A method for live-trapping dusky grouse

A drive trap, used to capture dusky grouse (Dendragapus obscurus obscurus) females and their broods for transplantation, is described. The trap consists of two 75-foot wings, leading to a netting-covered enclosure with a smaller wooden catch box at the rear. A four-man crew finds a brood in open cover and, while one or two men keep the brood under observation, the others rig the trap along the birds' anticipated route to cover. It takes about 10-20 minutes to set up the trap, depending on roughness of terrain, and another 5-60 minutes to make the catch. The trap was tried on seven broods, of which five were caught entire and all but one bird from each of the other two broods were captured. Two additional broods were accidentally flushed before the trap could be used.