2005 Minnesota Upland Bird hunting seasons announced - MN DNR

[Rick]

2005 Minnesota Upland Bird hunting seasons announced

UPLAND GAME

There will be additional pheasant, grouse and Hungarian partridge hunting opportunities this year as the season has been extended one additional day, through Sunday, Jan. 1. "This extension will allow families and friends to hunt during the New Year's holiday weekend and it will not harm pheasant numbers," Merriam said.

Populations of ruffed grouse remain near the low of their 10-year cycle. Many hunters were hoping this year's count would be higher, indicating an upswing in the grouse population, which tends to rise and fall in an approximate 10-year cycle. Counts have been at the low end of the scale for the past five consecutive years. At the peak, Minnesota's annual harvest often exceeds 1.2 million birds. The average annual harvest is 600,000 birds.

This will also be the second hunting season for mourning dove, the most widely dispersed and abundant upland game bird in North America. Last year, an estimated 15,000 hunters bagged 100,0000 birds. Because Minnesota's dove hunt is regulated under federal guidelines that also govern southern states, the season will stay open for 60 days. However, doves tend to leave Minnesota when temperatures begin to drop near freezing, usually around the middle of September.

Populations of sharp-tailed grouse remain relatively low in their remaining range in northwestern and east-central Minnesota.

NEW REGULATIONS

Merriam advised Minnesota hunters to be aware of several new law and regulation changes in effect this fall. They include:

- Feathers, head and feet must remain intact until wild turkey are registered. Once registered, fully feathered head, wing or foot must remain attached during transport.

- Persons under 12 may hunt wild turkey if accompanied by parent or guardian.

- Those drawn in the landowner turkey lottery may hunt anywhere within the permit area where their qualifying land is located.

- Pheasant, Hungarian partridge, spruce grouse and ruffed grouse seasons open through Jan. 1 2006.

SEASONS

Mourning doves, Sept. 1-Oct. 30;

ruffed and spruce grouse, Sept. 17 - Jan. 1

sharp-tailed grouse, Sept. 17 - Nov. 30

gray (Hungarian) partridge, Sept. 17 - Jan. 1

Take-a-Kid Hunting Weekend, Sept. 24 - Sept. 25

ring-necked pheasant, Oct. 15 - Jan. 1.