14% from 2007. A late spring and lingering snow delayed woodcock arrival this spring in northern Wisconsin. However, once the birds arrived, conditions remained favorable for nesting and brood rearing.

South Dakota –
South Dakota experienced record pheasant harvests throughout much of the state in 2007 and surveys this past winter found excellent populations in most regions. This set the stage for a second consecutive year of high harvest in 2008. But like much of the Midwest, South Dakota experienced significant rainfall this spring, which likely will mean fewer young birds in the fall population than what might be expected. However, in that the state has been in the grip of a prolonged drought, the heavy spring rains brought much needed moisture. Due to the high population levels of last year and good overwinter survival, state game and fish agency biologists remain optimistic for the pheasant season this fall.


North Dakota –
The 2007 pheasant season in North Dakota was one of the most successful in decades, almost 1,000,000 roosters were harvested. Spring crowing counts were up by 36% statewide from last year. In addition, weather conditions were almost ideal for nest success and chick survival. Bottom line, expect and outstanding pheasant season again in 2008.

CRP Update –
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has led to the development of over 30 million acres of grassland habitats across the nation. In many regions, CRP lands are the foundation for populations of pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse and many species of grassland songbirds.

Unfortunately, flooding in many areas of the Midwest this spring have led to calls for the emergency haying and grazing of CRP lands – this would not bode will for the critters nesting in these important habitats. A lawsuit was recently filed in a federal court in Washington State to halt any potential emergency declaration. The judge in this case has filed a temporary restraining order against the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and a court hearing is scheduled for July 17th.

However, of far greater concern than a temporary emergency declaration that would open up CRP lands to haying and grazing is the current agricultural economic climate. Record corn prices are being driven in part by increased interest in using corn to produce ethanol, thereby helping to reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil. Estimates suggest that as many as 8-10 million acres of existing CRP lands ma be withdrawn from this important habitat program when their contracts expire in the next year or so. The conversion of these lands from quality wildlife habitats to row-crop agriculture could be devastating to regional populations of grassland wildlife, both game and non-game. The Ruffed Grouse Society and other conservation organizations have urged the USDA to increase payment rates for CRP lands to make it more attractive for landowners to renew their contracts and maintain these important wildlife habitats.

MN DNR Drumming Counts Released
Press Release- MN DNR

Ruffed grouse counts up after uncertain fall hunt (June 20, 2008)

Ruffed grouse spring drumming counts are slightly higher than last year despite the concern of some hunters that last fall’s harvest didn’t meet their expectations.

“Some people thought last fall’s grouse population may have been lower than expected given drumming counts from the spring of 2007,” said Mike Larson, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wildlife research scientist. “This year’s counts suggest that any potential problems probably haven’t had a substantial effect on this spring’s breeding population.”

Drumming counts increased 9 percent in the northeast survey region, the core of grouse range in Minnesota, to 1.6 drums per stop. Grouse counts increased most in the central hardwoods region, from 0.7 to 1.0 drum per stop. There were slight increases to 0.9 drums per stop in the northwest and 0.6 drums per stop in the southeast.

Minnesota frequently is the nation’s top ruffed grouse producer. On average, 115,000 hunters harvest 545,000 ruffed grouse in Minnesota each year, also making it the state’s most popular upland game bird. During the peak years of 1971 and 1989, hunters harvested more than 1 million ruffed grouse. Michigan and Wisconsin, which frequently field more hunters than Minnesota, round out the top three states in ruffed grouse harvest.

“Higher drumming counts are good news,” said Dennis Simon, DNR wildlife section chief. “Minnesota offers some of the best ruffed grouse hunting in the nation and we want to maintain and enhance those opportunities.”

One reason for Minnesota’s status as a top grouse producer is an abundance of aspen and other ruffed grouse habitat, much of it located on county, state and national forests, where public hunting is allowed. According to the DNR’s draft ruffed grouse management plan, 11.5 million of the state’s 16.3 million acres of forest are grouse habitat. Maintaining public hunting access to large blocks of private lands through the Forest Legacy Program also is a key strategy.

“Maintaining prime grouse habitat is important,” Simon said. “Wildlife managers are working closely with forest managers to find ways for timber harvests to benefit habitat that can provide ample thermal cover for grouse in winter.”

Ruffed grouse populations are surveyed by counting the number of male ruffed grouse heard drumming on established routes throughout the state’s ruffed grouse range. This year, observers recorded 1.4 drums per stop statewide. Last year’s average was 1.3 drums per stop. Counts vary from about 0.8 drums per stop during years of low grouse abundance to about 1.9 during years of high abundance.

Ruffed grouse populations tend to rise and fall on a 10-year cycle, Larson said. Counts have increased each year since the last low in 2005.

For the past 59 years, DNR biologists have monitored ruffed grouse populations. This year, DNR staff and cooperators from 13 organizations surveyed 132 routes across the state.

The DNR’s grouse survey report, which contains information on sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chickens, will be available soon online at www.mndnr.gov/hunting.

Wisconsin –
 
Brian Dhuey, Wisconsin DNR Wildlife Researcher reports, “Statewide ruffed grouse drumming counts increased 7% over 2007 levels. Final tallies show .91 drums per stop across the state.”  The southeast and northern regions showed the greatest increase in drumming activity over last year with 33 percent and 12 percent increases, respectively.  The southwest region showed a decrease of 20 percent while the central region showed a slight decline of 3 percent fewer drums than in 2007.  Drummer densities on the Sandhill Wildlife research census area in Wood County increased 8%, while drummers on the Stone Lake Experimental Area in Oneida County increased 4% from 2007 levels.   Dhuey goes on to say that, “This is the third increase in the ruffed grouse index in the last 3 years. It would appear that Wisconsin is still on the upswing of the current grouse cycle.” 
 
Unfortunately record rainfall and flooding in southern and central Wisconsin during the first part of June has not been favorable for grouse broods.  Fortunately, northern Wisconsin, the primary grouse range, has been spared much of the rainfall and conditions have been favorable for broods there.
 
A late spring and lingering snow delayed woodcock arrival this spring in northern Wisconsin.  However, once the birds arrived, conditions remained favorable for nesting and brood rearing.
 
It is likely that ruffed grouse populations in northern Wisconsin this fall will be higher than in 2007 with woodcock populations similar to last year if not slightly higher. Populations of both species will most likely be down from last year in central and southern Wisconsin.
 
Additional information on the 2008 Wisconsin drumming count is available at http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/harvest/reports/08finaldrum.pdf .
 

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