Shooting and compensatory mortality in tetraonids

Abstract

Total compensation for shooting mortality among adults in populations subjected to signifiant shooting (harvest rate >5%) has been demonstrated only in red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus, and perhaps in ruffed grouse Bonasa umbellus. Only in red grouse is there direct evidence for total compensation for shooting in juveniles. Considerable indirect evidence for total or partial compensation comes from comparison of densities on shot and unshot areas, density dependent losses, normal sex ratios where only males are shot, and removal experiments showing that replacement birds exist in spring. The indirect evidence is weak owing to lack of control of immigration and doubt about the fate of "surplus' birds. Compensatory natality has rarely been detected in tetraonids. -from Author