Environment DEC
From the October 2007 issue
DEC Seeks Input from Ruffed Grouse Hunters
Populations of ruffed grouse have declined as their preferred habitat, younger forests, have matured throughout New YorkAs the start of grouse hunting seasons in New York State is upon us, DEC is once again looking for hunters to cooperate in a long-term study aimed at monitoring ruffed grouse populations. The study, referred to as the "Cooperator Ruffed Grouse Hunting Log," involves hunters keeping a daily diary of their grouse hunting activity and success.
Thousands Hunt this Challenging Game Bird
The grouse hunting season opened across northern New York on September 20, and across the rest of upstate New York on October 1. An estimated 75,000 people hunt grouse in New York State, making it one of the most popular small game species. Grouse hunting is also among the most challenging sports - the average hunter takes only about two grouse per year, and hunters bag only about one grouse for every 10 they flush, as the birds are often heard but not seen.
DEC's hunting log requests information such as the number of hours hunted, number of grouse flushed, number killed, and if a dog was used to hunt them. The primary purpose of the log is to monitor the number of birds flushed per hour of hunting. Changes in the flushing rate illustrate trends in the grouse population when viewed over a long period. New York will cooperate with other states by evaluating flushing rates to determine if there are regional differences in the relative abundance of ruffed grouse.
Fourth Year of the Program
This will be the fourth year that DEC has conducted the Cooperator Ruffed Grouse Hunting Log. DEC extends a sincere thank you to all 298 hunters that participated in 2006-07. Grouse log participants reported data from more than 2,900 hunting trips across the state. These hunters spent more than 8,500 hours afield and flushed more than 10,000 grouse.
Overall, hunters in 2006-07 spent more hours afield, and flushed and harvested more grouse per hunter than in 2005-06. The flush rate during the 2006-07 season was 1.2 grouse flushed per hour, compared to 1.0 flushes per hour the year before. The higher flush rate observed may be related to improved production during the 2006 breeding season associated with favorable weather conditions in the spring and early summer.
The ruffed grouse preferred habitats, younger-aged forests, are declining, resulting in a long-term decline in grouse numbers since the 1960s. Over time, the data provided by cooperating hunters will help wildlife managers answer questions about the status and conservation of ruffed grouse throughout New York State.
New This Year
In addition to the grouse hunting log, DEC and the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry launched a new research project this fall to investigate factors affecting grouse populations. The study, being conducted at Partridge Run Wildlife Management Area in Albany County and Fort Drum Military Reservation in Jefferson County, will be the first field assessment of ruffed grouse survival and harvest mortality in New York in more than 50 years.
Sixty ruffed grouse will be captured, leg-banded and equipped with a radio-transmitters to identify principal causes of mortality, relating those factors to habitat conditions. Any hunter who encounters a banded bird can help with this study by calling the toll-free number on the band to report it. Information obtained about harvest and predation, and how habitat characteristics affect those processes, will help guide habitat management and help DEC inform the public.
To Participate
Hunters interested in participating in the Cooperator Ruffed Grouse Hunting Log can contact DEC by mail: NYSDEC, Division of Fish, Wildlife, & Marine Resources, 625 Broadway, 5th Floor, Albany, NY 12233-4754; phone: 518-402-8883, or e-mail: fwwildlf@gw.dec.state.ny.us (please add "Grouse Log" to the subject line).
A grouse hunting log can also be downloaded by visiting the Cooperator Ruffed Grouse Hunting Log web page on DEC's website.
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 is a great way to collaborate with DEC and find out more about this beautiful game bird.
