Wildlife Management Report Template
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Wildlife Management Report ADF&G/DWC/WMR–2021–1 Status of Grouse, Ptarmigan, and Hare in Alaska, 2019 and 2020 Cameron J. Carroll Richard A. Merizon ©2020 ADF&G Photo by Heather McFarland. 2021 Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Wildlife Conservation Wildlife Management Report ADF&G/DWC/WMR-2021-1 Status of Grouse, Ptarmigan, and Hare in Alaska, 2019 and 2020 Cameron J. Carroll Small Game Biologist Alaska Department of Fish and Game 1300 College Road Fairbanks, AK 99701-1551 [email protected] (907) 459-7237 Richard A. Merizon Small Game Biologist Alaska Department of Fish and Game 1801 South Margaret Drive, Suite 2 Palmer, AK 99645-6736 [email protected] (907) 746-6333 ©2021 Alaska Department of Fish and Game Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Wildlife Conservation PO Box 115526 Juneau, AK 99811-5526 This project was funded in part by federal Wildlife Restoration Grant AKW-23, Project 35.0: Status, public use, and management of small game populations in Alaska FY20. Hunters are important founders of the modern wildlife conservation movement. They, along with trappers and sport shooters, provided funding for this publication through payment of federal taxes on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment, and through state hunting license and tag fees. Wildlife Management Reports are used to document general wildlife management issues or information. They typically summarize information related to a specific management issue, review management activities, and/or provide information about why a particular management approach has been taken or is recommended. They may be produced primarily for general or technical audiences. These reports are professionally reviewed by staff in the Division of Wildlife Conservation This Wildlife Management Report was reviewed and approved for publication by Ryan Scott, Assistant Director for the Division of Wildlife Conservation. Wildlife management reports and plans are available via the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s public website (www.adfg.alaska.gov) or by contacting Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Wildlife Conservation, PO Box 115526, Juneau, AK 99811-5526; phone: (907) 465-4190; email: [email protected]. The report may also be accessed through most libraries, via interlibrary loan from the Alaska State Library or the Alaska Resources Library and Information Services (www.arlis.org). This document, published in PDF format only, should be cited as: Carroll, C. J., and R. A. Merizon. 2021. Status of grouse, ptarmigan, and hare in Alaska, 2019 and 2020. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife Management Report ADF&G/DWC/WMR-2021-1, Juneau. Please contact the authors or the Division of Wildlife Conservation at (907) 465-4190 if you have questions about the content of this report. The State of Alaska is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This document is available in alternative communication formats. If you need assistance, please contact the Department ADA Coordinator via fax at (907) 465-6078; TTY/Alaska Relay 7-1-1 or 1-800-770-8973. ADF&G does not endorse or recommend any specific company or their products. Product names used in this publication are included for completeness but do not constitute product endorsement. Cover Photo: ©2016 ADF&G. Rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) chick in Interior Alaska. Photo by Heather McFarland. Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Ruffed Grouse ............................................................................................................................. 1 Sharp-tailed Grouse .................................................................................................................... 1 Sooty Grouse ............................................................................................................................... 4 Spruce Grouse ............................................................................................................................. 4 Rock Ptarmigan ........................................................................................................................... 5 White-tailed Ptarmigan ............................................................................................................... 5 Willow Ptarmigan ....................................................................................................................... 6 Alaska Hare ................................................................................................................................. 6 Snowshoe Hare ........................................................................................................................... 7 Small Game Program .................................................................................................................. 7 Methods for Population Monitoring ............................................................................................... 8 Spring Breeding Surveys ............................................................................................................ 8 Ruffed Grouse ......................................................................................................................... 8 Sharp-tailed Grouse ................................................................................................................ 9 Sooty Grouse ........................................................................................................................... 9 Spruce Grouse ....................................................................................................................... 10 Rock Ptarmigan ..................................................................................................................... 10 White-tailed Ptarmigan ......................................................................................................... 10 Willow Ptarmigan ................................................................................................................. 11 Spring-Summer Counts ............................................................................................................. 11 Alaska Hare ........................................................................................................................... 11 Snowshoe Hare ..................................................................................................................... 11 Summer Brood Surveys ............................................................................................................ 11 Fall Grouse Counts ................................................................................................................... 12 Wing Collections ...................................................................................................................... 12 Summer 2018–Summer 2020 Climate Patterns and Breeding Seasons ........................................ 14 Statewide Summary ...................................................................................................................... 16 Fairbanks and Interior Road System ............................................................................................. 18 Board of Game .......................................................................................................................... 19 Ruffed Grouse ........................................................................................................................... 19 Spring Breeding Surveys ...................................................................................................... 19 Wing Collections .................................................................................................................. 22 Habitat Improvement Work .................................................................................................. 22 Research ................................................................................................................................ 22 Sharp-tailed Grouse .................................................................................................................. 23 Spring Breeding Surveys ...................................................................................................... 23 Brood Surveys ....................................................................................................................... 25 Wing Collections .................................................................................................................. 25 Spruce Grouse ........................................................................................................................... 26 Spring Breeding Surveys ...................................................................................................... 26 Wing Collections .................................................................................................................. 26 Rock Ptarmigan ......................................................................................................................... 26 Spring Breeding Surveys ...................................................................................................... 26 Wildlife Management Report ADF&G/DWC/WMR-2021-1 i Brood Surveys ......................................................................................................................