Grouse Limits

Hunting

The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission’s recent decision to limit sage grouse hunting likely will have little effect on the populations of the bird, some wildlife managers say.

Montana’s experience seems to bear them out.

Harry Harju, Wyoming’s assistant chief game warden, said rather than trying to bolster sage grouse populations by cutting the hunting season in half, commissioners should instead work to find ways to improve habitat.

He said when sage grouse populations have declined in the past, restricting hunting has not proved to be an effective way to allow the birds to rebuild their numbers.

“When hunters see dropping numbers, the first thing they want to do is limit themselves,” he said.

But he said until Wyoming recovers from its drought and sage grouse habitat improves, populations of the birds will remain low.

“Given the current habitat conditions, a bunch of those birds are dying,” he said. “You might as well take some by hunting because they’re history anyway.”

Montana game officials said several moist years following a drought have helped numbers of sage grouse in their state bounce back to average or above average.

Nail Martin, regional wildlife manager for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said his agency was put under pressure similar to that facing the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission to reduce the hunting season.

But he said the Montana agency kept its 3.5-month season intact, and sage grouse numbers rebounded.

Maintaining consistent seasons shows that sage grouse numbers fluctuate regardless of hunting.