Smith: With West Nile a threat and numbers down, board votes to shorten ruffed grouse season

Concerns over declines in Wisconsin ruffed grouse indices led the Natural Resources Board on Wednesday to vote for a shorter hunting season for the prized upland bird species. 

The board voted for a 2018 Wisconsin ruffed grouse hunting season in Zone A (most of the state) to run Sept. 15 to Nov. 30. It had been scheduled to end Jan. 31.

"There’s enough evidence out there that something happened last year," said board member Gary Zimmer of Laona, a former biologist for the Ruffed Grouse Society.

As a result of the board's action, the Department of Natural Resources is charged with developing an emergency rule to shorten the season. The proposal will return to the board for additional review, likely in August.

Wisconsin data show hunters expended more effort in 2017 but killed 30% fewer grouse and 2018 spring drumming counts were down 34%.

The declines came after improvements had been reported in 2017 drumming and brood counts and as the species was supposed to be in the growth phase of its traditional 10-year population cycle.

The board's vote was as unprecedented as the recent grouse declines were unexpected. No previous Wisconsin grouse season has been truncated over concerns about the bird's population.

But the move was recommended by the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, the citizen's body created in state law to advise the board and Department of Natural Resources.

And it comes at a time of heightened concern over a potentially new player in grouse population swings,  West Nile Virus.

The disease, known to kill more than 250 species of wildlife, was detected last year in grouse in Michigan. Extremely limited testing more than a decade ago (seven birds from 2002-'04, one in 2008) did not show the presence of West Nile in Wisconsin grouse.

Hunters saw and killed far fewer birds than expected in 2017.

At the 2017 National Grouse and Woodcock Hunt in Grand Rapids, Minn., hunters harvested an average of 0.5 grouse per day, lowest in the 36-year history of the event. The national hunt arguably serves as the best barometer for grouse numbers in the Upper Midwest.

And the harvest was composed of 44% adult and 56% immature birds, markedly different from the long-term averages of 28% adult and 72% immature. 

So grouse recruitment – or survival of young – was poor last year. 

And in Wisconsin, the harvest of ruffed grouse declined from 262,943 in 2016 to 185,336 in 2017, a 30% drop. This drop occurred despite a 7% increase in hunter days afield in 2017.

The 2017 Wisconsin ruffed grouse harvest is the lowest estimated kill in the 34-year history of the DNR small game hunter survey.

Mike Riggle, WCC vice-chair, spoke in support of the season reduction. Riggle is a veterinarian by trade and also an avid hunter. 

"You diagnose on what you see in signs and symptoms," Riggle said. "In my opinion, West Nile Virus had an impact (on ruffed grouse) last year in Wisconsin."

The congress had originally recommended a drop in the bag limit from five to three birds per day. In the end, the group agreed to keep the daily bag limit at five but to shorten the season.

Ending the season Nov. 30 will help reduce hunting mortality of grouse late in the year when they spend more time feeding on buds in trees and shrubs and are more vulnerable, Riggle said.

The best research on WNV effects on ruffed grouse has been conducted by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The work, conducted from 2014 through 2016 and with support from the Ruffed Grouse Society, concluded the disease can be a substantial source of mortality for the species.

"WNV clearly kills ruffed grouse and as many as 80% of grouse exposed to the virus are killed outright or might have reduced survival," wrote Lisa Williams, PGC game birds biologist, in a Sept. 2016 article in "Game News."

West Nile Virus is a viral disease primarily transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes.

It had been commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and West Asia through the late 20th century but was absent from North America.

That changed in 1999 with the finding of WNV finding in New York. The disease quickly spread and was detected in 2001 in Wisconsin. 

Human cases of WNV in Wisconsin spiked in 2017, resulting in the third-highest level since the disease was found in the Badger State, according to the state Department of Health Services.

Did ruffed grouse suffer at a higher rate, too?

Work in Michigan last year seems to confirm it. The Michigan DNR found WNV in five grouse last year, including three that had been found dead.

“We’ve had West Nile Virus in Michigan since 2002,” said Thomas Cooley, a Michigan DNR wildlife biologist and pathologist at the Michigan Wildlife Disease Laboratory. “(2017 was) the first year that we’ve seen it in grouse.”

Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota wildlife officials are devising a collaborative plan to study WNV in grouse this year. Hunters will likely be asked to contribute birds and observations to the effort.

As part of the board's discussion on Wednesday, several members suggested the DNR develop a formal ruffed grouse management plan.

"I’m not saying a grouse plan will solve any of this," Zimmer said. "But it will help us as we consider various factors. I think we need to move in that direction so we can react to some of this." 

There was general agreement such a plan would be a good idea.

Eric Lobner, DNR wildlife director, said he would form a group, including outside stakeholders, to help develop the state's first ruffed grouse management plan. 

After additional discussion, the board voted unanimously to end the 2018 Wisconsin grouse season on Nov. 30 in Zone A.   The season in Zone B would remain unchanged and run Oct. 20 to Dec. 8 with a two bird daily bag limit.

A DNR spokesman said the agency will begin the process to change the season, including developing a scope statement and emergency rule language.

Although subject to further review by the board, Legislature and Governor, final approval is expected later this fall.

CWD scope statement: In other action Wednesday, the NRB also voted unanimously to approve a scope statement on proposed rules to enhance fencing requirements at deer farms and to impose added deer carcass transport restrictions. 

The rules, recommended in May by Gov. Scott Walker, are intended to help reduce the spread of chronic wasting disease. A public hearing on the emergency rule will be held in August in Green Bay, according to the DNR. Additional details will be released by the agency in the near future.