JEROME – Sage grouse hunters on the Saturday opener were a little down from last year in the Magic Valley.
The Shoshone Basin check station talked to 69 hunters, that harvested 27 sage grouse, it took hunters an average of 9.81 hours per bird, for 40 percent success.
In 2016, 62 hunters took 31 birds, in 6.26 hours per bird. In 2015, 58 hunters harvested 38 sage grouse, averaging 4.08 hours per bird.
Salmon Falls Creak Dam hunters faired a little better this year. Forty-six hunters, harvested 30 bird, with an average of 4.2 hours per bird.
In 2016, 57 hunters took 35 sage grouse, at 6.26 hours per bird. And in 2015, 61 hunters, harvested 42 birds, averaging 3.67 hour per bird.
Conditions were cool and overcast, but very pleasant weather for hunting. Most people reported seeing fewer birds than last year. Wet weather prior to opener may have dispersed birds from traditional water holes. Fairly crowded hunting--many people reported lots of hunters in the field.