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Author Topic: Sage Grouse Lek  (Read 8525 times)

Offline popeshawnpaul

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Sage Grouse Lek
« on: April 17, 2012, 09:53:04 AM »
Been a while since I posted some images on here.  I've been spending my time at a sage grouse lek for those interested in this type of stuff.  All shots with a 1Ds3 or 5D3, and 500mm F4 L IS.













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Offline gunnarnewt

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2012, 10:27:20 AM »
Very cool!
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Offline Special T

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2012, 10:32:08 AM »
Those are some Bad @$$ picks! VERY cool!  :tup:
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Offline quadrafire

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2012, 10:40:24 AM »
Pope those are awsome
What an incredible bird. Is that in WA state?
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Offline popeshawnpaul

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2012, 10:44:35 AM »
Quote from: quadrafire on April 17, 2012, 10:40:24 AM
Pope those are awsome
What an incredible bird. Is that in WA state?

Yes!  Good old Mansfield, WA.
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Offline quadrafire

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #5 on: April 17, 2012, 10:47:06 AM »
Looks like central WA  :tup:
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Offline runamuk

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #6 on: April 17, 2012, 11:00:53 AM »
Those shots are amazing...the third one down he looks like he wants to kick your ass  :chuckle: :chuckle: that is some amazing stink eye he has going
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Offline Huntbear

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #7 on: April 17, 2012, 11:03:34 AM »
Wow.. amazing photos...   :tup: :tup: :tup:
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Offline blindpig

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #8 on: April 19, 2012, 05:50:53 AM »
Great pics, thanks.  :tup:
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Offline Skyvalhunter

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #9 on: April 19, 2012, 05:52:13 AM »
Nice pics there Shawn!!
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Offline boneaddict

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #10 on: April 19, 2012, 06:07:18 AM »
Its on my bucket list.   Very cool Shawn!  Thanks for posting them up.
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Offline zackmioli

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #11 on: April 19, 2012, 11:44:43 AM »
awesome pictures! thanks for posting.
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Offline hunting4sanity

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #12 on: April 19, 2012, 11:53:31 AM »
All awesome photos, I especially like #3, looks like a great time!
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Offline ICEMAN

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #13 on: April 19, 2012, 04:45:35 PM »
Pope, cold night in your blind? Beautiful pics. How many did you get?
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Offline huntnnw

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #14 on: April 19, 2012, 04:47:13 PM »
 :tup:
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Offline popeshawnpaul

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #15 on: April 19, 2012, 05:12:22 PM »
Quote from: ICEMAN on April 19, 2012, 04:45:35 PM
Pope, cold night in your blind? Beautiful pics. How many did you get?

You know it was cold!  25 degrees usually and I had snow 2 of the 4 nights.  Lens froze up on one.  There are usually 15-32 males on the lek but I only get to shoot 1 or 2 because they are all spaced out in their own dancing circle of about 30 yards each (lek is about the size of a football field or two).  If one gets in the other, it's on and they fight driving the other one out.  Whatever one dances in front of your tent that day is the one you are shooting for the most part unless you are in-between territories and then you can get a couple.  How many images?  900 the other morning but the other days I shot 7-300 depending on how long they stay on the lek, and light of course. 

Thanks!
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Offline trophyhunt

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #16 on: April 19, 2012, 05:16:02 PM »
Sweet pic's, there is a lot of those on the Yakima training center. Big birds, thanks for posting.
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Offline ICEMAN

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #17 on: April 19, 2012, 05:32:48 PM »
Awesome Shawn, I would love to try that someday. What a legacy to leave.
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molṑn labé

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Offline jamesjett

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #18 on: April 19, 2012, 07:33:26 PM »
Nice pics! Thanks for sharing!
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Offline boneaddict

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #19 on: April 25, 2012, 07:21:18 AM »
They are going the way of the DODO bird.   I am really glad someone is documenting them in their majesty so that future generations will know what they even are.   
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Offline Special T

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #20 on: April 25, 2012, 07:48:24 AM »
They must not take to captive breeding very well???
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Offline boneaddict

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #21 on: April 26, 2012, 03:58:58 AM »
They are pretty sensitive.   I am a supervisor to a gal that did her master thesis studying these critters in Wyoming.   She shared all sorts of stories about their demise in the lab/captivity.    I have never tried to raise them.  Not sure I could even get the license to try.
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Offline gramps

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #22 on: April 26, 2012, 08:23:13 AM »
Thanks for sharing....very dedicated work.
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Offline Gobble Gobble

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #23 on: April 26, 2012, 08:36:46 AM »
Just curious where you were taking the pics. I'm unable to view the pics and I work in an area that has sage grouse.
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Offline KopperBuck

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #24 on: April 26, 2012, 09:09:07 AM »
I know Foster Creek Conservation District has been following and working on this issue closely in the past. They might be interested in these photos for educational purposes if you were willing. Just a thought.
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Offline Special T

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #25 on: April 26, 2012, 10:05:29 AM »
besides habitat loss... what kinds of things are having the biggest negative impact on them? predators? Coyotes and hawks?
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In archery we have something like the way of the superior man. When the archer misses the center of the target, he turns round and seeks for the cause of his failure in himself. 

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Offline KopperBuck

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #26 on: April 26, 2012, 12:22:42 PM »
Habitat is the issue. Predation only adds to it. You can argue that habitat may increase the predation I suppose. But habitat is crucial for these guys.
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Offline boneaddict

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #27 on: April 26, 2012, 12:24:55 PM »
Wondered how those BIG WINDMILLS that were going to save the world effected them.
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Offline boneaddict

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #28 on: April 26, 2012, 12:27:28 PM »
disturbance in nesting, meaning they get bumped off a nest and never come back.........Mankind essentially.   Gas exploration in Wyoming I think was the big one.   :dunno:  Poor hatch rate
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Offline bearpaw

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #29 on: April 26, 2012, 01:12:18 PM »
Awesome photos Pope, thanks for posting... :tup:

Made me think of my sage grouse hunt in Utah.... hope you don't mind if I post a photo, JoDean Peters did the mount.
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Offline Pathfinder101

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #30 on: April 26, 2012, 01:46:23 PM »
Nice to see you back Pope.  Awesome pics as always. :tup:
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Offline CastleRocker

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #31 on: April 26, 2012, 08:24:10 PM »
Quote from: Pathfinder101 on April 26, 2012, 01:46:23 PM
Nice to see you back Pope.  Awesome pics as always. :tup:

+2!!!  I have to go to that "other" forum to enjoy your pics.  Welcome back!
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Offline popeshawnpaul

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #32 on: April 27, 2012, 06:03:23 PM »
Quote from: Special T on April 26, 2012, 10:05:29 AM
besides habitat loss... what kinds of things are having the biggest negative impact on them? predators? Coyotes and hawks?
j

Habitat is one of the two factors.  They need sage brush as it's about 70% of their diet and they use it for escape cover.  One other major factor is predation but not because we have more predators.  Great horned owls love sage grouse as well as raptors.  However, they need tall structures to locate prey.  Telephone poles and other tall objects put up in their habitat helps predators be more successful in taking sage grouse. 

As far as where they are, this lek is on private ground.  Most of Douglas County have them as well as the YTC. 

Thanks!
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Offline nwadventurercom12

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Re: Sage Grouse Lek
« Reply #33 on: April 30, 2012, 04:16:48 PM »
pope..would love to get in touch with you concerning the leks and SEE sage grouser behavior..possibly join you some time in videoing...how do i get a hold of you..i work with salmon restoration in king county and just retired. bill
« Last Edit: May 01, 2012, 08:26:13 AM by nwadventurercom12 »
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