Problems for Grouse

NEW JERSEY CANCELS GROUSE SEASON

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By Joe Healy

The verdict was thumbs down for ruffed grouse hunters in New Jersey, as the state Fish and Game Council voted unanimously at its summer planning meeting to suspend the grouse season statewide in 2019. Ruffed grouse populations in the Garden State have continued to decline, even with attempts beginning in 2005 to conserve grouse by reducing the season length and lowering the daily bag limit as well as dividing the state into two hunting zones—north and south—with the southern zone having a shorter season.The same as in many Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states, grouse populations in New Jersey have declined primarily due to habitat loss. State records show that the entire Garden State is about 40 percent forested, but only 1 percent of that is the early succession, or young, forest in which grouse thrive. Also in the past few years throughout the natural range of ruffed grouse, West Nile Virus has affected the birds. And, of course, other wildlife and avian predators kill and eat grouse too. Officials are quick to say that hunting is not the cause of grouse-population declines, and hunting groups such as The Upland Bird Committee of the New Jersey Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs agreed with the closure.
What’s next? At press time state wildlife officials were devising a grouse recovery plan, including efforts to enhance habitat. WMAs in the northern half of the state may offer the most promise, though officials are examining other state lands and are promoting forest improvements on private lands as well.

It appears that grouse are having problems all across their range.

I don't know about NJ,but,I've been pounding the bush pretty hard for the last two weeks after the Deer. I can count on one hand the number of Grouse flushes I've had. At the start of the season,there seemed to be lots.

I’ve been hitting the bush hard too lol but on a serious note I wasn’t flushing any grouse until last weekend. I flushed 10 grouse from this one tree, I couldn’t believe it. Two days later same bush 0 flushes. I’m talking about the southern grouse of course. The only changes I’ve seen is the habitat . Trees are getting bigger from past years and a lot more sightings of birds of prey.

Well, at least they recognize the problem and started doing something about it. Hopefully they don't just close the season and call it a win. It seems like the states have pretty good forest/game management that suits the interest of hunters.

I probably seen over 30 grouse this past 2 weeks of deer season in the south. It's not all doom and gloom.

Seen more Grouse in my area of 65 than ever have, however up around Algonquin Park near Bissett creek the past two years have barely heard a sound.

i flushed a few partridge during the shotgun hunt and then a couple when hunting them. I'm sure this is more regional but the west nile is concerning. Im in southern ontario now, so can't speak for the northern birds that seemed healthy number wise 2 years ago in sudbury.

to be honest, I'm surprised with the amount of partridge down here and hope they continue to thrive. the hunting pressure for them down here compared to the north is night and day.

seems like i haven't been able to go out hunting without kicking at least one of the boogers since september

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Originally Posted by punkrockerpj

i flushed a few partridge during the shotgun hunt and then a couple when hunting them. I'm sure this is more regional but the west nile is concerning. Im in southern ontario now, so can't speak for the northern birds that seemed healthy number wise 2 years ago in sudbury.

to be honest, I'm surprised with the amount of partridge down here and hope they continue to thrive. the hunting pressure for them down here compared to the north is night and day.

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Never saw a partridge around SW Ontario, up around Ottawa you used to see partridge but that was a long time ago, nothing ever in SW Ontario. Hunted grouse when hunting rabbits but never a partridge down that way :D

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Originally Posted by tom gobble

I’ve been hitting the bush hard too lol but on a serious note I wasn’t flushing any grouse until last weekend. I flushed 10 grouse from this one tree, I couldn’t believe it. Two days later same bush 0 flushes. I’m talking about the southern grouse of course. The only changes I’ve seen is the habitat . Trees are getting bigger from past years and a lot more sightings of birds of prey.

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Lots or birds of prey is a start, the lack of trapping going on does not help either. Raccoon, Martin, Fisher, Coyote and Fox all help put a poop kicking to them with the nest raiders probably doing the most damage.

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Grouse have been really scare in my specific neck of the woods. In 34 hours in the bush with the dog so far this season we've only seen 3 grouse, only shot at 1 and brought none home!!!! Thank goodness for woodcock but now that they're done, we haven't seen any birds (turkeys excluded) since deer season!!!