Rangelands3(4), August 1981 163 food and cover plantings, exclosures,grazing systems, and release of gamebirds into unoccupied areas. I will discuss how these various practices affect upland gamebird enhancement. Range A subject of much controversy is the impact of livestock Management grazing on gamebirds and other wildlife. Overgrazing and the subsequent changes in vegetation have beenvery detri- for Upland Game- mental to gamebird speciessuch as sagegrouse, sharptailed grouse, prairie chickens, and harlequin quail, which are birds associated with rangeland in good condition. The chukar partridge, scaled quail, Gambel's quail, valley quail, and mourning dove benefit from early vegetation successional stages. Most of the various upland gamebird species Jerry L. Holechek respond favorably to light or moderate grazing because it promotes habitat diversity yet still leaves adequatecover for concealment from predators. The turkeys, pheasants, grouse, and similar species depend heavilyon shrubs, forbs, annual grasses, and insects for food and perennial grasses A 1970 national survey made by the federal government for cover. Properlygrazed rangesprovide this mix of require- indicates more than 15 million Americans hunt big game, ments better than those left ung razed or heavily grazed for small game, or waterfowl. Over 10 million hunt uplandgame- long periods of time. Light to moderatecattle grazing is more birds. It was estimatedthat uplandgamebird hunters spenda beneficial to upland gamebirds than sheep grazing because billion dollars annually on their sport and harvest60 million sheep have a strong preference for forbs. pounds of fresh meat. It is difficult to quantify the value of upland gamebirds to nonconsumptive users. Based on the same survey there are about 30 million people who enjoy upland gamebirds from an aesthetic standpoint. Upland gamebirds are a valuable resource to the American public. In the past 20 years, cleaner and more intensive farming practices and industrial, urban, and recreational develop- ment have reduced the habitat availablefor both gameand nongame wildlife species. Opportunity for a successful big game hunt has been reduced by loss ofbig gamehabitat and more hunters. Ranchers in many states,such as Texas, Cali- fornia, South Dakota, Oregon, Colorado, and Washington, have found they can substantially increase their gross income by selling hunting privileges on their ranch land. Initially, fee hunting was primarily for big game animals. In the last 10 years,hunters willing to pay for gamebird hunting Lesser Prairie Chicken have increased.Quail hunting leases in Texasvary from$600 Chukar Partridge to $3,000 per season. Day hunting for quail and doves in Livestock water have been beneficial Texas varies from In developments quite $10 to $30 per day. Oregon, pheasant to upland gamebirds in the WesternUnited States. Guzzlers- and leases from dollars quail hunting vary $300 to $1 ,000 per water traps—used in California, Arizona, Oregon, Utah, hunter per season. Prices that hunters will pay for hunting Idaho and Washington—have benefited quail and other are in the West because demand exceeds rapidly rising gamebirds. Water developmentsare effective when distan- supply. Reducedopportunity to hunt big game has resulted ces between water points are greater than 2 miles. in much more interest in small game. At the same time fee Prescribed burning can be used to benefit upland game- hunting and reduced access to private lands have caused birds in two ways. These include change of vegetationcom- increased use of public lands. Recent data from various position and reduction in excessive vegetation western states show that the number of hunterswho pursue accumulations. The first use of fire as a managementtool upland gamebirds is increasing and the number of big game was conducted in thesoutheastern United Statesby Herbert hunters has stabilized or declined. Stoddard in the 1920's for bobwhite quail habitat improve- The futurefor upland gamebird hunting is much brighter ment. The purpose was to reduce brush and retard plant than for big game hunting. Most gamebirdspecies have high succession so a grassy understory would be maintained in annual reproduction rates, requiresmall areas, and respond the southern pine forests. Fire has since been used effec- rapidly to habitat improvement.This is particularly true for tively as a tool to improve habitat for prairie chickens, blue birds such as the chukar partridge, gray partridge, various grouse, sharptailed grouse, ruffed grouse, and sage grouse. species of quails, ruffed grouse, ringneck pheasant, and Rotational of over a 20-year doves. burning sagebrush rangelands mourning Several practices are available to enhance period was recommended by D.A. Klebenow in 1972 as a upland gamebird populations on rangelands that are com- sage grouse managementtool that would restore deterio- patible with otherrange uses. These practices include con- rated and result in a of successionalstages trolled water brush ranges variety grazing, development,burning, control, that are needed by these birds. Sage grouse winter range be to fire because Author is assistantprofessor of range ecology, Departmentof Animal and should not subjected big sagebrush pro- Range Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces,88003. vides grouse with critical winter food and cover. Fire has 164 Rangelands 3(4), August 1981 shown potential to enhance prairie chicken habitat by pre- with properly applied picloram will greatly improve habitat vention of excessive vegetation accumulations which res- for lesser prairie chickens andforage for livestock.Mountain trict movement.Both controlled and natural fires have been quail, bobwhite quail, Gambel's quail, and wild turkeys are effective in improving ruffed and blue grouse habitat in other upland gamebird species that can be enhanced by coniferous forest areas throughout the West. Controlled properly applied herbicides. burns favor the various species of berry plants and create Food and cover plantings are more beneficial on clean variety in habitat. The chaparral and pinyon-juniper areasof tilled farmlands than rangelands. However, there are some the Southwest can be burned to improve habitat for wild exceptions. In the Northern and Central Great Plains, shrub turkeys if cover stripsare left. For maximumvalue for upland plantings have provided valuable winter food and cover for gamebirds and other wildlife, burns should be conductedso sharptailed grouse, prairie chickens, gray partridges, phea- patches or strips of unburned vegetation remain scattered sants, and bobwhite quail. Valley quail have been quite through the burn. responsiveto tree plantings for roost areas in Oregon and Washington.Shrub and tree plantings madeon small fenced acreages near water where rangeland and farmland adjoin have substantially increasedpheasant populations in many parts of the Northwest. Conifers should be included in cover plantings in northern areas because they maintain their leaves all year and provide better cover during periods of snow. Deciduoustree and shrub speciesthat producefruits should be plantedto complimentthe conifers. Crested,inter- mediate, and tall wheatgrassmake excellent understory for these plantings. They grow tall enough to provide good cover, furnish somefood, and have littletendency to lodge in the winter. Exclosures can be a valuable upland gamebird manage- menttool. They are most effectivewhere cover is theprimary limiting factor. In Oregon, temporary fencing of sections along streams has enhanced habitat for valley quail, phea- sants, ruffed grouse, sage grouse, and several otherwildlife species.After a period of 4 or 5 years, thefence is moved to another location. Thispractice hasallowed shrub and under- establishment which is needed to stabilize Blue arebirds associatedwith coniferous forestedareas in story species grouse stream banks.This also enhancesdesirable fish populations. the northwestern United States. Burned areas effect provide edge Exclosures of 40 to 80 acres at selected locations may be and food for this species. quite beneficial to prairie chickens and sharptailed grouse Brush control has been a subject of considerable contro- since they must have a cover of tall grassesfor protection from the The versy, particularly when wildlifeare considered.Sage grouse predation throughout year. harlequin quail have beenmore affected brush control than lives in chaparral areasof the Southwest and requiresa good probably by any cover the have low other gamebird in North America.They requirea habitatwith protective throughout year.They mobility and are quite sensitive to livestock grazing. Exclosures of 5 big sagebrushthroughout the year. This plant providessage to 10 acres in key areasare very effective in maintaining or grouse with food and cover. Research shows that sage decline when is eradicated in increasing harlequin quail. Bobwhite quail, gray partridges, grouse big sagebrush large that blocks of several hundred acres. areas with and ringneck pheasants are other upland gamebirds Overgrazed are stands of and little are of low benefit from exclosures. When exclosures used, provi- heavy sagebrush understory should be madefor to exces- value to sage control with 2, 4-D applied sion periodic grazing prevent grouse. Sagebrush sive accumulations, which retard over small blocks of 300acres or less inthese areas improves vegetation gamebird movementand cause of David the understory, which benefits sage grouse. Strip spraying stagnation plant