Grouse hunting?

Upland Bird Numbers Down

North Dakota hunters should expect to see fewer upland game birds this hunting season, according to Aaron Robinson, State Game and Fish Department upland game management biologist. The season for sharp-tailed grouse, ruffed grouse and Hungarian partridge opens Sept. 10.

“Excessive water has affected reproduction in areas, but there will be some areas good for sharptails,” Robinson said. “But no doubt birds will be harder to find.”

The spring sharptail breeding population was down 30 percent from last year, with numbers falling from west to east. Losses of native prairie and acreage enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program are negatively affecting the sharp-tailed grouse population in North Dakota, Robinson said. In addition, three consecutive harsh winters and a wet, cold spring this year delayed nesting across the state.

Hungarian partridge numbers are also down, and more localized, than last year, Robinson said. “Scouting areas will be critical to success,” he added. “At this time there is not one area that stands out from the rest. The cover is high, so hunters will need to scout and be willing to move to other areas to find localized pockets of birds.”

This spring’s statewide ruffed grouse drumming counts took a dip of 15 percent from 2010. The number of drumming males increased almost 13 percent in the Pembina Hills, but the Turtle Mountains showed a 28 percent decrease from last year.

The sage grouse and prairie chicken seasons will remain closed in 2011 due to low populations.

Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Sharptails, ruffed grouse and Huns each have a daily limit of three and a possession limit of 12.

Hunters, regardless of age, must have a fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate and general game and habitat license. In addition, hunters age 16 and older need a small game license.

Got back out a little early today,first spot a tried was a area that had CRP,then corn,then alffalfa side by side.Drove down the trail between the Crp and corn.Six grouse got up and flew into the corn.Yes i have permission to hunt this land,how do you get birds out of 7ft high corn??     YOU Dont!!! Went over to the other side of the corn field,this year alot of the low spots did not get planted,so there are alot of clearings in these fields.I would walk them and let the dogs work the edges.Found birds in theses spots!Mika the cenex dumpster dog is starting to come along.She found this bird after i had gave up and was heading back to the truck!!