Sharp-tailed grouse population up in the northwest, but remains low in east-central Minnesota
Minnesota’s
ruffed grouse spring population counts are similar to last year and to
other recent peaks in the 10-year population cycle of grouse — a pattern
recorded for 73 years, according to a study from the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources.
The Minnesota DNR and its
partners use spring drumming counts to help monitor the ruffed grouse
breeding population through time.
The recent grouse population
trend includes a low point in the cycle in 2021 that was not as low as
previous lows, followed by the highest peak this year since 1972.
Warm
temperatures and dry conditions that favor high nest success and chick
survival the last few years may partly explain the quicker than expected
rise to peak levels in the 10-year cycle. Snow conditions also were
favorable for roosting throughout much of the core of grouse range
during the winters 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, followed by an unusually
warm winter during 2023-2024. Minnesota’s climate is getting warmer and
wetter with more heavy, intense rainfalls occurring.
“While ruffed
grouse drumming counts are high in the core of ruffed grouse range,
indicating a strong breeding population this spring, drumming counts are
not an accurate way to predict the birds that will be present during
the fall hunting season,” said Charlotte Roy, DNR grouse project leader.
“Nesting success and chick survival during the spring and summer are
among the factors that influence the number of birds present in the
fall. These factors can be reduced by heavy rain during June when nests
are hatching and chicks are young.”
Drumming is a low sound
produced by males as they beat their wings rapidly and in increasing
frequency to signal the location of their territory. Drumming displays
also attract females that are ready to begin nesting. Ruffed grouse
populations are surveyed by counting the number of male ruffed grouse
drums on established routes throughout the state’s forested regions.
“In
a typical year, we have 13 cooperating organizations providing folks to
help us count grouse drumming,” Roy said. “We are grateful to our
federal and tribal partners for their assistance in completing routes.”
The ruffed grouse survey report can be found on the grouse management webpage of the DNR website.
Sharp-tailed grouse population up in the northwest, but remains low in east-central region
Minnesota’s
northwest sharp-tailed grouse population is higher this year than last
year and the highest it’s been since 2009, according to spring
population counts conducted by the Minnesota DNR and cooperating
organizations.
The population level remains low in east-central
Minnesota. The Minnesota DNR closed the hunting season in the
east-central zone in 2021. Low population levels in this area are
thought to be driven largely by changing habitat conditions. The birds
require areas of 1 to 3 square miles of grassland and brushland, so
managing their habitats often requires cooperation between multiple
landowners.
The Minnesota Sharp-tailed Grouse Society, Pheasants
Forever and others have collaborated with the Minnesota DNR on targeted
habitat management — specifically on prescribed burns, and mowing and
tree shearing projects — for sharp-tailed grouse in the east-central
range and remain committed to enhancing open-land habitats.
The sharp-tailed grouse survey report can be found on the grouse management webpage of the Minnesota DNR website.
Read the full DNR report
