Notes on the Harvest of Spruce Grouse

Abstract

Spruce grouse (Canachites canadensis subspp.) are hunted in Maine, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Alaska, and all Canadian provinces and territories except Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Three provinces and one state have estimated total harvests of the species: (1) in Manitoba, the average harvest was 1,741 per year (range 322-3,792) in 17 open seasons, 1935-58; (2) Saskatchewan took 3,858-9,634 (average 6,106) during 1952-58; (3) British Columbia estimated a harvest of 17,00049,000 spruce grouse per year (average 30,000) for 1951-56; (4) in Montana, the take for 1958-61 was estimated at 11,506-27,018 (average 19,309). No estimate is available of the total harvest in Ontario, but some data on sex and age ratios for 1957-62 are presented. Young grouse were taken at the ratio of 2.5-7.3 (average 4.1) per adult female. Differential coloration of breast feathers in males and females and the longer, blacker tails of most males serve to distinguish the sexes. In autumn, differential molt pattern of remiges may allow age determination of spruce grouse. In spring, old males of the subspecies C. c. franklini may be distinguished from young males by the broad white tips on the upper tail coverts. All these techniques need further testing. At present, spruce grouse seem to be managed on the basis of scantier factual knowledge than are other North American tetraonids. Letters were written to most states and provinces throughout the broad, coast-to-coast range of the species. Only British Columbia, Montana, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba could contribute data on the number, and only Ontario and Montana on the sex and age, of spruce grouse taken by hunters. No game agencies have undertaken serious study of these grouse, although a long-term study of spruce grouse populations and biology is to be started in 1963 by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. SURVEY OF HUNTING REGULATIONS Spruce grouse may be hunted legally in eight provinces of Canada, in the Yukon and Northwest Territories, and in five states (Table 1). Open seasons are generally the same as for other forest grouse in each administrative unit. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Nova Scotia provide year-round protection for the few spruce grouse within their borders. The species is extinct in Prince Edward Island. DETERMINING SEX AND AGE BY PLUMAGE CHARACTERISTICS