Counts show sharp drop in sharptails in east-central Minnesota
July 26, 2021
Minnesota’s sharp-tailed grouse population has declined significantly in the east-central portion of the state, according to spring population counts conducted by the Minnesota DNR and cooperators who help count the birds.
Based on the new population information, the DNR plans to close the hunting season in the east-central zone for 2021 and future years. The DNR also is continuing to work with the Minnesota Sharp-tailed Grouse Society (MSGS) to explore habitat management options.
“Sharp-tailed grouse require areas of approximately 1 to 3 square miles of grassland and brushland, so managing their habitats often requires cooperation between multiple land owners,” said Charlotte Roy, DNR grouse project leader. “We’ve known for some time that the large, open areas of grassland and brushland that sharp-tailed grouse need are changing and becoming less suitable for these birds.”
Significant decline in sharp-tailed grouse in east-central Minnesota
Minnesota’s sharp-tailed grouse population has declined significantly in the east-central portion of the state, according to spring population counts conducted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and cooperators who help count the birds.
Based on the new population information, the DNR plans to close the hunting season in the east-central zone for 2021 and future years. The DNR also is continuing to work with the Minnesota Sharp-tailed Grouse Society (MSGS) to explore habitat management options.
“Sharp-tailed grouse require areas of approximately 1 to 3 square miles of grassland and brushland, so managing their habitats often requires cooperation between multiple land owners,” said Charlotte Roy, DNR grouse project leader. “We’ve known for some time that the large, open areas of grassland and brushland that sharp-tailed grouse need are changing and becoming less suitable for these birds.”
watch live
John Loegering, a professor in the UMC Agriculture and Natural Resources Department, sponsored van transportation to the site. Removing the tamarack trees reduces the possible perching sites for predators, Loegering said.
“Cutting them opens the landscape and improves the cover for many species,” he said. “Our work will open that brushland for the next 25 years or more.”
The 15 volunteers each logged 10 hours of time valued at about $20 an hour. The Sharp-tailed Grouse Society can use that work as an organizational match when applying for grants, Loegering said.
“That is $3,000 worth,” Loegering said, adding that the society applies for grants that typically require a 5% match. “Thus, our work ($3,000) translates into an additional $60,000 in grant funds.”
Submitted by Gary Huschle
Crookston Times
A USDA news release announcing signups for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) recently caught my eye. The General CRP signup runs from January 4 to February 12, and the CRP Grasslands signup from March 15 to April 23. Both programs are competitive and provide annual rental payments to farmers and ranchers who wish to establish and protect grasslands, provide erosion control, improved water quality, habitat, and safeguard pasturelands.
CRP grasslands are very special to me. Nearly all of my sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chicken hunting occurs on these private lands. My sincere thank you to all landowners that allow people to hunt their CRP. It has turned out to be a great program for farmers and ranchers, conservation, wildlife, hunters and wildlife watchers, and local communities.