The ups and downs

[shaneharley]

#6173

I was up checking my trail cams yesterday and I’ve noticed that the grouse populations have went extremely low in my hot spot. Actually I noticed it last year when only seeing a couple of grouse during a whole day of grouse hunting. This place being one that I limited out in less then 15 minutes. Many many times in under an hour. I realize that grouse go through cycles and I am sooooo hoping my honey hole bounces back. But what I have also noticed is a pretty good increase in bunnies. From I don’t recall seeing any to now I would head up there to rabbit hunt. For all of you that are far smarter than me, will the increased bunny population hinder the return of the grouse? Does it signify a change in habitat where my once great grouse spot won’t be so much anymore? There hasn’t been any logging near where I’ve seen grouse in the past. Other than the younger trees getting older over the years I haven’t noticed any major changes in where I normally see them. Or is one population coming up for a bit while the other declines? Anyway it’s something I’m thinking on and would value your stories or input. Thank you

[Doc Nock]

#48472

I’m pretty certain that a trained biologist will have a lofty explanation, but as an outdoorsman, we tend to hold onto our own views rather religiously.

Rabbits being ground dwellers are susceptible to varmint predation. When trapping took a dump, we never saw bunnies.

With Raptors on such an increase, (for which I was a big fan of their return)grouse are predated heavily from the air… I’ve seen a few great aerial battles tween goshawks and grouse… amazing flying! Blue Angels got nuttin on them feathered demons!

We had a super hard winter in lots of our areas this past year… I’d always learned the grouse dove into snow banks to insulate themselves but if it rained and froze a crust…they couldn’t get out?! Wives tale?

We had a less heavy snow fall this past winter, so that shouldn’t be in it unless you did, but lots of our plants around the house froze out and died…due to the extreme and long -lasting severe cold we had this winter, perhaps the grouse? Wet, cold spring…bad on the hatchings?

Cycles are a factor, surely… but never heard or read anything about bunnies tied to cycles of grouse…

I’d “guess” we can “guess” all we want, but only time will reveal Mother Nature’s plan…

[Ralph]

#48536

I found some info about rabbit cycles. We used to always think in 7 year cycles but this info is saying 10 years. So???

“Cottontail numbers, like most animal populations, run in cycles of highs and lows. The population builds up to a very high level, then disease, strife and poor reproduction down to a low level. This low may continue for two or three years before a slow increase begins to bring numbers back to another high. Peak populations usually occur at intervals of about 10 years. Within this 10 year cycle, there may be local areas having highs and lows opposite to the overall state cycle. Also, some areas may hold a continued high or low for several years and not seem to go through the cycle change. Optimum food and cover and balance between the number produced and the number harvested by hunter, predator or disease may hold the population stable.”

[David Coulter]

#50920

I’m more inclined to err on the cyclical side of things. When I moved to my place in ’96 there were tons of deer. The browse was trimmed way off. I hardly ever saw a rabbit. When PA increased the doe tags, it took a few years, but the deer herd was thinned. Browse is heavy now. Bucks are bigger. Does are bigger. I also see more rabbits and see an extra grouse now and then, too. That’s not science, just one observer with an opinion. thanks, david

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