Hunting Washington Forum

Community => Photo & Video => Topic started by: popeshawnpaul on April 17, 2012, 09:53:04 AM

Title: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: popeshawnpaul 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.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fshawnmccully.smugmug.com%2FMy-Favorite-Images%2FMy-Favorites%2Fi-WHrDdTj%2F0%2FL%2F5D31914-L.jpg&hash=18b174b22b68579f38af6765ecee605c39eb112a)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fshawnmccully.smugmug.com%2FBirds%2FGallinaceous-Fowl-Like-Birds%2FGrouse-Sage-Phasianidae%2Fi-QpHJzpr%2F1%2FL%2F5D31813-L.jpg&hash=e31b71d95efc457dec5c2668cfa090afd248973f)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fshawnmccully.smugmug.com%2FBirds%2FGallinaceous-Fowl-Like-Birds%2FGrouse-Sage-Phasianidae%2Fi-NrXkfrn%2F0%2FXL%2F5D31904-XL.jpg&hash=3588df39d6e5003320646694184372b178aea3e9)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fshawnmccully.smugmug.com%2FBirds%2FGallinaceous-Fowl-Like-Birds%2FGrouse-Sage-Phasianidae%2Fi-NknCL5S%2F0%2FL%2F5D30775-L.jpg&hash=d5cb353f00a4a30d31932fceabca79b235110c7e)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fshawnmccully.smugmug.com%2FBirds%2FGallinaceous-Fowl-Like-Birds%2FGrouse-Sage-Phasianidae%2Fi-9JvRHW5%2F1%2FL%2F5D30481-L.jpg&hash=687eb195cc63606d341baa35c1312281242f3afb)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fshawnmccully.smugmug.com%2FBirds%2FGallinaceous-Fowl-Like-Birds%2FGrouse-Sage-Phasianidae%2Fi-h88V5Dc%2F0%2FL%2F5D32175-L.jpg&hash=adb60c94bb4969a7f082491f95586608d5362cea)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fshawnmccully.smugmug.com%2FBirds%2FGallinaceous-Fowl-Like-Birds%2FGrouse-Sage-Phasianidae%2Fi-cWthmPp%2F0%2FL%2F5D31672-L.jpg&hash=6358a74fece3ef63b54c2bf9e51e4b87cff52780)
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: gunnarnewt on April 17, 2012, 10:27:20 AM: Very cool!
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: Special T on April 17, 2012, 10:32:08 AM: Those are some Bad @$$ picks! VERY cool! :tup:
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: quadrafire on April 17, 2012, 10:40:24 AM: Pope those are awsome
What an incredible bird. Is that in WA state?
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: popeshawnpaul 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.
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: quadrafire on April 17, 2012, 10:47:06 AM: Looks like central WA :tup:
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: runamuk 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
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: Huntbear on April 17, 2012, 11:03:34 AM: Wow.. amazing photos... :tup: :tup: :tup:
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: blindpig on April 19, 2012, 05:50:53 AM: Great pics, thanks. :tup:
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: Skyvalhunter on April 19, 2012, 05:52:13 AM: Nice pics there Shawn!!
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: boneaddict on April 19, 2012, 06:07:18 AM: Its on my bucket list. Very cool Shawn! Thanks for posting them up.
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: zackmioli on April 19, 2012, 11:44:43 AM: awesome pictures! thanks for posting.
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: hunting4sanity on April 19, 2012, 11:53:31 AM: All awesome photos, I especially like #3, looks like a great time!
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: ICEMAN on April 19, 2012, 04:45:35 PM: Pope, cold night in your blind? Beautiful pics. How many did you get?
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: huntnnw on April 19, 2012, 04:47:13 PM: :tup:
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: popeshawnpaul 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!
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: trophyhunt 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.
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: ICEMAN on April 19, 2012, 05:32:48 PM: Awesome Shawn, I would love to try that someday. What a legacy to leave.
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: jamesjett on April 19, 2012, 07:33:26 PM: Nice pics! Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: boneaddict 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.
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: Special T on April 25, 2012, 07:48:24 AM: They must not take to captive breeding very well???
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: boneaddict 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.
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: gramps on April 26, 2012, 08:23:13 AM: Thanks for sharing....very dedicated work.
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: Gobble Gobble 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.
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: KopperBuck 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.
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: 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?
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: KopperBuck 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.
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: boneaddict on April 26, 2012, 12:24:55 PM: Wondered how those BIG WINDMILLS that were going to save the world effected them.
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: boneaddict 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
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: bearpaw 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.
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: Pathfinder101 on April 26, 2012, 01:46:23 PM: Nice to see you back Pope. Awesome pics as always. :tup:
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: CastleRocker 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!
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: popeshawnpaul 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!
Title: Re: Sage Grouse Lek
Post by: nwadventurercom12 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