Ruffed grouse
Each spring, biologists, conservation wardens, foresters, members of the Ruffed Grouse Society and other volunteers travel survey routes recording the ruffed grouse drumming activity. Drumming is the sound produced by a male grouse during the spring breeding season. The male will display on a drumming log then rapidly beat his wings producing a drumming sound with the intention of attracting a female.
Ruffed grouse drumming surveys have been used since 1964 as an indicator of ruffed grouse population trends. Brood data will not be available until later in the summer, after eggs are hatched and the young birds are a month or two old. Still, brood production in the summer of 2006 was higher than in 2005 and set the stage for an increase in statewide grouse populations
For reasons not well understood by biologists, grouse populations cycle up and down over an 8- to 10-year period. The previous high population point was in 1999, with the population hitting the low ebb in the 8-to 10-year cycle in 2004-2005.
“Overall, drumming counts increased by 12 percent over the last year, on top of a 27 percent increase recorded between 2005 and 2006” said Scott Hull, DNR upland wildlife ecologist, “it’s a welcome indication that populations appear to be growing.”
The statewide average was 0.85 drums per stop in 2007, compared to 0.76 drums per stop in 2006. The Central and Northern regions of the state saw the largest increases in drumming activity (up by 28 and 17 percent, respectively), while the Southeast region also showed an increase of 13 percent, and the southwest region showed a small decline with 16 percent fewer drums than in 2006. Even so, this remains a small swing in an otherwise strong upward population growth trend.
DNR research personnel have also conducted a census of drumming males on the Sandhill Wildlife Area and Stone Lake Experimental Area since 1968. Sandhill Wildlife Area had an increase of 33 percent from 30 in 2006, to 40 in 2007. Stone Lake Experimental Area in Oneida County also increased by 17 percent in drumming activity from 2006 to 2007.
In general, the ruffed grouse population should still be continuing on the upward side of the 10-year cycle and hunters can expect ruffed grouse numbers to continue climbing over the next couple years. The 2007 results are in line with the 10-year ruffed grouse cycle that peaked back in 1999.
While populations appear to be on the upswing, hunters may not find uniformly high numbers of grouse across any given landscape. Successful hunters will need to seek good habitat for ruffed grouse hunting and may have to scout different sites to find the pockets where good numbers of birds can be found. Ruffed grouse use a variety of habitat types, but young, early successional forest types are most important when trying to find a good grouse hunting location.
“Ruffed grouse drumming surveys are helpful in tracking statewide population changes over the long term.” Hull says. “However, they are not good predictors of local harvest or hunting opportunities. The most successful hunters usually are those who spend the most time in the field and cover the most ground.”
More birds generally lead to more hunting days in the field and higher success rates, say wildlife managers. During the 2006-2007 grouse season, about 99,000 hunters reported spending 756,000 days in the field hunting grouse. “Hunters reported harvesting roughly 384,000 grouse in 2006,” Hull says. “At the time of the last population peak, back in 1999, they reported taking about 768,000.”
New in 2007, there will only be two grouse hunting zones instead of three. The season dates, and the boundaries of the zone that makes up Southeast Wisconsin have not changed. The rest of the state has been combined into a new Zone A. For hunters in the northern portions of the new Zone A, that means an extra month of hunting. The ruffed grouse zone map has been updated to reflect the consolidation from 3 zones down to 2 zones. The Zone A (the northwestern portion of the state) ruffed grouse hunting season opens Sept. 15, 2007, and closes Jan. 31, 2008. The Zone B (the southeastern portion of the state) season runs from Oct. 20 to Dec. 8. The daily bag limit is 5 birds for Zone A and 2 birds for Zone B. The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit (i.e., 10 birds for Zone A, 4 birds for Zone B).
Overall, the message is clear for the 2007 ruffed grouse season: “These are great survey results and I’m very optimistic that we’ll have a great grouse season in 2007,” said Hull.
Additional information in ruffed grouse can be found on the ruffed grouse page of the DNR Web site [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/grouse/ruffindex.htm].
Ruffed grouse season
• Zone A Sept. 15 – Jan. 1, 2008
Bag limit Zone A five birds per day possession limit is 10
• Zone B Oct. 20 – Dec. 8
Bag limit Zone B two birds per day possession limit is four
Sharp-tailed grouse
Sharp-tailed grouse populations are monitored each year using dancing ground surveys, which are a cooperative effort between Department of Natural Resources, US-Forest Service, Great Lakes Indian Fish Wildlife Commission, Northland College, members of the Wisconsin Sharp-tailed Grouse Society, and volunteers. A complete census of these displaying grounds is attempted on those properties designated as sharptail management tracts. Sharp-tailed grouse surveys on unmanaged lands are concentrated within a portion of northwestern Wisconsin (primarily in deer management units 2 and 9), often on private lands. Dancing grounds found within suitable habitat blocks are approached and birds are counted.
This year’s dancing ground surveys indicate that populations of sharp-tails were low this spring.
“Sharp-tailed grouse numbers remain quite low and birds can often be challenging to locate,” said Sharon Fandel, DNR assistant upland game ecologist. “Because of this, we emphasize and encourage hunters to anticipate this challenge and allow themselves to enjoy the experience of the hunt rather than going just for the opportunity to harvest a bird.”
Last fall, 403 applicants applied for 775 permits. Hunters harvested 28 birds during the 2006 season. A total of 695 permits will be available for the fall 2007 sharp-tailed grouse hunting season Oct. 20 through Nov. 11. A total of four units [same boundaries and designations as deer management units (DMU)] will share the available permits. Those units with sharp-tail permits available for fall 2007 are: DMU 2 (520 permits), DMU 8 (50 permits), DMU 9 (100 permits), and DMU 10 (25 permits).
“This is a slight decrease from 2006 when 775 permits were available,” said Scott Hull, DNR upland wildlife ecologist. “Although there were a few more males observed this spring, traditional sharp-tailed grouse dancing grounds have become less stable over the last few years, warranting a more conservative approach in our harvest framework this year.”
The sharp-tailed grouse is native to Wisconsin and historically occupied suitable habitat throughout the state. Long-term population declines across North America, including Wisconsin, have occurred since the early 1900s. Sharp-tailed grouse management began in northern Wisconsin during the late 1940s and early 1950s in response to concerns of habitat loss. Sharp-tailed grouse require specific habitat for courtship, nesting, brood-rearing, and wintering sites. However, suitable habitat currently exists only in relatively small patches separated by large tracts of unsuitable habitat. Today, sharp-tailed grouse in Wisconsin are primarily found in the early successional pine barrens and savannas of the northwestern portion of the state. Some of the larger state-owned areas that focus on sharp-tailed grouse management include Crex Meadows and Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Areas in Burnett County.
Sharp-tailed grouse resemble its close relative, the greater prairie chicken, and are also sometimes mistaken for the female ring-necked pheasant. Sharp-tails have a distinctive pointed tail edged with white, and produce a “chuck, chuck, chuck” call when flushed. They are largely known for their spring courtship display on clearings called "dancing grounds." During this display, the male uses a stiff-bodied stepping motion, with tail and head feathers pointed up, wings spread, and head held low. This is followed by a vigorous “dance” (feet stamping) in small circles. While dancing, the male vibrates his tail feathers, which produces a clicking or rattling noise. Males also inflate and deflate lavender-colored air sacs in their breasts, creating soft cooing sounds.
Additional information in ruffed grouse can be found on the sharp-tailed grouse page of the DNR Website at [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/grouse/stgindex.htm].
2007 Sharp-tailed Grouse Season
Oct. 11- Nov. 20
Bag limit one bird per permit
Bobwhite quail
Despite declining populations and habitat across the upper Midwest, there are still good to excellent local quail hunting opportunities on both public and private lands especially in West-central and South-central regions of the state. Green, Iowa, Lafayette and Rock counties have some of the best quail hunting opportunities. Habitat programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program and the Upland Buffers for Wildlife Program have been extremely beneficial for upland game birds like bobwhite quail and should continue to provide good local hunting opportunities. Weather conditions in the southern part of the state should have provided for ideal nesting and brood rearing conditions.
Data on male bobwhite quail densities have been collected biennially since 1991 using roadside surveys along predetermined transects in 15 counties comprising the species’ primary range. Annual surveys initially began in 1949, and have been run biennially since 1991. The number of whistling males heard during a two-minute period is recorded. Populations have shown a small increase, but the overall trend is still a significant decline. The mean number of whistling males per stop decreased 30 percent, from 0.10 in 2003 to 0.07 in 2005. This remains well below the long-term average (0.57).
Bobwhite quail populations have been declining across North America for the past 20 years. These declines have been even more dramatic in states like Wisconsin that are on the northern edge of the birds’ range. Habitat loss and habitat fragmentation are the top two primary causes for population declines in many bird species. Bobwhite quail populations have been declining across the Midwest and Great Plains States primarily due to a loss of critical nesting and brood rearing habitat.
Current research information has shown that hunting mortality has contributed little to this overall decline. The annual lifespan of quail is about 1.5 years and 60 to 80 percent of the quail population does not survive longer than a year. In addition, studies have shown that hunting mortality is largely compensatory, meaning that the quail harvested by hunters are birds that would have likely died by another, natural reason. The result is a difficult management challenge for wildlife managers. Efforts to “stockpile” quail by temporarily closing hunting seasons, or tinkering with the hunting regulations would not curb the decline or increase population numbers. Among the Midwestern States, Wisconsin already has the second most conservative quail hunting season. Only Ohio has a more conservative season.
In order to help bobwhite quail, the Wisconsin DNR is actively engaged in habitat programs for quail and other upland and grassland nesting species. Wisconsin is part of the Northern Bobwhite Conservation Initiative which aims to restore quail populations across the country through habitat restoration [http://www.bobwhiteconservation.org/]. In addition, the DNR has been partnering for decades with the United State Department of Agriculture to restore habitat on private lands through the Farm Bill.
The 2007 bobwhite quail season opens statewide at noon on Oct. 20 and runs through Dec. 12. Daily bag limit is five birds and the possession limit is 10.
Please see the 2007 Small Game Hunting Regulations for additional details available in print, or on-line at [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/regs/SGHunt07.pdf].
Bobwhite quail season
Oct. 20 (noon opener) – Dec. 12
Bag limit five birds per day, possession limit is 10
Cottontail rabbit
Cottontail rabbits are a very popular small game animal and typically provide for great recreational opportunities across the state. Rabbits are extremely prolific and their annual reproduction is usually dependent upon local weather conditions during the breeding seasons. Portions of the state with adequate rainfall resulting in plenty of green, succulent vegetation should offer good rabbit production and good hunting opportunities this fall.
Surveys for cottontail rabbits are conducted in union with the biennial bobwhite quail surveys. All cottontail rabbits seen on the bobwhite quail survey route are recorded. The numbers of cottontail rabbits seen per transect decreased 19 percent in 2005, from 5.4 in 2003 to 4.4 in 2005. During the 2005-2006 hunting season, the results of a mail-in survey indicated that hunters harvested approximately 253,716 cottontail rabbits, with the top counties being Lafayette, Fond du Lac, and Jefferson.
The 2007 cottontail rabbit season opens on Sept. 15 in the north zone and Oct. 20 at noon in the south zone. The season ends in both zones on Feb. 29, 2008. The daily bag limit is three and the possession limit is six in both zones.
Please see the 2007 Small Game Hunting Regulations for additional details (available in print, or on-line at [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/regs/index.htm].
2007 Cottontail Rabbit season
North zone Sept. 15 – Feb. 29, 2008
South zone Oct. 20 – Feb. 29, 2008
Bag limit (both zones) three rabbits per day, possession limit is six rabbits
Squirrels – gray and fox
Squirrels are a very popular game species and can provide some great early season hunting opportunities especially for beginning hunters. Squirrel production and resulting hunting opportunities are strongly tied to the previous year’s mast production. While the DNR does not have a formal mast production survey, local biologists have reported mixed mast production reports across the state over the last several years. Drought conditions seem to be one of the biggest factors impacting both hard and soft mast production at the local level.
During the 2005-2006 hunting season, the results of a mail-in survey indicated that hunters harvested approximately 505,439 squirrels, with the top counties being Vernon, Waushara, and Marquette.
Gray and fox squirrel season opens statewide on Sept. 15 and closes Jan 31, 2008. Daily bag limit is five squirrels and possession limit is 10.
Please see the 2007 Small Game Hunting Regulations for additional details (available in print, or on-line at [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/regs/index.htm].
Squirrel (gray and fox) season
Sept. 15 – Jan. 30, 2007
Bag limit five squirrels per day, possession limit is 10 squirrels
Snowshoe hare
During the 2005-2006 hunting season, the results of a mail-in survey indicated that hunters harvested approximately 20,471 snowshoe hares, with the top counties being Rusk, Taylor, and Sawyer.
The snowshoe hare season is open statewide year-round with an unlimited bag limit.
Please see the 2007 Small Game Hunting Regulations for additional details available in print, or on-line at [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/regs/index.htm].
2007 Snowshoe Hare season
Open year-round
Bag limit – unlimited
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Hull, DNR upland wildlife ecologist - (608) 267-7861 or Sharon Fandel, assistant upland wildlife ecologist - (608) 261-8458
