Episode 060: What The Heck Is A Lek? w/ Ken Plourde

Ken Plourde is an Upland Game Bird Habitat Specialist for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.  Ken shares his story of getting started in upland hunting, his favorite upland bird species and the bird dogs he pursues them with. Ken dives deep into leks, how understanding them will help hunters, their biggest threats and lek viewing etiquette.

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Boss Shotshells

7:00 Combining work and play

12:20 Favorite upland bird

14:15 First bird dog

15:40 German Wirehaired Pointers

17:20 Welcoming a new Irish Setter Puppy

19:30 What’s a Lek

21:00 Which species Lek

22:15 Lek regions

23:55 Variations of a Lek

29:25 Venturing and nesting behavior

30:50 Distance between leks

32:30 Features of habitat

34:30 Behavior and mannerisms within

35:40 Mating and communal area

36:35 Most popular lek activity

39:40 Hen laying behavior

42:10 Weather affecting nesting

44:05 Gestation & Incubation

46:45 Threats to leks

49:30 Sage Grouse concerns

52:30 Lek disturbance

53:20 Lek viewing etiquette

1:00:45 Photography recommendations

1:02:00 What can we do to help

1:04:00 Spring dog training considerations

1:06:45 Favorite sharptail recipes

Connect with Ken

Audubon's Guide to Ethical Bird Photography and Videography

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