Pheasant harvest at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area has plummeted from a high of 2,752 birds in 1983 to a mere 250 birds in 2010, which is far below the long term average of 1,160 birds. From 2003 to 2010, Dove hunter numbers have ranged from about 200 to nearly 900 hunters, but have recently fallen well below the long term average of 490 hunters. In 2010, only 205 people hunted doves. We hope to reverse these extremely negative trends by improving habitat conditions throughout the wildlife area.
Field 40 at Gray Lodge currently provides relatively poor-quality nesting and foraging habitat for pheasants, doves, turkeys, quail and other wildlife. The vegetative complex is dominated by annual plants that provide little structure or food value during critical nesting and over wintering periods. Existing irrigation capabilities do not exist.
This project will develop and implement a comprehensive habitat enhancement plan for roughly 50 acres. A topographic and existing conditions survey will be completed to gather information necessary to properly grade the field and construct an irrigation system that will provide managers full control over independently managed units. The field will be divided into thirds using the diversified upland habitat unit (DUHU) concept that is currently being implemented throughout the wildlife area. A perennial grass mix will be planted over roughly 1/3 of the acreage, while the remaining 2/3 of the acreage will be planted to food plots. The field will be designed so that crop types can be rotated on an annual or semi-annual basis. Areas planted to perennial grass will remain productive for 3-5 years before it’s necessary to set back succession. Expected benefits are improved nesting, foraging, and over wintering habitat, which should result in higher pheasant, turkey, dove, and quail populations and ultimately more hunter opportunity.