Few deer from last week

[mtmiller]

Plan was to locate some sage-grouse, but I came up empty. I did find a few deer, lope and elk. It was a good day to be working. What happened to winter anyway?

Couple decent bucks.

Heading out.

No sheep today, but still nice to spend time in their country.

These guys aren't stressing to much on winter range.

Few lopes in unusual country.

 

[kansasdad]

I know why you failed to fine the Sage Grouse....in the first pic there is no "bird proofing" on the fence!! Pretty fit and fat looking critters for near-winters end.

 

[fishing4sanity]

As always, I enjoy your photos. Is that very unusual, this time of year, to have no snow where you took those photos? We've been pretty dry this winter.

 

[mtmiller]

Is that very unusual, this time of year, to have no snow where you took those photos?

Havre, banana belt of Montana.

I don't remember being able to get into this country this time of the year.

 

[Randy11]

Those are some good looking bucks. Might have to go back in a couple weeks to try to pick up some horns.

What happened to winter anyway?

Green grass budding out on my hike this weekend. Feels like I should be out looking for bears already.

 

[Randy49er]

I was surprised to see them still wearing headgear, Great pics.

 

[Oak]

Amazing to see the contrast between the photos you posted last year and today.

 

[pointingdogsrule]

I'd have to pass on those first two little guys

Nice photos. When does the sage grouse season end??

good luck to all
the dog

 

[pseshooter300]

Nice pictures

 

[BOHNTR]

Great photos Craig......beautiful country!

 

[1_pointer]

Great pics! I may have to try to make it back to that part of the world in a year or two.

When do you start your lek counts or was this a check on that?

 

[Topgun 30-06]

What a difference a year makes with the nasty one we had all across the northern states last year and basically nothing this year. Good for the animals to be able to get around and look like that this time of the year and thanks for the neat pictures!

 

[mtmiller]

When do you start your lek counts or was this a check on that?

I won't start counts until late-March. I was looking for wintering groups, but lacking winter I wasn't too confident.

I did locate some monitoring locations I want to set up for early summer. Canopy, height, forbs, etc.... Apparently folks are pretty excited about Greater sage-grouse....deadline 2015.

 

[Horn Seeker]

Apparently folks are pretty excited about Greater sage-grouse

Ya Think? :hump:

Those are a couple decent bucks! Thanks for the pics.

 

[1_pointer]

That's about when I started, weather permitting. Not getting the deadline part? Is this a big data collection effort? Yes, I'm definitely out of the 'circle of trust'...

I'd be interesting in hearing about your monitoring methods (that was my balliwick) and results.

 

[mtmiller]

Not getting the deadline part?

I'd be interesting in hearing about your monitoring methods (that was my balliwick) and results.

Greater Sage-Grouse ESA Listing Status

•January 2005 - FWS issued 12-month “not warranted” finding
•December 2007 – District Court remanded FWS decision
•March 2010 – FWS Issued “warranted but precluded” finding making the greater sage-grouse a “candidate” for listing
•FY 2015 – Greater Sage-Grouse final listing decision

Line intercept with height and Daubenmire.

 

[1_pointer]

Gotcha. Thanks.

Regarding your methods, are you only taking first canopy hits in your line intercept? I've found a line-point intercept method that takes into account all layers of canopy and ground cover to be very useful. If you did height classes with it it would allow for a good 3-D depiction of the vegetation. Getting multiple layers of cover and height is very difficult and time consuming for true line intercept. FWIW...

Jornada Research Station has a manual that describes the method I wass talking about. Unfortunately, their website appears to be down so I can't provide a link.

 

[huntbux]

Very cool, thanks for sharing.

 

[MThuntr]

1_pointer, the Sage Grouse Initiative for NRCS uses those protocols for Line-point Intercept. It does add a lot of time to each plot but that information does help when looking at structural diversity within a site. When we have summer help, each level intercepted will also get a height measurement otherwise we take herbaceous and shrub height measurements every 3 feet to get a general idea.

Sorry to hijack mtmiller's thread but Jornada has a great inventory site: http://jornada.nmsu.edu/monit-assess

 

[Art Vandeley]

Great pictures! Those two bucks are slugs