Grouse

The end to this year’s hunting seasons is in sight. The forest grouse season’s final day is Dec. 31. These grouse include blue, spruce and ruffed.

The spruce grouse is also known as a franklin grouse or a fool hen and, also, a fool’s hen. The fool hen name was given this bird because it relies on immobility and camo more than taking flight.

Many times a person can walk to within a few feet of the bird. There are reports/stories about hunters using a stick or club to kill a fool’s hen. Other stories have hunters using a sling shot and rocks to bag one.

Turkey

Today is the last day of the late fall turkey season.

Crow

Dec. 31 is the last day of this year’s crow season. Does anyone out there really hunt crow? If there is someone out there who hunts crow, send along some recipes. There is no limit. Is the crow season simply to thin the crow population?

I have participated in crow hunts in Alabama when I was attending helicopter flight school. One of my friends had a crank phonograph and a crow and owl fighting record. The crows would come through the evergreens to the sound of the fight at a fast speed, wanting to join the fun. No, we didn’t eat them.

Pheasant, quail and partridge

The pheasant, quail and partridge seasons end on Jan. 15. Partridge include chukar and gray. The gray partridge is also known as Hungarians or Huns.

Duck, goose, snipe and coot

The season for these birds ends on Jan. 28.

Drones tested for use in wildlife research

Fish and Wildlife is testing the use of a drone this month to document the presence of moose calves in northeast Washington. The drone, equipped with a video camera will fly over radio-collared cow moose on public and private lands in Stevens, Pend Oreille and Spokane counties.

Researchers expect to be able to document the presence of nearby calves when the drone flies over 35 collared moose cows. This approach is safer, requires less time and is less expensive than traditional methods.

Dennis note: Great idea. Can’t see a bad side to using this type of research tool. Drones should be used more often.