HUNTING THE DROUGHT With extraordinarily hot, dry conditions gripping the West, here's how big game, upland bird and waterfowl hunters should adapt their fall tactics. STORY AND PHOTOS BY TROY RODAKOWSKI
T
he smell of rain. That moment when dry earth, dust and plant life come together to mix with long-awaited water, filling our nostrils full of the aroma of life. Water is a necessity for healthy life and it’s very much lacking in the western U.S. The Pacific Northwest and California in particular are substantially behind on rainfall, with 2020-21 being one of the driest, if not the driest, on record, depending on location. This weather pattern has been particularly tough on wildlife. Nesting habitat for waterfowl and upland birds has been limited by lack of moisture and numerous wildfires in 2020. Fresh browse for ungulate populations has dried up earlier than normal, which in turn limits health, fat stores and antler growth. Additionally, it also causes animals to migrate further in search of water sources. With reduced high-quality forage and feed, mammals and birds will lack proper nutrition going into winter.
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American Shooting Journal // July 2021
Windmills that generate electricity or help draw water from wells will be working overtime this fall.
Nesting success for birds will decrease as cover and food supplies will be affected by lack of water, and mortality in broods will rise due to lack of healthy cover and feed throughout the nesting grounds. According to Mikal Cline, upland game bird coordinator for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, “Dry years make it harder to find the food resources to prepare for the rigors of egg laying, nesting and incubation. Hatch needs to be timed with insect abundance, which is directly related to water on the landscape. There’s a reason why broods gravitate toward wet meadows, riparian areas and other habitats with ‘green groceries’: That’s where you can find bugs. Insects mean protein, which provides what fast-growing chicks need to grow feathers and mass.” That being said, we now have all the ingredients for a subpar nesting season and lower than normal survival rates on game birds across much
