Prescribed Burns and Appalachian Grouse

[Cooter Brown]

In many of the areas I hunt the feral/wild pig population is out of hand.  My gut tells me that there are very few things a pig would rather snack on than a nest full of eggs, and pigs certainly have nose and the smarts to find them.

[GraceinVA]

On 10/12/2020 at 11:38 AM, UplandVirginia said:

Thanks for the information, everyone. Let’s see if I can put it to good use this weekend for the WV opener!

How did it go?

[Allen McCallie]

I camped out this past weekend in the NC mountains and hunted for about three hours in one of my favorite haunts, where 20-plus years ago I had 17 grouse contacts on one afternoon and killed three. I should have retired then.

 

This time I had no bird contacts; not really a surprise.

 

What I did have were coyote contacts. In our tent on Saturday night we were treated to a coyote chorus from 2:30 AM until just after sunrise. From 360 degrees of the compass and from every elevation of the surrounding mountains. Must have been many many dozens of 'yotes out there.  While I love this sound, it is relatively new in these mountains, and I cannot imagine a ground-nesting bird has any chance. 

[UplandVirginia]

7 hours ago, GraceinVA said:

How did it go?

Walked around 3 miles in it with 0 action. Left and went to a 10 year old clear cut. 2 woodcock flushes and still no grouse. Heard plenty of them drumming though just to taunt me, I think. 

[mister grouse]

On 10/7/2020 at 12:44 PM, quailguy said:

 

What about volunteer help I asked, DU,

Not sure I understand your issue , as DU has zero goals in terms of clear cutting and burns and timbering on national forest??

[boon hogganbeck]

PS. For those interested in this topic, an 86,000 acre timber project is being proposed in WV’s northern Monongahela National Forest. If done right, it could produce some much-needed grouse habitat. Comments are being solicited here: https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=58364