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Show I; vkt: f ' us mmmK 4& f' J 1 nk , . . fey -.- .. . V - ,Cr- J ffel f It's Your Wildlife I 2Bt5),-j a Hp' von'rvlon Officer It-- Once the Sage Grouse was u ibundant bird, then numb-" numb-" trs declined as pioneers set- tied in. Population decrease ? his come about due to sage-brush sage-brush eradication and inten-LB inten-LB she use of lands by domestic ? livestock, operations. Al-though Al-though populations are down, existing birds provide recrea- tiaul opportunities during tie short Sage Grouse season. , j, The Sage Grouse is the largest of the North American jioose; the male may weigh ip to seven pounds with a length of 25 to 30 inches. The 1 female weighs close to three . ounds and is 20 inches in length. Long pointed tail fea-r fea-r B tiers with a dark belly, fea-thers fea-thers covering the feet to the toes are the distinguishing futures of the grayish-brown bird. .' , Wet meadow areas, sage brush with a good understory of forbs and grasses provide good habitat. Sagebrush should be the predominant plant species, foothills, plains or mountain valleys are all suitable. Nesting occurs in April after the traditional strutting on the same "strutting grounds" and breeding in in March and early April. Nesting sites are usually under und-er sagebrush in shallow depressions de-pressions lined with grass and twigs. After a 25 day incubation incuba-tion period the 5 to 9 eggs hatch. Winter food is almost entirely en-tirely sagebrush. Flowering heads of clover, dandelions, grasses and sagebrush flowering flower-ing heads mixed with insects make up summer food. Young birds are quite palatable pala-table during the fall harvest. Unless you enjoy the taste of sagebrush, the larger birds are not the birds to harvest-select harvest-select the smallest birds in the flock. gkc Saturday (September 17th) the majority of the upland game species become legal targets. Hunters under 21 years of age must have completed com-pleted a hunter safety program pro-gram in Utah or a state with comparable requirements-check requirements-check Price DWR office). The Sage Grouse season is Sept. 17-23 with daily limit of 2 birds, possession 4. Forest Grouse- Sept. 17- Nov. 30, daily limit 4, possession 8 (Blue Grouse andor Ruffed Grouse) Chukars-Sept. 17-Jan 25, 1978, daily limit 5, possession posses-sion limit 10. Cottontail Rabbits-Sept. 17-Jan. 31 1978, 10 daily, 20 in possession. Wild Turkey-Sept. 17- Oct. 22 season sea-son limit one bird (either sex). Fall Turkey hunters must hav"e proper turkey permit which may be obtained at the price DWR office. Doves and Band-Tailed pigeon season will continue till September 30. Pheasant and Quail season will open later (November 5). gkc The outdoor tip for the beginning Chukar hunters is-rule is-rule number one-Chukars run uphill and fly downhill. Rule number two in Chukar hunting hunt-ing is Chukars are the most unpredictable bird of all, expect ex-pect the unexpected and shoot them whenever possible for in Chukar hunting there are no ethics concerning shooting running birds. gkc A good hunt begins long , before the season begins with I early scouting of the quarry and learning its territory and patterns of behavior. Sportsmen Sports-men of the week is this hunter-do you fit into this f category. ( |