Fall Birds

[magnanimous_j]

So I finally got my 870 12g, and I'm stoked as hell for grouse and the like this fall. I know that our mild winter has lead to a good hatch. But what do you guys think our current cold spring will do to them? How long does a cold snap have to last before it kills them off?

I'm currently in Portland and the weatherman predicts snow in the foothills tonight.

[CoyoteSlayer]

Well, to say that the mild winter has lead to a good hatch isn't quite true in my opinion. Yes, more adults likely made it through the winter, but I'm not seeing any chicks yet, I think we are still early, and the winter doesn't necessarily affect the hatch (other than the fact that a mild winter will leave more breeding adults, which will indirectly lead to a better hatch). The heavy rains in the spring are more what we should worry about, along with any late frosts or late snowfall. I'm not sure how much it will take to kill off the chicks, but if our dry weather continues once the eggs have hatched, I think we are in for an awesome year. I have been seeing a lot of chuckar, huns, quail, blue grouse and pheasants so far this spring. Hopefully we will have some good weather once the chicks start coming out and have a great hatch. I am really looking forward to this season if we do, its been tough over the last few years.

[littlemac]

It is my understanding that the adult birds should do fine even with the late snow as they will have had good food sources early.

I am hearing drumming when I am out in the woods,   so they are getting cranked up.  I mostly see the hatch in mid to late May so this weather isn't an issue IMO.

Should have been a good year for survival though, we'll know this summer and fall.

Good luck with your new gun.

[floatinghat]

CS,

He is in Portland and it could be being south 150 ish miles is the difference?  I talked to a friend who has already seen rattlesnakes on the Deschutes while trout fishing.  There is a thread on another board about killing rattlers around the river.  So maybe down there the are hatching already?

[CoyoteSlayer]

ahh, good point, didnt think about that! well even then it seems way early, but I am not familiar with the area. Could be the case. Hopefully our weather cooperates in the late spring and we will see some great hatches as well, all the birds are pairing up so its not too far away.

[magnanimous_j]

CS,

He is in Portland and it could be being south 150 ish miles is the difference? 

I'm only in Portland for a couple of days. I live in Bellevue and plan to do most of my hunting in Western Washington. I was just using the possible snow down here as an example of the potentially cold spring.