HUNTING THE DROUGHT

HUNTING THE 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 DROUGHT

The 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. 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

Windmills that generate electricity or help draw water from wells will be working overtime this fall.

of the western U.S. Conditions in California are especially dire, with most reservoirs barely half-full compared to their normal water levels. The federal government has cut water allocations by 75 percent to farmers and cities. On the California/Oregon border, there is not enough water for both endangered fish and agricultural crops. Statewide precipitation totals for March and April ranked as the driest on record for Idaho, second driest for Oregon, third driest for Montana, and fourth driest for Washington since 1895.

Locations that normally only go a few weeks without rain went more than two months without a drop this past spring. In the mountains, more precipitation also fell as rain rather than snow last winter, resulting in a very low snowpack, particularly in Oregon’s southern Cascades and California’s Sierra Nevada. Most locations reported well below 50 percent of normal. The quarterly outlook for precipitation throughout most of the western U.S. is forecast to be 50 to 60 percent below normal with no reprieve in sight. This, of course, equates to very high fire danger once again for 2021. Around 80 percent of Oregon and 46 percent of Washington are now in severe drought as of June.

STRATEGIES

How does one find success during drought conditions and high fire danger? Simply work harder at finding places to hunt that mammals and birds will gravitate to. Looking for places with good amounts of quality forage and water is the main ingredient for success. However, remember to try and not block wildlife from using watering holes. Animals will need these places to survive and hunting near them is OK, but not over them, if that makes sense. Use your discretion when setting up.

“There, of course, are other habitatrelated consequences to drought, and this is not an exhaustive list,” adds Cline. “First, birds will concentrate at available water sources, making them vulnerable to predation and disease. Second is the loss of cover, which also exposes upland game birds visually to predators. Last, the potential for wildfire increases, which can cause direct mortality in upland game birds unable to escape the path of fire.”

Of course, the same holds true for ungulates. Extensive scouting is necessary to find ideal locations to put a tree stand or ground blind. During seasons with plentiful water there are more options available to hunters. This is where onX Maps, Google Earth and other digital scouting tools can be very helpful.

Less nutrition means less antler growth and reduced stores of body fat

Big game animals will be found near watering holes that have not dried up. This buck was harvested a couple seasons back near water.

Drought conditions have left vast expanses of rangeland and forest throughout the West as dry as a tinder box.

Ungulates will seek locations with good cover and water during the dry seasons. This mule deer was seen moving through thick cover near a creek. for animals during drought conditions. Hunters should keep in mind their quarry will be even more concentrated in desirable locations by fall. Again, water will be at a premium and focusing efforts around available sources will get you close to where you need to be come hunting season. Trail cameras are excellent tools for finding frequently used travel routes, feeding and bedding areas. Cameras will give you a heads up for patterning movements of the animals you are after, giving an advantage when timing your hunts. One of my favorite strategies in very dry years is to find underground springs or seeps. Many of these natural springs are marked on maps and will produce water even during a drought.

THE HUNTING

Tracking game will be difficult due to the dry conditions. Hunters will have their skills tested by the dry terrain. Being able to tell the difference between a fresh track and an older print will take some very close examination and some veteran experience. Finding places for stands or blinds and being able to wait out moving game will increase a hunter’s odds during dry conditions. Moving around in the dry grass, leaves and underbrush is very difficult with the amount of noise created prior to the first rains of fall. Patience and location will be key to most big game hunters’ success this coming season.

“The increase in hunter participation resulting from new hunters, returning hunters and regular hunters spending more time in the field because of the pandemic will cause success rates, preference points and areas of use to be anomalous for the next few years,” according to Chris Yee, an ODFW district biologist in western Oregon’s Willamette Valley. “Hunters should be cautious when viewing the recent hunting harvest statistics and preference point summaries.”

For upland birds, the brood sizes will likely be compromised this coming season and most quail, chukar, grouse and pheasants will be located near good water sources with adjacent cover. I like to use small groups of hunters with two or three dogs and

Dried-up water holes will cause animals to move.

take advantage of cover near water sources when searching for good coveys of birds. Working the dogs into the wind toward the cover will produce some good points and/or flushes.

Waterfowl nesting grounds are being compromised this season with the extreme lack of moisture. No matter where you decide to pursue your birds this fall, water, food and cover will be key to your success. Manmade ponds that are floodable will be at a premium for most waterfowlers during the 2021-22 season. Club leases, private property and public access to refuges are all great choices for hunters who are lucky enough to find openings or draw permits.

No matter when or where you choose to hunt this fall, be patient, scout, prepare and keep in mind we are experiencing some very difficult conditions that may last for several years. Try to use your best judgment when making a plan to pursue your game and be aware of the situations that you may encounter in the field. Good luck! 