Utah upland game hunts viewed as a 'mixed bag'

This year's series of upland game hunts is being called a "mixed bag," with a side note that a lot of the bird taken will be adults.

Hunting for partridge, grouse, chukar and rabbits opens Sept. 15.

The hot, dry weather has reduced the number of younger birds in some parts of the state.

The hunts opened last month for dove and will end with the cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare hunts Feb. 29.

"Upland game bird chicks need two things: insects and water. With the hot, dry weather this year, neither of those is in good supply," said Dennis Southerland, upland game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

He noted that lush, green vegetation produces more insects. And insects are 90 percent of what an upland game bird chick eats.

Cottontails are near the peak of their annual 10-year population cycle, so there should be plenty of cottontails available to hunters in certain parts of the state.

"Despite the dry conditions, there will still be some good upland game hunting in Utah this fall and winter," he added.

Southerland reminds parents that the minimum age to hunt small game in Utah has been removed. Young people of any age can hunt small game, but they must pass the DWR's Hunter Education course first and must be accompanied by an adult while hunting.

For more information about Hunter Education classes, visit www.wildlife.utah.gov/huntereducation.

Here is a brief look at hunting conditions statewide:

Northern Region

In Cache and Rich counties, forest grouse and chukar numbers are similar to last year. Hunters should look at water sources and riparian habitats. Based on breeding ground surveys, sage grouse populations in Rich County are up about 29 percent from last year. Rabbit populations are slightly improved from last year.

In Box Elder County, a drier-than-normal spring was not favorable for upland game productions. Hungarian partridge populations are down, and hunters should expect poor to fair hunting. Chukar populations in eastern Box Elder County are similar to last year, but in the western part of the county, numbers are down.

Strutting counts for sharp-tailed grouse suggest populations have increased by 17 percent, but the sage grouse has decreased by 16 percent. Rabbit populations are still on their up-cycle.