166 COVER CHARACTERISTICS A\D SHELTER REQL'IREMEXTS 



wait until a person is 10 to 30 feet away before taking to the air: young birds usually mav 

 be more closely approached. 



When surprised in the open, the largest number of birds have flushed from 1 1 to 20 feet 

 away. In overgrown lands (types B, C and D) or in cut-over areas (I and J), especially if 

 the cover consists of shrubs and small hardwoods (C) or a recently cut slashing 1 1), birds 

 are most likely to wait until one is within 20 feet before seeking escape in flight. This in- 

 clination to "sit close" may be accentuated by the presence of luxuriant \egetation usually 

 associated with such covers. 



In woodlands, even where hardwoods and conifers are intermixed, birds norrnalK fluj^h at 

 somewhat greater distances though usually within 50 feet. Birds in open, second-growth hard- 

 woods (El or in mature hardwoods and conifers (FH) are least likely to wait for a person 

 to approach within 10 feet: most likely to flush at distances of 11-30 feet. Curiously enough, 

 those in coniferous clumps (H) are most difficult of all to approach closely. Except within 

 the ten-foot zone, however, the presence of conifers in any cover type does not. in general. 

 exert anv marked influence on the flushing distance. 



Reflushes 



Once a grouse is flushed the question naturally arises as to where it will go. how far it 

 will fly. and the |)robal)ility of its alighting on the ground or in a tree. Seasoned hunters, 

 alert to the probability of a reflush. often follow in the line of flight, quietly expectant. Game 

 managers, faced with the responsibility of providing shooting opportunities, are likewise in- 

 terested in answering these questions. 



Cover chosen in which to alight. 



Birds, when flushed, tend to settle down in the same type of cover from which they were 

 originally raised except when it is not extensive or is quite open. These exceptions occur in 

 open lands (type A), newly cut slashings iT I and. to a lesser extent, overgrown fields deficient 

 in conifers (C). This may be due in part to the fact that these types usually occur in small 

 patches or are marginal to woodlands into which the flushed birds usually fly and in part 

 to their lack of coniferous shelter. It may well indicate the desirability of keeping the width 

 of any of these types small on an area managed for grouse. 



Birds flushing from mixed second-growth hardwoods with (EH) or without (E) conifers or 

 from coniferous cover iH) are most likely to remain in these types. Possibly this is because 

 conifers furnishing shelter are there readily available. 



Tlicsc ai(^ the outstanding trends one finds in studying table 169*. Providing birds, when 

 flushed, do not remain in the same tv|)c of co\er. however, one also finds other iireferciices. 

 less [)ronnim(e(l. but recognizable. Thes<' are listed below: — 



1. For birds flushed in the open ( A I to go to overgrown lands deficient in conifers (C), 

 to second-growth hardwoods (E) or to conifers (H). 



2. For birds flushed in alders, birches or ])opple (R) to go to overgrown fields with an 

 admixture of conifers (D). 



3. l"or birds Hushed from oxergrown lands defii icnl in conifers (C* to go to second- 

 growth hardwoods (E) or to conifers (H). 



4. For birds flushed in overgrown fields with an admixture of conifers I Dl to fly to a patch 



♦ See Appendix, p. 842. 



