Pennsylvania Game News - January 2012 - 6

(primarily from predation). Game Take Survey estimates indicated that 91,003 hunters harvested 66,385 grouse during the 2010-11 season. The estimated number of hunters and the estimated harvest both decreased by 13 percent from 2009-10. Number of days afield per hunter decreased 21 percent, but harvest per hunter day increased 5 percent. The annual Grouse and Woodcock Cooperator Survey tracks hunter 2010-11 effort and flush rates for these species and serves as a long-term index to the quality of grouse and woodcock hunting and the status of “huntable” populations (i.e. those in good habitat) across the state. The grouse cooperator survey indicated that cooperators averaged 26 hours hunted, 33 grouse flushed, and 2.0 grouse bagged during the 2010-11 seasons. The statewide flushing rate of 1.30 flushes per hour was below both the 2009-10 rate (1.40) and the long-term (1965-2009) average 1.41. Compared with the previous year, both the Northwest and Southeast regions had increased flushing rates, while the flush rate in the Northcentral Region decreased slightly. Flush rate in the Northeast Region decreased 25 percent, while the Southwest and Southcentral rates declined by 7 and 17 percent, respectively. USFWS federal Harvest Information Program estimates indicate that Pennsylvania continues to have the most woodcock hunters (9,000) of the 17 states in the Eastern Management Region. Woodcock harvest was 12,800, up 27 percent from 2009. Participants in Pennsylvania’s woodcock cooperator survey recorded a statewide flushing rate of 1.0 flush per hour, similar to the 2009 rate of 1.01 and well below the long-term average 1.45. The 2011 woodcock Singing Ground Survey was conducted in cooperation with the USFWS between mid-April and early May. There was a small decrease (statistically non-significant) from 2010 in the number of singing males per route in Pennsylvania, while numbers for the Eastern Region remained the same as in 2010. Short-term (10year) trends in woodcock populations are stable, but over the long term (1968-2011), populations have declined significantly due to decreased amounts of young forest habitat. Populations of ruffed grouse and other species that rely on this habitat type have also declined as a result of the loss of young forest habitat. The PGC hosted the 2011 Woodcock Wingbee at Bald Eagle State Park in March. Participants, representing 11 state and federal agencies, classified 13,569 wings by age and sex to determine reproductive success during the 2010 breeding season. Preliminary results indicated an overall age ratio of 1.4 juveniles per adult female, which was higher than in 2009 but slightly below the long-term average. Attendees also toured and discussed the park’s woodcock and golden-winged warbler habitat management sites. The USFWS HIP estimated that 19,900 mourning dove hunters in Pennsylvania took 226,500 doves during the 2010-11 season. This was a 10 percent increase in the number of hunters and a 20 percent increase in doves bagged compared to 2009-10. The Ring-necked Pheasant Management Plan for Pennsylvania 2008-2017, approved by the PGC in 2009, is being used to guide pheasant recovery efforts in the state. The Plan has a goal of establishing at least four Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas (WPRAs) with at least 10 hens/mi2 in the spring through habitat improvement and the release and temporary protection of wild trapped and transferred ring-necked pheasants. In FY 2010, we assisted Pheasants Forever and Habitat Forever with completion of an application for a fifth WPRA in Franklin County, which was given final approval by the Board of Commissioners at its April 2011 meeting. For all WPRAs, regulations are in place prohibiting the release of pen-raised pheasants, dog training from early February
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Pennsylvania Game News - January 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - January 2012