Grouse & Woodcock
The Traveling Wingshooter 2014: Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock Forecast
by Dave Smith
Ruffed Grouse
Ruffed grouse hunters in the Great Lakes region have learned over generations to pursue ruffs when they peak in their 9-to-11 year cycle, which last occurred between 2009 and 2011. Each year since has been marked by a predictable decline, but the results of this springˊs drumming surveys show an increase, statewide, in Minnesota and Michigan, and a slight increase in northern Wisconsin.
“This may indicate the beginning of an upswing in the grouse cycle, which has been in the declining phase since 2009,” said Charlotte Roy, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Roy reported a 34 percent increase in the annual drumming surveys statewide, driven by the birdˊs prime range in northern Minnesota.
Wisconsin, the perennial number one ruffed grouse state with an average annual harvest of approximately 500,000 ruffs, reports a stable population statewide with a three percent grouse increase in the Northern Forests region, according to Krista McGinley, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Michiganˊs drumming surveys revealed an increase from 10 to 12 drums per route, according to Al Stewart, Upland Game Bird Specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Further, Stewart says that the heavy snow this winter and ideal moisture conditions this spring were perfect for over-winter survival and reproduction, thus he is cautiously optimistic for a slight increase in grouse numbers this fall.
Ruffed grouse populations in New York and Maine appear to have stabilized since a drop from peak populations in 2009 and 2011, respectively.
Mike Schiavone, New York Department of Environmental Conservation, reports that the 2014 drumming survey yielded a statewide average of 0.22 grouse per hour, slightly less than the five-year average of 0.24 and substantially off the peak of 0.29 in 2009. The highest drumming rates were from the St. Lawrence Valley, Adirondacks-Tug Hill, and Appalachian Hills/Plateau regions. Schiavonne expects flush rates similar to that of the last two years, at about 0.7 flushes per hour. “Regions with flush rates that are consistently above the statewide average benefit from having a landscape comprised of a larger proportion of high-quality habitat, primarily early successional habitat like young forest,” says Schiavone.
Grouse populations in Maine have declined from the recent peak but are still near the long-term average, and this yearˊs hatch makes for a promising hunting season. “We had favorable weather for grouse nesting and hatch,” said Kelsey Sullivan, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. “Drumming surveys completed this spring revealed that areas with quality grouse habitat – such as much of northern Maine above Old Town – showed good activity, so I expect production will be relatively good.”
Pennsylvania is also worth watching since grouse populations were high last year in the northwest and north-central regions.
Woodcock
Woodcock had been one of the few bright spots for upland gamebird hunters over the last decade, with relatively stable populations in both the Eastern and Central Management Regions. On the heels of one of the hardest winters in recent history for the Great Lakes region, this springˊs singing-grounds survey revealed a 7.3 percent decline for the central population and both populations are now in a significantly declining 10-year trend, according to the Woodcock Population Status, 2014 report by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Woodcock numbers declined in the top states for woodcock harvest – Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota – most notably, Wisconsin, with a 22 percent reduction.
Michigan is provides the best hunting in the U.S. for the elusive timberdoodle. In 2013, an estimated 30,000 hunters harvested 79,300 woodcock. Stewart attributes the reduction in woodcock surveyed this year with deep snow and a late spring, noting that abundance of woodcock in fall will be determined by reproductive success. He predicts woodcock populations in Michigan this fall will be similar to last year. The second tier states for woodcock harvest are Wisconsin (38,400), Minnesota (18,600), and New York (11,700). Modest woodcock harvest also occurs in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Missouri, Louisiana, New Jersey.
New York could be the sleeper for woodcock this fall. The 2013 woodcock flush rate, at 0.70 flushes per hour statewide, was the highest in the last four years, according to Schiavone. The Great Lakes Plain and St. Lawrence Valley Wildlife Management Units were outstanding, at 1.40 and 1.02 flushes per hour, respectively. The 2013 breeding season population index was the sixth lowest in the last 15 years, thus the high flush rate was indicative of excellent recruitment last spring. The 2014 breeding population index was similar to that of 2011-2013, yet hunters might again benefit from good production, which would influence fall flush rates. The prime time to hunt woodcock in New York is at the peak of migration, the last week in October.
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