For Release: Monday, September 24, 2007
Ruffed Grouse Survey and Research
DEC Seeking Input from Ruffed Grouse Hunters
As the start of grouse hunting seasons in New York State is upon us, the Department is once again looking for hunters to cooperate in a long-term study aimed at monitoring ruffed grouse populations, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today. The study, referred to as the "Cooperator Ruffed Grouse Hunting Log," involves hunters keeping a daily diary or "log" of their grouse hunting activity and success.
The grouse hunting season opened across northern New York on Sept. 20, and will open across the rest of upstate New York on Oct. 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 2 grouse per year, and hunters bag only about 1 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, the number of grouse flushed, the number of grouse killed, and if a dog was used to hunt grouse. 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 of time. 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.
This will be the fourth year that DEC has conducted the Cooperator Ruffed Grouse Hunting Log. We extend a sincere thank you to all 298 hunters that participated in 2006-07. Grouse log participants reported data from over 2,900 hunting trips across the state. These hunters spent over 8,500 hours afield and flushed over 10,000 grouse (about 1.2 flushes/hour).
Overall, hunters in 2006-07 spent more hours afield, and they 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 information provided by ruffed grouse hunters in this survey will provide insight into statewide population distributions and trends for this popular game species as habitats change both locally and on a landscape scale. 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-aged forests. These preferred habitats are declining as most of New York State's forests grow older, resulting in a long-term decline in grouse numbers since the 1960s. With only three years of data it is difficult to draw any strong conclusions about grouse distribution and abundance, but 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.
In addition to the grouse hunting log, DEC and the State University of New York 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.
A total of 60 ruffed grouse will be captured, leg-banded and equipped with a radio-transmitters to identify principal causes of mortality, and relating those factors to habitat conditions. Any hunter who encounters one of these banded birds can help with this study by calling the toll-free telephone number on the band to report it to the Department. Information obtained about harvest and predation, and how habitat characteristics affect those processes, will help guide habitat management and help DEC inform the public about this popular game bird.
Hunters interested in participating in the Cooperator Ruffed Grouse Hunting Log can contact the Department by mail, phone, or e-mail.
By Mail or Phone:
NYSDEC
Division of Fish, Wildlife, & Marine Resources
625 Broadway, 5th Floor
Albany, NY 12233-4754
(518) 402-8883
By E-mail: fwwildlf@gw.dec.state.ny.us
Subject: Grouse Log
A Grouse Hunting Log can also be downloaded by visiting the DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9351.html .
Each grouse hunter is asked to complete a log and return it to the Department 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 the Department and find out more about this beautiful game bird.
