Weather Wasn’t Kind to Upland Game Birds

Quail and rabbits are doing well, though

A long, snowy winter and a hot, dry summer were not kind to upland game birds in Utah.

But don’t give up hope. As Utah’s upland game hunts get underway, there are some bright spots!

Utah’s 2008 - 2009 upland game season started Aug. 23 with the white-tailed ptarmigan hunt. Since then, other hunts have started or will start soon.

Season dates for each of Utah’s upland game hunts is available on pages 32 - 35 of the 2008 - 2009 Utah Upland Game Guidebook.

The free guidebook is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks.
You can also obtain a copy at DWR offices and hunting license agents across Utah.

Quail

California and Gambel’s quail are doing well in Utah this year. Both species are found in only a few areas in the state, but if you can find them, you should have some good hunting.

One of the best places to find quail is the Uinta Basin in northeastern Utah. Parts of south-central and southwestern Utah, especially Millard County, also have good numbers of birds.

You’ll typically find California quail on private property. Please remember that you must get written permission from landowners before entering their property.

Cottontail rabbits

Depending on where you hunt, you could find yourself in the middle of a bunch of cottontail rabbits this season.

Cottontail rabbits are known for their cyclic population patterns, which means the population will erupt and then crash over a certain period of time.

For that reason, you’ll find different rabbit numbers in different areas of the state.

“Focus your efforts in northern, south-central and southwestern Utah,” says Dave Olsen, upland game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. “That’s where the state’s rabbit populations are doing the best this year.”

In other areas of the state, rabbit numbers are down a bit.

“A cottontail rabbit population cycle generally covers a 10-year period,” Olsen says. “Rabbit numbers will build for a few years.
Then they’ll decline for a few years before they build again.

“In parts of central and northeastern Utah, rabbits appear to be headed into the downward side of that 10-year cycle.”

Whether you’re in an area that has lots of rabbits or just a few, you should still find enough rabbits to keep your kids interested.
“Rabbit hunting is a great hunt for kids and families,” Olsen says. “It’s a good way to get your kids outdoors and give them a good chance for some fun shooting.”

Other upland game birds

Olsen says the number of forest grouse and ring-necked pheasants available in Utah should be similar to last season.

Chukar and Hungarian partridge numbers should also be similar to last season. And last season, their numbers weren’t that good.

“Even though most of the state received a good amount of snow and rain this past winter and spring, those storms missed much of the West Desert and other chukar and partridge areas in Utah,” Olsen says.

“The West Desert has most of the chukar habitat in Utah,” he says.
“Unfortunately, the poor water conditions in the desert did not produce the vegetation, insect life and water sources that chukars rely on.”

Reminders

Walk-In Access program

If you’re looking for a new area to hunt, visit www.wildlife.utah.gov/walkinaccess. The Web site lists private land that’s now open to public hunters through the DWR’s Walk-In Access program.

“Most of this land is in northern Utah,” Olsen says. “Those who work in the program are always looking for additional productive wildlife land to enroll in the program.”

Olsen reminds you to remember your ethics and behavior when hunting on Walk-In Access areas.

“Landowners who allow the public to access their lands are providing sportsmen with a real courtesy,” he says. “Each of us needs to do all we can to make sure landowners have a positive experience.”

Birds with bands

Researchers have banded sage-grouse in certain parts of Utah.

If you’re one of the 1,120 hunters who were lucky enough to get a permit for this season, you might also be among those who are lucky enough to take a bird with a band on it.

If you take a bird that’s wearing a leg band or a telemetry radio transmitter, biologists need your help.

Two telephone numbers are listed under the “Attention chukar and sage-grouse hunters” heading on page 5 of the 2008 - 2009 Utah Upland Game Guidebook. Please call either of these numbers and report the band number to the person who answers the phone.

In return, the researcher you visit with will give you a summary of the bird’s life history. That history includes where and when the bird was banded, its age and other information he has about the bird.

Keep track

Page 27 of the 2008 - 2009 Utah Upland Game Guidebook is a chart that lets you track your upland game hunting success this season. Olsen encourages you to make the form your hunting diary this season.

“After every hunting season, we randomly survey hunters by telephone,” Olsen says. “If you use this chart to track your hunting success, you’ll be ready to provide us the information we need to help us better manage Utah’s upland game.

“It’s also fun to track your success from year to year.”

Take a kid hunting

Olsen says upland game hunting is one of the best ways to introduce young people to a lifetime of hunting and outdoor activity.

“Upland game hunting is often the gateway that gets kids interested in Utah’s outdoors and hunting,” Olsen says. “Remember how you got introduced to hunting and the outdoors, and return the favor -- take a kid hunting with you this season.”