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Iowa Upland Survey To Begin in August
From the Iowa DNR
BOONE -- The Iowa DNR's annual survey of upland game populations will soon be underway with DNR biologists and conservation officers driving more than 200, 30-mile routes statewide between August 1-15. The August Roadside Survey, as it is called, is the DNR's main tool for determining if the fall upland game populations will be up or down from the previous year.
Routes start at sunrise on mornings with heavy dew and are run primarily on gravel roads because of less traffic. A heavy dew causes hens to move their broods to the gravel roadsides to dry off before feeding, allowing them to be counted easily. Routes are driven over the same roads each year so the information is comparable with previous years. According to Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife research biologist for the DNR, this survey is the best indicator of what hunters can expect to find this fall when they take to the field.
"Historically, when the roadside counts are compared to the small game harvest figures, they parallel each other nicely," Bogenschutz said.
However, since the survey depends on heavy dew for consistent results, hot dry weather in August can affect the results. "The birds do not come to the roads as consistently in dry years which makes the counts more variable," Bogenschutz said.
Final results of the survey will be compiled in late August and will be released in early September. Small game hunters interested in this year's counts can log on to the DNR's webpage at www.dnr.state.ia.us and receive an e-mail notification when the roadside results have been posted.
From the Iowa DNR
BOONE -- The Iowa DNR's annual survey of upland game populations will soon be underway with DNR biologists and conservation officers driving more than 200, 30-mile routes statewide between August 1-15. The August Roadside Survey, as it is called, is the DNR's main tool for determining if the fall upland game populations will be up or down from the previous year.
Routes start at sunrise on mornings with heavy dew and are run primarily on gravel roads because of less traffic. A heavy dew causes hens to move their broods to the gravel roadsides to dry off before feeding, allowing them to be counted easily. Routes are driven over the same roads each year so the information is comparable with previous years. According to Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife research biologist for the DNR, this survey is the best indicator of what hunters can expect to find this fall when they take to the field.
"Historically, when the roadside counts are compared to the small game harvest figures, they parallel each other nicely," Bogenschutz said.
However, since the survey depends on heavy dew for consistent results, hot dry weather in August can affect the results. "The birds do not come to the roads as consistently in dry years which makes the counts more variable," Bogenschutz said.
Final results of the survey will be compiled in late August and will be released in early September. Small game hunters interested in this year's counts can log on to the DNR's webpage at www.dnr.state.ia.us and receive an e-mail notification when the roadside results have been posted.