Environment DEC
From the October 2004 issue
DEC Seeks Input from Hunters for Study on Ruffed Grouse
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Erin M. Crotty announced a new study that will monitor New York's ruffed grouse population. As part of this study, DEC is asking ruffed grouse hunters to record their hunting activities and sightings of these birds for a survey to help DEC learn more about them.
"The ruffed grouse is one of New York State's most popular native game birds," Commissioner Crotty said. "This survey will help provide DEC with an increased understanding of this important species, and I invite all grouse hunters to work with us to help make this study as comprehensive as possible."
Each year, approximately 75,000 grouse hunters harvest 225,000 grouse. The ruffed grouse is a forest species widely distributed across New York State. While some grouse are found in more mature forests, the greatest population densities are in younger forests. These preferred habitats are declining as most of New York State's forests grow older, thus resulting in a decline in grouse numbers since the 1960s. The information recorded by grouse hunters will provide insight into statewide population distributions and trends for this popular game species as habitats change both locally and on a landscape scale.
Hunters will be an important
source of information in the
study of New York State's
ruffed grouse population
The new DEC survey asks hunters to record their daily grouse hunting activities on a Cooperator Ruffed Grouse Hunting Log. The hunting log requests information such as the number of grouse flushed, the number of hours hunted, the number of grouse killed, and whether a dog was used to hunt grouse. The primary purpose of the log is to monitor the number of birds flushed per hour. Changes in the flushing rate illustrate trends in the grouse population when viewed over a long period. New York State will cooperate with other states by evaluating flushing rates and determining if there are regional differences in the relative abundance of ruffed grouse.
Each grouse hunter is asked to complete a log and return it to DEC at the end of the grouse hunting season. The original log, along with an annual report, will be returned to each cooperator. It's a great way to partner with DEC and find out more about this beautiful game bird.
To participate in the survey and obtain a Cooperator Ruffed Grouse Hunting Log, please contact Mike Murphy at the Reynolds Game Farm by writing to him at 81 Game Farm Road, Ithaca, New York, 14850-2803; calling him at (607) 273-3763; e-mailing the Reynolds Game Farm (please put "Grouse Log" in the subject line), or by using the link below to DEC's Web Site.
