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SOUTH DAKOTA
PRAIRIE GROUSE SPRING LEK COUNTS
One of the methods sharp-tailed grouse and prairie
chicken populations in South Dakota are monitored is by lek surveys.
Approximately 25 lek routes covering about 40-square miles each have been
surveyed in the spring by SD GF&P personnel. In 2006, the number of grouse
routes conducted under the traditional method was reduced as another
surveying method (listening station) has been developed to monitor grouse
populations. The listening station method is being tested and expanded, and
is intended to provide resource managers and sportsmen a statewide
perspective of prairie grouse populations. Until the listening station
method is operational, 8-10 routes with consistent historical data will be
surveyed the traditional method to provide information that can be compared
to previous years.
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Sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chicken spring lek
survey data collected by SD Game, Fish, & Parks. |
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Sharp-tailed Grouse |
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Year |
# Leks surveyed |
# Males |
Males/Lek |
Males/Sq.Mile |
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1994 |
94 |
1074 |
11.4 |
1.68 |
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1995 |
39 |
514 |
13.2 |
1.15 |
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1996 |
98 |
1001 |
10.2 |
1.46 |
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1997 |
58 |
631 |
10.9 |
1.17 |
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1998 |
87 |
1045 |
12.0 |
1.38 |
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1999 |
87 |
1095 |
12.6 |
1.50 |
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2000 |
91 |
1010 |
11.1 |
1.24 |
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2001 |
68 |
510 |
7.5 |
0.60 |
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2002 |
82 |
820 |
10.0 |
0.99 |
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2003 |
92 |
550 |
6.0 |
0.71 |
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2004 |
71 |
509 |
7.2 |
0.77 |
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2005 |
47 |
485 |
10.3 |
0.79 |
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2006* |
48 |
460 |
9.6 |
1.09 |
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2007 |
54 |
510 |
9.4 |
1.19 |
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Prairie Chicken |
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Year |
# Leks surveyed |
# Males |
Males/Lek |
Males/Sq.Mile |
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1994 |
46 |
293 |
6.4 |
0.82 |
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1995 |
30 |
206 |
6.9 |
0.60 |
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1996 |
50 |
385 |
7.7 |
0.92 |
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1997 |
33 |
216 |
6.5 |
0.79 |
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1998 |
54 |
466 |
8.6 |
1.09 |
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1999 |
67 |
568 |
8.5 |
1.25 |
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2000 |
51 |
339 |
6.6 |
0.77 |
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2001 |
48 |
306 |
6.4 |
0.70 |
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2002 |
43 |
238 |
5.5 |
0.49 |
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2003 |
45 |
252 |
5.6 |
0.56 |
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2004 |
21 |
117 |
5.6 |
0.37 |
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2005 |
33 |
220 |
6.7 |
0.53 |
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2006* |
26 |
182 |
7.0 |
0.67 |
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2007 |
26 |
165 |
6.3 |
0.52 |
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* Reduced number of traditional routes. |
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