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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. 

Sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chicken spring lek survey data collected by SD Game, Fish, & Parks.

Sharp-tailed Grouse

Year

# Leks surveyed

# Males

Males/Lek

Males/Sq.Mile

1994

94

1074

11.4

1.68

1995

39

514

13.2

1.15

1996

98

1001

10.2

1.46

1997

58

631

10.9

1.17

1998

87

1045

12.0

1.38

1999

87

1095

12.6

1.50

2000

91

1010

11.1

1.24

2001

68

510

7.5

0.60

2002

82

820

10.0

0.99

2003

92

550

6.0

0.71

2004

71

509

7.2

0.77

2005

47

485

10.3

0.79

2006*

48

460

9.6

1.09

2007

54 510 9.4 1.19

Prairie Chicken

Year

# Leks surveyed

# Males

Males/Lek

Males/Sq.Mile

1994

46

293

6.4

0.82

1995

30

206

6.9

0.60

1996

50

385

7.7

0.92

1997

33

216

6.5

0.79

1998

54

466

8.6

1.09

1999

67

568

8.5

1.25

2000

51

339

6.6

0.77

2001

48

306

6.4

0.70

2002

43

238

5.5

0.49

2003

45

252

5.6

0.56

2004

21

117

5.6

0.37

2005

33

220

6.7

0.53

2006*

26

182

7.0

0.67

2007

26 165 6.3 0.52

* Reduced number of traditional routes.