158 Game Survey of the North Central States 



when they occur. It has already been noted that the flights tend to occur during 

 shortages. My data do not prove this conclusion, but they support it, and it has 

 long been recognized as a fact in other States. 



Spruce Hen. The spruce hen or Canada grouse is hardly a game bird, 

 except in the sense of being edible. Its close relationship to the ruffed grouse, 

 however, justifies a short summary of its history and status. 



That it was originally more abundant than ruffed grouse in parts of the 

 Forest Belt is indicated by Hatch's statement, already quoted. It evidently shrunk 

 northward at an early date, since Hatch (quoting Garrison) says that it was com- 

 mon on Mille Lacs, Minnesota, from 1865 to 1868, but was soon after exter- 

 minated in that locality. The most southerly recent occurrence in Wisconsin was 

 in Door County, where it was seen in 1921. 



During the past few years many writers have expressed apprehension about 

 the extermination of this species in the Lake States. These writers fail to take into 

 account the cycle, and the probability that the spruce hen is affected by it. In 

 1930 the species was decidedly common on Drummond Island in Lake Huron, fol- 

 lowing a preceding period of shortage, and also in parts of northern Wisconsin. 



The cutting of pulpwood in spruce swamps, often to extremely small diameter 

 limits, is undoubtedly seriously restricting the available range. 



Seasons on Ruffed Grouse. Chart 10 shows the open and closed sea- 

 sons since 1900. 



The chart clearly reflects some of the conditions deduced from other and 

 separate evidence in this and the preceding chapter. It shows, for instance, 

 nearly universal closure during the lows of 1917-18 and 192728. It shows 

 the lesser severity of the cycle in the southern tier of States. It shows how Minne- 

 sota's alternate year closure stopped hunting during the high year 1923, while 

 Wisconsin had only a few days open during the whole period of the 1924 high, 

 and remained open during the mortality year of 1927. 



Further proof of the need of elasticity in seasons for cyclic game, and the 

 need of continuous game surveys to keep track of field conditions, should be 

 unnecessary. 



What Nobody Knows. Until we know what the cycle is, and whether, 

 where and when grouse have a saturation point, we cannot understand either 

 grouse, or gallinaceous game in general, either in this region or elsewhere. 



But entirely apart from these deep and admittedly difficult questions, we 

 also lack information on the common everyday A B C's which underlie success- 

 ful management. 



What is the daily, seasonal, and yearly radius of movement of the individual 

 bird? Nothing is known, nor will it be, until successful methods of trapping for 

 banding have been developed. How can we intelligently build refuges until we 

 do know? 



