camp ripley and arden hills minnesota army national guard training ...
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Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)<br />
Ruffed grouse drumming counts were conducted on two survey routes (#38 <strong>and</strong> #39) as part<br />
of the MNDNR survey throughout Minnesota‟s ruffed grouse range. The data is used as an index to<br />
track grouse population trends across the state. Route #38, the official MNDNR survey route, has<br />
been run since 1979. Route #39 was added by Camp personnel in 1998 (Figure 36). Drumming<br />
counts are conducted for four minutes at ten points along each route.<br />
The official count for route #38 occurred on May 4, 2009. Eight drums were heard in 2009,<br />
which is a decrease since only six stops were counted in 2008 (Figure 35). Camp Ripley‟s ruffed<br />
grouse population decreased after a high in 1999 but began to increase in 2002, which is similar to<br />
other routes in the Little Falls area (Figure 37). Higher ruffed grouse populations were found<br />
throughout most of Minnesota during 2009 (Figure 38). Five grouse were heard drumming on ten<br />
stops along route #39, surveyed on May, 5 2009. Counts on this route have been low since 2001 but<br />
increased substantially in 2007, fell again during 2008, <strong>and</strong> rebounded somewhat in 2009 (Figure 35).<br />
Although Camp Ripley is not managed specifically for ruffed grouse, habitat is generally<br />
stable. Aspen st<strong>and</strong>s of varying age classes provide the best ruffed grouse habitat along both routes.<br />
Aspen st<strong>and</strong>s that had been clearcut along both of these routes have been maturing. Ruffed grouse<br />
will benefit as timber harvest for forest management continues to maintain a wide range of age<br />
classes of aspen.<br />
Figure 35. Ruffed grouse surveys at Camp Ripley, 1979-2009. Gaps in the graph indicate years<br />
when the survey was not conducted. Route #38 had only six stops in 2008.<br />
Drums heard on route<br />
45.0<br />
40.0<br />
35.0<br />
30.0<br />
25.0<br />
20.0<br />
15.0<br />
10.0<br />
5.0<br />
0.0<br />
1979<br />
1980<br />
1981<br />
1982<br />
1983<br />
1984<br />
1985<br />
1986<br />
2009 Conservation Program Report<br />
1987<br />
1988<br />
1989<br />
1990<br />
1991<br />
1992<br />
1993<br />
Page 54<br />
1994<br />
1995<br />
Year<br />
1996<br />
1997<br />
Route 38 Route 39<br />
1998<br />
1999<br />
2000<br />
2001<br />
2002<br />
2003<br />
2004<br />
2005<br />
2006<br />
2007<br />
2008<br />
2009
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