Sage Grouse

[sako223]

A sage grouse program underway in the basin and at YTC appear to be taking a front seat. Deer & elk hunting has suffered in recent years at ytc while sage grouse get special money and goals. They even have a babysitter and road/area closures, and electronic tags. Can't even get pictures. Would love to attach a few of those tags to some ravens.
I am not sure they will be able to achieve the numbers with all the predators. The Golden eagles love them, not to mention the coyotes, cats, weasels, skunks, ravens, magpies and buzzards. Oh and us, I nearly wiped out a couple driving near dark. That would be a federal incident.
Now last season they announced a road closure at ytc for bald eagle recovery. Why? they are recovered and causing some problems. Besides they nest successfully right along major highways just outside ytc.
I like sage grouse but feel we are paying a very high price for something that we can't enjoy in any way while it may not succeed.
Secondly the impression is appearing to others also that ytc is pushing out big game opportunities.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/diversty/soc/recovery/sage_grouse/

[ribka]

Good point Sako
I have to agree there are just too many predators out there to implement a successful introduction of sage grouse. Kind of unique situation in that so few areas out there are open to hunting and cannot control the predators.
I think look to other areas in the state, like the LT Murray and Moses Lake area

[sako223]

In talking with a couple other hunters today we guessed a bit. If the program were successful as implemented we may not see it for 20 years or more. Then what do we have, real expensive chicken. With so many gov agencies and programs involved how can a price per bird be calculated?
Like a sheep program, virus could wipe out all efforts quickly.
A quick short cut may be to accelerate what they have done by planting more birds from out of state sources. Even then it is still questionable as they need 6 complexes in management units.

The recovery objective to down-list the sage-grouse from Threatened to Sensitive status is an average breeding season population of at least 3,200 birds for a period of 10 years, with active lek complexes in 6 or more Sage-grouse Management Units.

[boneaddict]

I like the Sage grouse recovery actually.  Its at least a NON PREDATOR species, as opposed to all the HAWKS and EAGLES and WOLVES to name a few.   Quite frankly, with all of the raptor protection, I doubt the Sage will ever recover.     

[WAcoyotehunter]

shoot more coyotes!

[sako223]

Funny I heard the babysitter was checking a tag however they read them like radar, and a golden eagle swooped and grabbed the grouse.

I am envious of guys I know in others states like ID that get mating season display pics.

[Tom Reichner]

I feel stupid for not knowing this, but what is "YTC"?

[lokidog]

I feel stupid for not knowing this, but what is "YTC"?

Yakima Training Center   

[Tom Reichner]

I feel stupid for not knowing this, but what is "YTC"?

Yakima Training Center   

Thanks.  No wonder I didn't know what the initials stood for - I've never even heard of the Yakima Training Center before.  What is it?  Who do they train? 

[bobcat]

U.S. Army.

http://www.lewis.army.mil/yakima/sites/local/

[Happy Gilmore]

I was in Idaho Falls yesterday and heard something on the radio that Idaho may add them to the endangered species list and block off some huge tracks of land to everyone to preserve the last remaining breeding birds...not just local to us I guess?

[Dakota Dogman]

National problem, not sure all the details of why, everyone is pointing fingers;  "irresponsible big money oil"; "irresponsible big money cattle"; west nile; who knows...

I like the old bird; like mule deer, jack rabbits & badgers, a part of the west I grew up in. 

God Bless,

[DOUBLELUNG]

I love sage grouse, even though they taste awful.

[sako223]

I just wish we could get in to those closed areas to get pictures, giving some return.'
As it is, I may have to increase the limits on my auto insurance policy. With a couple near misses on the road at dusk just one or two of those birds may exceed the dollar value of my truck.