THE GREAT OUTDOORS — Division of Wildlife Resources biologists said the 2015 fall hunt for cottontail rabbits, snowshoe hares and forest grouse should be the best it's been in Utah in 10 years.

A mild winter, warm spring and plenty of rain have helped the bird and rabbit populations survive and grow, according to DWR upland game coordinator Jason Robinson. The population of cottontail rabbits is at the very top of a 10-year population cycle, making for a great hunt this fall.

"I think the rabbit, hare and forest grouse hunts will be fantastic," Robinson said. "Plan on a hunt that's about as good as it gets. Remember, though, that finding and taking upland game still requires effort and skill."

The hunt for all three species opens Sept. 1 and hunters are required to have small game permits. Robinson gave several tips for having a successful hunt.

Cottontail rabbits

The numbers of cottontail rabbits are especially high in eastern Utah this year, particularly in Duchesne and Uintah counties, Robinson said. The number of rabbits is well above average in those areas, but no matter where you hunt in Utah, you will find more rabbits than last fall, he said.

To find rabbits in lower elevation areas, look in valleys that have tall sagebrush and deep, loose soil. In mid-elevation areas, look for hillsides with large boulders, thick sagebrush or other thick vegetation. Hunting for cottontails is typically best in the early morning and late afternoon, Robinson said.

"That's when the rabbits are the most active and are away from their resting areas," he said. "Early morning and late in the afternoon are prime times for rabbits to feed."

Shotguns and small-caliber rifles, like a .22, are good firearms to hunt rabbits with. If you want to hunt with a small-caliber rifle, find a high-elevation spot to scan the area and wait for the rabbits to appear. If you want to walk around and flush rabbits out of hiding, Robinson recommended using a shotgun.

Snowshoe hares

Snowshoe hares live in high-elevation forests of conifer and aspen trees. In Utah, snowshoe hares can typically be found along the Wasatch Plateau and in the Uinta Basin.

"Waiting for the first snowstorm of the year, and then looking for the hares' unique footprint, is one of the best ways to find them," Robinson said. "The print looks like a miniature snowshoe. If you find an area that has lots of tracks in it, there's a good chance a hare is hunkered down in some vegetation nearby."

Snowshoes or snowmobiles are often required to hunt snowshoe hares after the snow falls.

Small-caliber rifles and shotguns are good firearms to use while hunting snowshoe hares as well. Hunters should move slowly and watch for the outline of a hare and its dark black eyes.

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Forest grouse

Two species of forest grouse — dusky and ruffed — live in Utah. The ruffed grouse are most commonly found along the Wasatch Plateau and in the Uinta Mountains in groves of aspen trees, Robinson said. Aspens often have shrubs with berries and close water sources, both of which attract ruffed grouse.

Dusky grouse live in higher-elevation areas than the ruffed grouse, and are typically found in Cache County, along the Wasatch Plateau, on Cedar Mountain and in the Pine Valley area. Dusky grouse can often be located in the area of a mountainside where the aspen trees transition into conifer forests.

"Isolated mountains in western Utah also hold good numbers of dusky grouse, but the areas where the grouse are found on those mountains can be challenging to get to," Robinson said.

Because ruffed and dusky grouse spend most of the day on the ground, you can find birds anytime of the day. However, they are often most active and accessible in the mornings when the birds are feeding. After they've had their fill, the birds retire to heavier vegetation to rest. They don't become active again until later in the afternoon, when they feed one more time before flying into trees to roost for the night, Robinson said.

To successfully hunt forest grouse, move slowly and stop regularly to watch and listen. Grouse will often hunker down and let you walk past them, so stopping occasionally can flush out a nearby grouse.

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