Blue Grouse Brood Cover Selection and Land-Use Implications

Abstract

Over 700 observations of blue grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) broods were made in three areas of Montana from 1957 to 1962. These observations indicated that broods used areas with specific types of ground vegetation. Quantitative measurements of the characteristics of vegetation at 87 brood observation locations were obtained in 1960, 1961, and 1962. These measurements indicated that broods used herbaceous cover with relatively consistent physical characteristics of height, canopy coverage, and plant interspersion. The importance of adequate herbaceous brood cover, consisting mainly of native bunchgrasses and associated forbs, is significant, as the summer brood range of blue grouse often overlaps grazing areas of domestic stock and big game. The summer brood range of blue grouse often overlaps grazing lands in public and private forests of Montana. Knowledge of the ecology of blue grouse is essential for proper evaluation of the effects of grazing on blue grouse brood range. This paper reports some basic characteristics of the cover used by broods of blue grouse, noted during 6 years of banding studies in three areas of Montana. Table 1 lists the dates, locations of study, and respective number of brood observations. The occurrence of broods in grass-forb areas was noted in the Bridger Mountains (Mussehl 1960) and at subsequent study areas. Repeated observations indicated that broods were associated with specific types of ground vegetation. Beginning in 1960, I obtained quantitative descriptions of the vegetation on areas where broods were observed. The importance of upland game birds is expected to increase with the rising recreational demands in the West. Utilization of the native mountain grouse resource has improved in Montana only recently. Liberalized hunting regulations were accompanied by a sharp increase in the proportion of mountain grouse in the total harvest of upland game birds (Eng 1963, Mussehl 1963). An ORRRC (Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission) report (1962) predicts an increase in all forms of outdoor recreation, including hunting, and recommends increased attention to wildlife production on public lands of the West. I wish to express my appreciation to the following: R. L. Eng for technical supervision and aid in manuscript preparation; three faculty members of Montana State College-D. C. Quimby for manuscript review, J. Rumely for suggestions on measuring vegetation, and E. Booth for plant 'A contribution from Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Project. W-91-R Montana.