Olsson, G.E., Willebrand, T. & Smith A.A. 1996: The effects of hunting on willow grouse Lagopus lagopus movements. - Wildl. Biol. 2: 11-15.
A recent increase in the area open to hunters in the Swedish mountains has directed attention to the possibility of overharvesting and greater wildlife disturbance. Using radio-telemetry, the movements of willow grouse Lagopus lagopus in a heavily hunted area were compared to movements in areas where hunting was prohibited. Although hunter density was higher than the regional average, no significant differences in movements, measured as rate or distance, between grouse in hunted and unhunted areas were found. Willow grouse did not move out of the hunted area, a common belief amongst many hunters. Seasonal migration was not induced by deliberate human disturbance. It is suggested that grouse reduce the risk of being killed by habitually moving within a familiar area with known escape sites (cover). Neither hunting, deliberate flushing or catch and release caused a change in the movement patterns of willow grouse. It is suggested that such disturbances were perceived as part of a naturally unpredictable predator environment, and not sufficient to alter grouse movements.
Key words: willow grouse, Lagopus lagopus, hunting, disturbance, movements, radio-telemetry, harvesting
Gert E. Olsson & Tomas Willebrand, Swedish Hunters' Association, Research Department, Box 7002, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
A. Adam Smith, Edward Grey Institute, University of Oxford, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
Received 11 September 1995, accepted 1 April 1996
Associate Editor: Peter J. Hudson