Show The 2002 KlMIfilft 19 2002 PfiaCu’s (upDaM Guide ur£n©Ci wairoes Tougk winter takes tod in Utah Rare hunt promising lue and mffed grouse are among i Herald The 2 Page : upland game birds that should provide good hunting- for Utah's hunters this fall Annual fluctuations in upland game bird and mammal populations probably more so than any other group of wildlife species are very closely correlated with annual climatic patterns Serene open winters mean that more upland game survive to reproduce the following spring Early spring precipitation during March April and May makes for increases in fall upland game populations Warm dry weather especially during June is vital for the survival of newly bom young The winter of 2001-0- 2 was mostly mild throughout much of Utah but a bit harsher than normal in parts of the northern and central portions of the state Open snow conditions in some areas combined with rel- atively mild temperatures surmeant good vival of upland game breeding stock in those areas In other isolated areas above winter snowpack and colder temperatures negatively impacted upland game Dean Mitchell upland game coordinator for the Divirion of Wildlife Resources provides die following information about how drought has affected Utah’s upland game birds and what hunters can expect for each species this season over-wint- er Blue and ruffed grouse (forest grouse) observations are favorable across Utah this year Many sizeable broods have been reported by field biologists Overwinter sur- vival was good while nesting and brood rearing conditions were good throughout mountainous habitats Keep in mind that forest grouse populations can vary greatly between mountain ranges Look for birds in areas of mixed mountain brush offering berries Berry production is highly varied across Utah this year because of long-to- m drought conditions Berry production is better in northern Utah than in southern Utah In some areas there’s an abundance of berries in other areas there are few to none Ruffed grouse prefer areas along stream and watercours- Blue grouse are usually found higher on the mountain in the Douglas firaspen zone above 8000 feet If you hunt with a dog take along a pair of pliers in case the dog encounters a porcupine Quills are extremely difficult to remove from a dog’s muzzle by hand In the Northern Region reproductive success throughout the region is sporadic this yean In the Uinta Mountain range' and Monte Cristo area observations indicate good reproductive efforts tins year On the Cache and in the northern portions of the region reproductive efforts are average or slightly below Av VV es v ' ’ ' uJ? 1 2v j II erate uvS ' i populations se throughout Utah and throughout western North America are at all time lows Habitat loss degradation and fragmentation are major causes for population declines As a result hunting has been closed on fragmented and isolated popu- -- sage-grou- sage-grou- se se 9-d- Sage-grou- sage-grou- se sage-grou- se - -- se sage-grou- se Photo by Jared Thayne ' Hunters who successfully obtain permits are allowed to harvest two birds lations of season over a hunters are asked to throughout Utah In 2002 hunting will remain confined drop wings from harvested areas: to core buds in DWR wing bands western Box Elder County and that will be placed in all areas Rich County in northern Utah open to hunting Blue and Diamond Mountains Biological data collected from in the Uintah Basin in northwings is critical in die maneastern Utah and Parker agement of local populations Mountain in southern Utah In the Northern Region Beginning in 2002 all sage- - hunting is expected to be fair to good in Box Elder County grouse hunting is by permit as a result of slightly only and the number of permits are limited on each hunt improved range conditions unit and an abundance of insects hunting In Rich County the breeding management is designed so that no more than 10 percent population was down 30 perof die estimated cent over last year and brood fall population in a local area counts indicate below average is harvested 'production Sage-grou- Utah pheasant hunting will be poor to fair at best throughout the state scouting to locate birds and securing written permission to hunt on private lands are essential for a successful Utah pheasant hunt New requirements for securing access to private lands as a result of 2000 legislation mandate that hunters secure written permission from landowners The DWR cannot guarantee access to any private land If you (dan to hunt in an area that is made up of all or mostly private jands you must obtain WRITTEN permission from the landowner Hunters are encouraged to complete and have the landowner sign die landowner i card located on the I Web page at Pre-seas- on -- Sage-grou- ful in harvesting birds The 2002 pheasant hunt will not compare at all with the heyday of pheasant hunting in Utah Too much habitat has been lost DWR biologists art anxious to work with landowners desiring to improve and enhance pheasant habitat on private property Hinds are available though the Utah Wildlife Habitat Conservation program for habitat improvement projects to landowners willing to coop- se ' Sharp-taile- d grouse hunters can expect fair hunting in eastern Box Elder County Lek count surveys indicated fewer breeding birds than in 2001- Much sharp-taile- d grouse hunting occurs on private land in eastern Box Oder County As such hunters are encouraged to contact landowners to secure permission to hunt prior to the season opener Ring-neck- ed pheasant hunters should concentrate their efforts on areas with remaining suitable habitat Most of Utah’s pheasant hunters participate during tiie opening weekend only Those with persistence and who hunt during weekdays are success Hungarian partridge hunters can expect fair hunting this year in northern Utah Range conditions and insect populations are improved over last year As a result there could be a slight increase in fell populations Birds will likely be concentrated around remaining water sources Hunters are encouraged to do some scouting to locate coveys and to secure permission to huntrn private lands Hunters should concentrate their efforts to locate Huns on the edges of harvested small grain fields pre-hu- nt |