Breeding Season Movements and Habitat Selection of Male Sage Grouse

Abstract

Movements and habitat requirements of sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) cocks were studied in central Montana during the breeding seasons of 1968 and 1972. Fifteen sage grouse cocks were captured and radio-equipped. Movements of up to 0.8 mile (1.3 km) from the strutting grounds were common, with 82 percent of the locations falling beyond 0.2 mile (0.3 km). Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) with a canopy coverage of 20-50 percent occurred at 80 percent of the 110 locations measured. Average sagebrush canopy coverage at these sites was 32 percent. Strutting grounds are key activity areas within wintering-nesting complexes which can be readily identified and delimited, and should be given complete protection from sagebrush removal projects. Results of this and previous studies in this area indicate that this protection should extend to a radius of no less than 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from strutting grounds. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 38(4):634-637 Increasing pressures to control or eliminate sagebrush on public range-lands to increase livestock forage, prompted the Western Association of Game and Fish Commissioners to adopt a resolution for preserving sage grouse habitat (June 1968). Included in the resolution were guidelines for habitat modification, one of which reads in part: Vegetal control within the breeding complex should not be undertaken within 0.25 mile [0.4 km] of strutting grounds, or on nesting or other special use