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Show It's Your Wildlife J Vr rrn B Garlh Carlcr j jJ- fj" i y fyfo"8ervallon omcer m. i i 1 i i,.... . . ...... The critical season of the year for big game is usually winter. Winter weather and existing conditions often trim the game herd population. In game management this occurrence occur-rence is called the "bottleneck theory." What happens during dur-ing a mild winer? This past winter was mild, thus big game populations suffered a lower mortality rate than usual. Both deer and elk herds ranged from typical winter areas to summer ranges. Usually big game animals are forced down by heavy snow conditions and harsh environmental conditions. The light snow fall allowed game animals to disperse across vast ranges on typically unused food resource areas. Thus, the food availability per animal was increased, while at the same time typical winter areas had a reduction of total use. Big game animals expended less energy in body maintenance, mainten-ance, therefore arriving this spring in a healthy condition, with even fat reserves still intact. The unborn young should have higher frequency of survival through fetal stages. Last year's fawns (typically the first "to die in w inter loss) can be expected to survive with higher rates than normal. Predation losses dropped drop-ped due to light snow depths and wide dispersal of game animals. Although all might look rosy for our big game herds, it is not. As a result of the lack of moisture, the forage base has suffered. New growth will be limited unless spring moisture can make up for moisture not received this winter. Without the needed moisture, mois-ture, food quality and quantity will suffer. The new plant growth is a necessity in the growth and development of this year's newborns. The mothering animal's milk supply sup-ply is directly related to the quality and quanity of food available. Low feed value can lead to lower survival rates for fawns (and calves) as well as poor development. Lower moisture will lead to lower plant production and less winter feed for the upcoming season. All in all, if we receive good moisture this spring, big game populations will have benefited benefit-ed greatly from our mild winter. If the drought continues, contin-ues, populations will suffer in future months, thus having a negative overall effect, -gkc- Bird w atchers, have you had the opportunity to observe the grouse family, lately? The sage grouse are on the traditional strutting ground and are very actively performing perform-ing courtship displays. The blue and the ruffed grouse are also engaged in courtship. Sunday evening I had the opportunity of observing the blue grouse perform its courtship display. The grouse inhales a large volume of air. puffs up his neck (displaying a white area along the neck) and creates a rhythymic booming sound as he releases the captured air. The blue grouse are unusual in that they exhibit the phenomenon called "vertical migration." Unlike most animals ani-mals who migrate to lower elevations in the winter, the blue grouse migrates to higher elevations. In the early spring, the blue grouse migrates to lower brushier elevations to mate and bear offspring. So try the oak with mixed sage brush areas if you wish to locate the blue grouse during its courtship displays. --gkc-- Turkey hunters, the spring hunt is limited only to males. The males are blacker in appearance than the females. The heads of the male are larger with red and blue colored w attles. The males will also have a "beard" (specialized (special-ized horse-hair-like feathers) that extends outw ard from the lower neck area. -gkc- Trout Fisherman, get rcadv for an early opening date: there will be more details next w eck. |