CODY- Upland game bird hunters in the southern Big Horn Basin have an opportunity to submit a wing from their harvested sage-grouse or partridge to help the Wyoming Game and Fish Department gain insight into local bird populations.
From Sept. 15-30, eight new collection barrels will be available throughout the southern Big Horn Basin so hunters can easily submit one wing from their harvested sage-grouse, chukar or Hungarian partridge. Game and Fish analyzes the wings to estimate reproductive success that year. Using length and wear of the primary feathers, each wing is aged as a chick, yearling or adult, and sex is determined by the size or measurement of the wing.
While Game and Fish routinely collects sage-grouse wings primarily in central and southwest Wyoming, this is the first time collection barrels will be available in the southern Big Horn Basin.
“Because the Big Horn Basin has a relatively low sage-grouse population compared to other parts of the state and low hunter participation, wing collection barrels have not been offered historically. By offering wing collection barrels now, we hope to gain important data to help us better monitor this part of the population,” said Ashleigh Rhea, Game and Fish Worland area wildlife biologist.
The southern Big Horn Basin has some of the best chukar and Hungarian partridge numbers in the state, and Game and Fish biologists are developing a monitoring program for these species to better track population trends and inform hunters. “By requesting wings from these species, in addition to sage-grouse wings, we’ll be taking a step towards gaining a better understanding of upland game bird trends in the area,” Rhea said.
Hunters also can drop off wings and report harvest locations at a roadside hunter check station, or at the Cody Regional Game and Fish office if a convenient barrel is not available.
Hunters should remove one wing at the elbow joint for submission. Handling the wing with care is important to ensure accurate data collection. Legally, the other fully-feathered wing must remain attached to the bird while in the field and during transport.
“We appreciate hunters taking the time to deposit one wing from each harvested bird. It is important to us that wings get deposited and that they are not removed from the barrels by the public,” Rhea said.
Wing barrels can be found at the following locations in the southern Big Horn Basin:
- Intersection of Sand Draw Road and Lower Cottonwood Creek Road.
- Intersection of Murphy Draw Road (BLM 1302) and Crow Woman Butte Road.
- Exit from 120 onto Crow Woman Butte Road.
- Intersection of Blue Bank Road and Nowater Road.
- Turnoff of U.S. Highway 16 to Old Ten Sleep Highway.
- Intersection of Upper Nowood Road and Bluebank Road.
- Intersection of Kirby Creek Road with Black Mountain Road.
- Intersection of Devil’s Slide and Nowater Road.
At each location in the southern Big Horn Basin, either a red barrel (pictured above) or white, 5-gallon bucket (pictured below) mounted on a t-post will serve as wing collection barrels. Hunters are encouraged to deposit one wing from a harvested sage-grouse or partridge in barrels located in eight locations throughout the southern Big Horn Basin. Barrels will be available Sept.15-30.
