The partridge is a medium-sized game bird native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. There are several species of partridge, but the most common in the United States is the gray partridge. This species was introduced to Wisconsin and other northern states in the early 1900s as a game bird for hunting.
Quick Answers
Yes, there are partridge in Wisconsin today, though they are not native to the state. The gray partridge was introduced for hunting in the early 20th century and can now be found in suitable habitat across much of Wisconsin.
History of Partridge Introduction
The gray partridge, also known as the Hungarian partridge, is native to Europe and Asia. It was imported to North America in the early 1900s by game bird enthusiasts looking to establish new populations for hunting. The first releases of gray partridge in Wisconsin took place between 1919 and 1928. These early introduction efforts were successful, and the partridge soon became established across much of southern and central Wisconsin.
Partridge thrive in the mix of cropland, grasslands, and brushy cover that dominates much of the Wisconsin landscape. The success of these early introductions led to many subsequent releases by state conservation agencies, local rod and gun clubs, and private landowners through the middle part of the 1900s. These additional stockings helped secure gray partridge populations statewide.
Current Population Status
Gray partridge can now be found across most of Wisconsin, though their numbers have declined in recent decades. The highest densities occur in the southwestern and west central regions where suitable habitat is abundant. Partridge populations are lower and more sporadic in northern and eastern Wisconsin.
The table below shows gray partridge harvest numbers in Wisconsin over the past two decades according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources:
| Year | Partridge Harvest |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 167,500 |
| 2005 | 151,100 |
| 2010 | 82,600 |
| 2015 | 62,300 |
| 2020 | 50,100 |
These numbers reflect a steady downward trend in Wisconsin’s gray partridge population over the past 20 years. Habitat loss, degraded habitat quality, and nest predation are likely factors in this decline.
Partridge Habitat
Gray partridge thrive in open habitats with a mix of cropland, grassy cover, and brushy edges. They avoid extensive forest and dense or overly tall vegetation. The highest quality habitat occurs in agricultural regions with an abundance of grain crops interspersed with grasses, shrubs, and fence rows.
Partridge build nests on the ground in grassy or brushy cover. Nests are vulnerable to predators and farming operations. The maintenance of idle grasslands and brushy field borders provides important nesting habitat. Partridge chicks require abundant insects for the first few weeks after hatching. Weed seeds and waste grain become the primary part of the diet as the birds mature.
Partridge Habitat Management
The Wisconsin DNR recommends the following practices to improve or maintain gray partridge habitat on agricultural and recreational lands:
- Leave rows of unharvested crops standing through winter.
- Maintain brushy fence lines and field borders.
- Plant naturally regenerating cover strips between fields.
- Allow grassed waterways and terraces to go unmowed when possible.
- Implement strip cropping or contour buffer strips in fields.
- Leave some grain unharvested if wildlife damage is tolerable.
Implementing a mix of these practices across a landscape can provide the combination of nesting cover and food resources gray partridge require. Land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) or managed with conservation in mind is typically good habitat for partridge.
Hunting and Viewing Opportunities
The gray partridge is an excellent game bird pursued by bird hunters across its range. The partridge offers an exciting upland hunting opportunity in Wisconsin when populations are adequate to allow for a harvest. The partridge hunting season runs from mid-September through the end of November in most years.
Prime public hunting opportunities occur on Wisconsin’s wildlife and waterfowl production areas as well as walk-in access lands enrolled in the state’s Managed Forest Law and Forest Crop Law programs. Contact the WI DNR for specific areas to try in your region of the state.
Even when not actively hunting them, observers can enjoy watching the evasive gray partridge in its natural habitat. Look and listen for these hardy game birds along field edges at dawn and dusk on agricultural lands.
Conclusion
The gray partridge is well established across Wisconsin thanks to a series of intentional introductions in the early 1900s. Partridge thrive in the agricultural landscapes of southern and western Wisconsin in particular. Though populations have declined from peak numbers, habitat management and conservative harvest regimes continue to provide opportunities for hunters and wildlife watchers to enjoy these non-native upland birds.
