r.f..", Tin: \IAl\TE\ANCE OF A GROUSE CROP 



Imporluiil as is tlii' natmc of lli<' co\i'r and its aiTangeiiR'iit. cmmi llic nmsl carefully de- 

 veloped habitat is no {luaraiitcp of sustained grouse i)ro(liiition. Inavoidahly subject to 

 Nature's vagaries, the species will continue to have its u|)s and downs. The number which 

 may be harvested safely will, therefore, vary from year to year according to the size of the 

 fall surplus. Nevertheless, most grouse coverts will furnish shooting during most vears pro- 

 vided a suitable seed stock is maintained. 



To insure an adequate number of breeders, as well as to mitigate losses in general, one 

 must consider a variety of factors in addition to the design of the coverts themselves. Restric- 

 tion of hunting bv man has long been a basic practice. Oiilv recentlv, however, have we come 

 to realize that, at times, an increase in hunting may be equally valuable. Control of preda- 

 tors and disease, as well as restocking, when employed properly, may' also be helpful to the 

 game manager. 



CONTROL OF ASSOCIATED ORGANISMS* 



The activities of associated organisms, from horned owl to bacillus, are a constant influence 

 affecting grouse abundance either directly or indirectly. Suitable control of such forms may 

 therefore be a useful management tool. 



Control of Predators 



Whether or not to undertake the control of j)redators on a grouse production unit nuisl be 

 decided for each area individually. The purpose for which it is being managed must be con- 

 sidered, as well as its size and the nature of the wildlife populations present. 



As has been pointed out in preceding chapters'^, the reduction of predators is by no means 

 the simple solution to the ])roblem of creating grouse abundance that it is sometimes pic- 

 tured. Moreover, it will not be effective if the (pialily of the habitat is not sufficient to sup- 

 jiort additional birds. And one should remember that, in the Northeast at least, a population 

 density among adult grouse of about one to four acres is all that tlie social tolerance of the 

 birds themselves will permit even in optinnun coverts. Furthermore, the cost of such a 

 program will usually limit its feasibility to comparatively small areas or club properties. 



On extensive tracts, therefore, management funds would generally be spent to much better 

 advantage in habitat improvement. The same is true with regard to refuges, sanctuaries and 

 other units where little or no hunting is done although indi\ idual predators may occasionally 

 become unduly destructive and need to be eliminated. 



On the other hand, jjredator control may at times be emplo)ed to ad\antage on units handled 

 primarily for the purpose of hunting. Unusual numbers of certain predatory species sometimes 

 occur and need to be reduced. Again, winter influxes of such species as the great horned owl 

 and goshawk may need to be dissipated. But. in the main, control measures will be found 

 useful chiefly in lowering nesting losses as a means of increasing the annual increment which, 

 in turn, determines the harvestable surplus. At the same time, it should be emphasized that, 

 in the final analysis the quality of the habitat is the cornerstone of game abundance and that 

 neither predator control nor restocking nor similar [)raetice9 will take its place. 



Even where predator control seems a wise procedure, coniplete elimination of such species 

 over anv appreciable area should be avoided. Their relaliini^bip to gnuise is but a small part 

 of their function in the animal conuTumitv as a whole. 



• By Ruben W. Danow 



A See Chapter VM, p. 3S0. ami Chaplir IX. |<. 3<W. 



