Peace Garden News

Hunters in North Dakota are being asked to assist with the management of upland game birds by submitting feathers from harvested birds using wing envelopes. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has conducted its upland game wing survey for decades, collecting samples from species such as ring-necked pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge, turkeys, and ruffed grouse.

While obtaining enough pheasant samples is usually not a challenge, there is a consistent need for more feathers from sharp-tailed grouse and Hungarian partridge. According to the department, biologists benefit from receiving as many sharptail and partridge feathers as possible because increased sample sizes improve the quality of data collected.

By analyzing these feather samples, biologists can determine key population metrics such as gender ratios, age distribution, survival rates, nesting success, hatch dates, and overall production. This information plays an important role in managing upland game bird populations across the state.

"What biologists learn from samples is vital to helping manage North Dakota’s upland game birds," according to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.