September 29, 2022 9:30 a.m. 

Successful western Oregon forest grouse and mountain quail hunters are asked to donate a wing and tail of harvested birds for biological research.

A release from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said hunters can deposit wings and tails in bright blue collection barrels at major road intersections or highways in hunting areas, at some ODFW offices and at popular rural markets. Barrels have paper bags to place one entire wing and a whole tail and mark harvest date, county taken and general location. Use one paper bag per wing and tail.

The release said each year, biologists hold a “wing bee” to examine each wing and tail and note species hatch date, age and sex. This information provides ratios of the populations and monitors the population health of Oregon’s forest grouse and mountain quail.

An online map of barrel locations is linked: https://geo.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/minimalist/index.html?appid=910668132b7d4661a17966156ac89f0f

The season runs through the end of January 2023.