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First Grouse Hunt Ban Since 1937 in Ohio
3 Nov
Summary
- Ohio closes ruffed grouse hunting for the first time since 1937.
- Hunting permits were halted due to significantly declining bird populations.
- Habitat loss and West Nile virus are major threats to grouse survival.
Ohio has not issued open permits for ruffed grouse hunting this year, marking the first such closure since 1937. This decision comes as ruffed grouse populations have reached alarmingly low levels across eastern and southern Ohio. Roadside drumming surveys indicate a substantial decrease in numbers compared to previous decades, with hunter-conducted counts falling to less than 1% of their early 1980s rates.
Factors contributing to this decline include severe habitat shortages and the increasing prevalence of West Nile virus, which affects numerous bird species. Warmer winters, attributed to climate change, are allowing mosquitoes carrying the virus to migrate further north and into higher elevations, areas previously considered strongholds for the ruffed grouse. This ecological shift has also been observed in neighboring states like Indiana and New Jersey, which have already closed their hunting seasons.
The economic impact on rural Ohio communities, which depend on hunting revenue, could be substantial. Hunting contributes significantly to the state's economy, with the Appalachian counties, a region with low income levels, being particularly affected by the closure of grouse hunting. This downturn mirrors a national trend of declining bird populations in eastern forests.
