Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking successful forest grouse and mountain quail hunters to donate a wing and tail from harvested birds to support biological research.
Hunters can deposit wings and tails in collection barrels located at major road junctions and highways in hunting areas, select ODFW offices, and popular rural markets. Specimens should be placed in a paper bag labeled with the harvest date, county, and general location.
Each year, biologists examine the samples at a "wing bee" to identify species, estimate hatch dates for young birds, and determine age, sex, and whether females likely nested successfully. The analysis provides a ratio of young to adult birds to track annual production, average hatch date by region, and the proportion of each age and sex in the harvest.
According to ODFW, these metrics help track the overall health of Oregon's forest grouse and mountain quail populations and inform decisions regarding hunting dates, season length, and bag limits. Hunting seasons run through January 31, 2027. Spruce grouse, which occur in the northeast corner of the state, are illegal to harvest.