murphydogs Profile
Subscribe To murphydogs's Blog
I spoke with and Idaho Department Fish and Game biologist today and got some preliminary information on the 2009 upland game bird outlook. Despite the cool and wet June we had, bird populations seem to be doing well.
Forest Grouse - Fish and Game doesn’t conduct official surveys of forest grouse and health of the populations come from simply what is observed in the wild. The biologist reported seeing good numbers of grouse and estimates that the grouse population is doing well this year and has perhaps increased.
Sage Grouse - the spring lek count appeared to be good this year, but timing is everything. If the hens were sitting on eggs during the June rains, the population may do quite well but if the hatch had already occurred, then the population may really suffer as the chicks would succumb to hypothermia. Only the males are counted since the females don’t have the mating plumage and harder to spot, and may travel to different leks during mating season. Hunting regulations for Sage Hen might be published the week of August 17. The East Idaho uplands will be closed to Sage Hen hunting again this year.
Partridge - The Hungarian population is expected to be the best in several years. The Chuckar count will be conducted this month and the Brownlee and Owyhee areas appear to be similar to last year.
Sharp Tailed Grouse - Not much information on sharp tails but the population seems to be about the same as last year.
So there you have the preliminary 2009 forecast in a nutshell - good luck hunting!
Write your blog with non-techie tools and be widely read thanks to our large, active community.
more posts...
Thanks for that info Murphydogs! I must say, that I am particularly Jealous of your rainy June :-)
At least for this year our draught is over, but I’ve heard that Washington and Texas are suffering with it -hope it doesn’t hurt this year’s hunting.
If hunting is based on population than no doubt it will affect the hunting…
I’m not thinking of populations, but the side-effects of draught - just food for thought.
A couple of years ago here in Idaho, the fire danger due to draught caused F&G to shut down several areas after the permits had been issued.
If you hunt primarily from a tree stand or road hunt it may not affect you as much, but if you walk the hillsides, the dry brush will give you away and they’ll disappear long before you ever see them.
Then also draught may change their habits and locations so your favorite hunting areas may not have any game.