re: Sage grouse are gone from North Dakota

quote:

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Sage grouse populations stretch across eleven western states—Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Yet only seven states still permit sage grouse hunting, and season lengths and bag limits are carefully controlled.

Among those seven, three places stand out as sage grouse strongholds, owing to the abundance of vast stretches of sagebrush within their borders that these birds depend on: southeastern Idaho, eastern Montana, and central Wyoming. However, one state reigns supreme regarding sage grouse numbers and hunting opportunities: Wyoming.

Wyoming holds roughly 38 percent of the world’s sage grouse population, and with more public land open to hunting than anywhere else, it’s truly the crown jewel for those pursuing this treasured game bird.

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This quote is from a 2024 article, and it listed North Dakota season as being closed because the grouse was already in imminent danger of being extirpated from the state. North Dakota hasn't held a Sage Grouse season since 2008 because of its declining population and habitat loss.

A much greater loss is the fact that you can't find wild coveys of Quail and their range stretches across North America. Back in the 80s, I knew the area of a wild covey in Central Louisiana. We jumped them once without dogs. Predators were much more successful at hunting them than we were. The area that held those quail has never been developed and I'd drive past it every time I went home.

quote:

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The species’ numbers have been declining nationwide, likely due to
habitat loss for ranches and development

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This is the biggest lie ever told. It would take millions of acres in ND for them to lose enough habitat to dissappear. When's the last time they've been to ND? You can drive hours and only see a handful of houses.

I'd bet my pay check the real season they've disappeared is due to predators.

The end of the world.

Obviously…

It’s a bird.

Sure seems like the roaches come out and complain about issues that weren't even mentioned when Obama and Biden were in power so why the frick should I care now. It didn't suddenly become a problem. And I don't. Not one single frick.

My truck doesn’t run on grouse.

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Same way it can be bad for quail.

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Been a problem for years. We had a couple of bird dogs back in the 60s and back then, you could go wherever you wanted as the land owners didn't care. Lots of walking but some fun memories when your dog would point and hold point until you were ready to flush. Quail nested in a circle with eyes facing outward so they could do a 360 on danger. We tried to replenish but pen raised didn't not survive if grown captive.

I spend 2 weeks (last of Oct. 1st of Nov) every year in North Dakota duck and pheasant hunting. There is a plethora of land and birds ..ducks, pheasant, grouse , prarrie chicken etc.

There is no way that ND is over developed to the pont it is causing grouse extinction... laughable

What are their major predators. I'd guess this.

Fire ants and coons have done in the quail
Along with the demise of small farms.