Moist spring seemingly means a poor fall for ruffed grouse hunters
Hunters who need a greater likelihood of scorching ruffed grouse motion within the fall usually head to the North Maine Woods and Aroostook County, the place birds are normally extra plentiful.
This yr, diehard fowl hunters will not be handled to the northern Maine grouse motion to which they’re accustomed.
The wet spring climate, which is maybe the best short-term menace to grumble populations, seems to have taken a substantial toll on Maine birds this yr.
“I talked to the oldsters which are North Maine Woods biologists and so they’re not seeing a lot,” mentioned Kelsey Sullivan, recreation fowl biologist for the Maine Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. “I believe that typically it’s going to be a troublesome yr to seek out birds in large numbers.”
That’s not the form of report shotgun hunters needed to listen to, particularly after lots of them loved pretty productive grouse looking — partridge to many Mainers — lately.
In fact, regional fluctuations in spring climate might imply that grouse looking shall be significantly better in some areas.
Sullivan doesn’t consider the scenario is as unhealthy as what he known as the 2005 crash, when grouse populations had been decimated and hunters had been anxious that the inhabitants had disappeared.
“I don’t know if it’s gonna be that unhealthy, however it is going to be under the standard common,” he mentioned, including that the grouse numbers will most likely swing down after which rebound.
One other issue that might hold extra birds off the roads and on the ridges is the presence of beechnuts, which is amongst grouse’s favourite meals. Anecdotal stories say the nuts are plentiful this yr.
There are a key couple of weeks within the spring when ruffed grouse are attempting to incubate eggs and lift their younger. If the climate is moist and chilly, fewer eggs and younger birds survive.
And the identical scenario additionally locations hens at larger danger.
“When females are on nests for a chronic time frame with rain, predators can choose up their scent simpler. That’s a priority for hens on nests,” Sullivan mentioned.
Most grouse typically stay just one to 2 years to start with, so a poor copy yr may end up in at the least a short lived downturn within the inhabitants. Sullivan defined that the favorable habitat within the North Maine Woods is conducive to serving to preserve a strong variety of birds.
Sullivan mentioned there isn’t a large amount of details about the resident woodcock inhabitants, however {that a} male singing floor survey yielded OK numbers.
Maine is also host to migrating populations of woodcock, which is confined to some transient durations of motion.
The season for ruffed grouse, bobwhite quail and pheasant will get underway on Saturday, Sept. 30. Duck season kicks off on Sept. 25 within the North Zone and Sept. 30 within the South and Central zones.
Already in progress is the season for rails, widespread snipe and Canada goose (early).
