520 PRODUCTIVITY OF GROUSE POPULATIONS 



grouse abundance of 1930. These were 1.8 and 2.7 for spring and fall respectively. 



On the Adirondack area the birds have occupied certain portions of the tract to a much 

 greater degree than others*. For this reason the density over several hundred acres has been 

 regularly somewhat higher than the average figures listed in the table. Likewise, throughout 

 this type of range one will encounter pockets where grouse abundance closely approaches that 

 of more diversified coverts. 



In the same way preference is often exhibited for particularly favorable situations in the 

 smaller coverts of the woodlot type. Especially in the fall the hunter will frequently encounter 

 concentrations within limited areas far exceeding anything attained over a range unit as a 

 whole. 



Yet. even over larger tracts, abundance greater than observed during this study is indicated 

 by accounts of others. Thus King"" has reported a bird to 1.8 acres in the fall (55.5 per 100 

 acres). In a letter to the authors Rowan'^ tells of a party of four hunters who, in the fall 

 of 1941. killed more than 2.000 grouse in one week while operating from a single camp some 

 70 miles northwest of Edmonton, Alberta. But what is perhaps the most remarkable state- 

 ment is that of Mershon^ who relates that in 1891 two hunters flushed 2,000 grouse in one day 

 near Hemlock, Michigan. 



In addition to the two principal study areas a number of others have been censused at 

 various times. These, although essentially similar in character to Connecticut Hill afford data 

 from other sections of the State. The longest record is that of the Catskill area in southern 

 Albany County where surveys were conducted in March of the years 1931-1941 except for 

 1936. Densities of adult grouse there averaged 6.7 per 100 acres and ranged from 2.5 in 

 1931 to 10.3 in 1933. Densities for the late winter season (February-March) for six years 

 between 1931 and 1938 on the Pharsalia Game Refuge in Chenango County averaged 7.3 

 and ranged from 4.1 in 1931 to 11.1 in 1935. • In May 1934 a tract on Bull Hill in Tompkins 

 County held 5.2 birds on the same scale. 



Supplemental information has also been obtained for range of more extensive character 

 through the collaboration of technicians employed by the Resettlement Administration on 

 two areas located on the fringe of the western Adirondacks and on one area in the western 

 Catskills. Adult densities on these ranged from 1.8 to 4.7 in the spring and from 5.2 to 10.6 

 in the fall. 



Summarizing, the better grouse range of the woodlot type in the State may produce hunting 

 season populations of upwards of 20 birds per 100 acres in individual coverts, although the 

 average has been about 12. Yet even in years of generally high numbers, instances of 

 scarcity are not uncommon. Abundance is usually lower over intermediate and wilderness 

 range although local concentrations are often encountered. 



Most of the j)o|)uIation censuses in recent years outside of New York have been in Michigan 

 and Minnesota. IIai>itat conditions in these regions are so different from those here that the 

 results are not strictly comparable. Ncyprthelcss a number deserve mention. It should be 

 noted that all of them eni])loyed the '"gridiron method" develojied by King"^" which is entirely 

 difFerriil from the "((implcte strip" method u*ed in the New York lii\cstigation. 



Based on a survey of two square mile's of a township in the Pigeon Kiycr State Forest, Mich- 



• Sec Chnplcr Ul. p. 17.1. 



A Rowan, \('.. I'rnf<'>.or <•! Zoology, Unt%-eraily ol Alberta. 



