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Prairie Grouse Primer 2024: Idaho

Sage grouse lek counts increase 22% in 2024

By Jack Hutson

The good-news title quote above was borrowed from an Idaho Department of Fish & Game (IDF&G) news release published at the end of June 2024. For the latest information on sage grouse as well as Idaho’s sharp-tailed grouse hunting outlook, we turned to the professionals in the field.

The state prairie grouse report just completed, we get the information, firsthand, from Jennifer Struthers, biologist and IDF&G’s leading prairie grouse expert based in Boise.

Struthers recalls, “Unlike the prior year, snow levels receded in time so that lek counts could occur during peak activity. We experienced slightly wetter conditions than normal in March, and above normal temperatures in April through June, producing favorable nesting conditions.”

Also in southwestern Idaho, I heard from Connor White, Project Coordinator for a massive collaborative effort to restore sage-steppe habitat in the region. White says, “Sage grouse are as tough as they come. Given the average winter we experienced, there were no concerns about overwinter survival.”

About sage grouse, Struthers concludes, “Sage grouse experience natural population oscillations in approximately 10-year cycles. Spring counts of males on leks have been increasing in Idaho since 2020, and we anticipate we are nearing the peak of the population cycle.”

While sage grouse lek counts and broods had generally improved, after the heavy winter of 2022-23, sharp-tailed grouse sightings by ranchers and farmers in southeastern Idaho were all over the map. Some reported average to slightly better grouse counts, and others noted fewer numbers.

Struthers says, “We don’t conduct the same level of monitoring of sharp-tailed grouse leks, so trends are more difficult to determine, but average birds per lek has also been increasing over the past 5 years with 2024 having the highest average birds per lek in more than 10 years.”

Idaho native Pratt Griffen, Coordinating Wildlife Biologist sponsored by Pheasants Forever out of the NRCS Preston office in southeastern Idaho, shares his winter observation: “We had a great winter with high snowfall in the mountains and more moderate conditions in most of the valleys.”

Jacob Northuis, biologist, and manager of PF sponsored personnel in Idaho agrees, “Given the light winter along with a good spring, conditions started out ideal for sage grouse nesting and chick survival in the Southeast.”

“Last fall was tough, but we were able to find a few concentrations of sharptails on grassy benches surrounded by sage hills,” Griffen recalls of the hunting he and his young black Lab, River, experienced last fall. As for advice for those seeking sharptails, Griffen offers, “Due to spring conditions, sharptails in areas above 5,000 feet may not be as plentiful as the lower valleys, (4000 feet or below).”

Struthers’ outlook remained upbeat, “We anticipate excellent hunting conditions for both species this year.” But Struthers cautions, “Currently there are no large wildfires in the southern part of the state, but the risk is moderate to high throughout the range.” Northuis agrees: “One large wildfire in the sage can negate all the gains made in (sage) grouse populations.”

Struthers encourages hunters to exercise campfire safety, keeping vehicles and trailers over gravel. Make certain that vehicles have fire-fighting equipment such as extinguisher, shovels, water and buckets.

“It has been an exceptional year for cheatgrass and, in areas with heavy concentrations, it will be extremely flammable and can adversely affect dogs,” adds Northuis.

Indeed, rugged conditions require closer attention to our canine companions. Dogs need adequate water breaks, and many grouse zones are covered in cactus and jagged basalt rock. Well-made dog paw protection is advised. Last, but not least, be wary of rattlesnakes.

Tags & Permits

As part of its monitoring process, IDF&G developed a first-come tag system to hunt sage grouse in one of 12 zones. Each zone has a limited quota of total tags and a maximum of two tags per hunter. Due to its slight complexity, it is very important that prospective hunters research sage grouse information. Sales for the limited sage grouse tags began August 1 and are required for the season that runs from September 16 to October 31. Price for residents is $22.75, non-residents $74.25.

A permit good for only sharp-tailed grouse may be purchased any time for the season that runs October 1 thru 31. Price for residents is $4.75, non-residents $17.75.

In addition, you will need an Idaho annual hunting license. Residents pay $15.75, non-residents $141.75 or a 3-day licensefor $75.75. There is the addition of an Access-Depredation Fee of $5 for residents and $10 for non-residents.

Keep in mind that chukar and Hungarian (gray) partridge season opens Sept 17, offering a mixed-bag opportunity where their ranges overlap. For more information, check Idaho’s upland regulations. For access opportunities, go to the IDF&G “Access-Yes!” program page.

Jack Hutson is a converted college professor who trains gun dogs. When he’s not doing that, he is upland hunting or fly fishing … or writing about those passions. He lives near Lewiston, Idaho.

Prairie Grouse Primer 2024: Kansas

A season of hope and challenge for Kansas hunters

By Ryan Sparks

As fall approaches, Kansas hunters are gearing up for another season of prairie grouse hunting. This year brings a mix of optimism and caution, as the state’s upland game birds begin to recover from several years of drought.

Here’s what you need to know as you prepare for the 2024 hunting season.

The multi-year drought in Kansas has affected all upland bird populations, including prairie chickens. However, unlike other upland species that undergo dramatic population fluctuations, prairie chickens tend to experience more gradual changes.

“While prairie chicken populations are not as boom and bust as our other upland species, we have seen declines over the last few years,” says Jeff Prendergast, the Small Game Coordinator for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism (KDWP).

Last year, hunters reported varying experiences, with some regions faring better than others. According to Douglas Spale, an avid upland hunter and Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever National Board Member, bird numbers were relatively better in the Smoky Hills, where larger groups were observed, while the Flint Hills saw fewer birds.

2024 Nesting and Brooding Conditions

This year, Kansas has seen some improvement in weather conditions, especially in the northwestern part of the state. According to Prendergast, better rainfall in this region likely contributed to improved production of prairie chickens. However, the recovery from drought has been uneven, with north-central Kansas still struggling to bounce back.

“Brooding and nesting conditions were terrific this year,” says Jim Millensifer, a seasoned prairie chicken hunter from Oakley in the northwestern part of the state. “We had significant moisture in the summer of 2023, leading to great conditions for this past spring. The current habitat looks great around where I live.”

Spale also observed that the cooler weather during the early part of the year allowed cover to grow taller and remain green well into August. This has provided better nesting and brooding conditions in many areas.

“Even a lot of the grazed areas look suitable for prairie grouse,” he says.

This is welcome news to any Kansas upland hunter.

Current Habitat Conditions

While there has been some recovery in certain areas, as a whole Kansas is still grappling with the effects of the ongoing drought. Hot, dry conditions have limited late summer growth in some areas, and much of the state’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands have been released for emergency haying and grazing. This has affected the quality of habitat available for all upland birds.

Prendergast notes that hunters should focus on moderately grazed rangelands, especially in regions where rainfall has been sufficient. In contrast, the western parts of the state (which have received less rainfall), have shorter grazing lands that make them less ideal for hunting. However, in these areas, CRP lands may offer better opportunities as the vegetation remains shorter and less dense, providing suitable cover.

Spale remains hopeful that the western third of Kansas will receive more rain to improve habitat conditions.

“A lot of flowers are still blooming and there are plenty of bugs around for chicks to feed on. While the big reservoirs are lower than I would like, many of the small cattle ponds and waterways still have water in them,” says Spale.

Hopefully the remaining water will help support the prairie chicken population.

Expectations for the 2024 Hunting Season

Given the continued dry conditions, Prendergast cautions that bird numbers might be limited in some areas. However, localized regions that received better precipitation could still offer good hunting opportunities. He suggests focusing on the north-central region of the state, which has historically had stable populations and offers good access through the Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA) program.

“Based on continued dry conditions through our most consistent region for prairie chickens, bird numbers for this fall may be limited, but localized areas that had better precipitation will still provide opportunity,” says Prendergast.

Spale advises hunters to keep an eye on the Smoky Hills, where the cover looks promising, and the Flint Hills, although access and woody encroachment continue to be challenges. The key to a successful hunt will be scouting and adapting to the conditions on the ground.

Tips for Kansas Prairie Grouse Hunters

For hunters new to prairie grouse hunting in Kansas, preparation is crucial. Prendergast recommends focusing on areas with shorter cover, such as moderately grazed rangelands in the central and western regions. CRP lands can also be productive, especially in drier areas where the vegetation remains short.

Spale suggests spending time scouting potential hunting areas, either by driving around or observing the cover and bird movements during early morning or late evening flights. He emphasizes the importance of finding large tracts of short grass near agricultural fields where birds are more likely to be found.

Millensifer advises hunters to be prepared for a lot of walking and to carry plenty of water for their dogs.

“I believe birds will be slightly up in my area,” he says. “My area traditionally has fewer birds than other parts of Kansas, but we still typically find birds.”

As the 2024 season approaches, Kansas hunters can look forward to a challenging but potentially rewarding experience. By focusing on areas with better habitat conditions, scouting effectively, and adapting to current conditions, hunters have a good chance of finding prairie grouse in the Sunflower State.

Know the Rules

Hunters should be aware that a prairie chicken stamp is required to hunt prairie chickens in Kansas. Additionally, the southwestern region of Kansas remains closed to prairie chicken hunting due to the presence of the lesser prairie chicken, which is federally protected (see the Kansas Department Fish, Wildlife and Parks website for the official map).

Also, while Kansas has ample public access through its WIHA program, hunters should make sure the specific parcel they plan to hunt is open. Not all WIHA land opens at the same time.

Season Details

Dates

Licenses

Ryan Sparks is editor of Quail Forever Journal.

Prairie Grouse Primer 2024: Minnesota

Hunters who work will find sharptails (and chickens)

By Tom Carpenter

When it comes to prairie grouse, Minnesota doesn’t make most upland hunters’ destination bucket list. That’s the way Minnesota hunters like it. But consider yourself invited.

The state’s northwest quadrant is where you will find the birds – chiefly sharp-tailed grouse. Prairie chickens are fair game only to residents who drew a license in an annual lottery. (The sharptail season is open only north of U.S. Highway 2, to protect prairie chickens, which for the most part live south of that line.)

Here are three concepts for you:

1. Combine a couple days hunting Minnesota sharptails during a multi-species trip that focuses on Minnesota’s famed ruffed grouse and woodcock in the forest lands (of which there are plenty in the state’s Northwest transition country of woods-to-prairie). Morning in the popple, afternoons in the bluestem and brush.
2. There is more public land than you can hunt in a lifetime here – hundreds of thousands of acres – and few hunters to compete with.
3. Sharptail country is “different” here than it is in the “famous” prairie grouse states to the west. Grassland is always the key, but know that in Minnesota, brushlands are almost as productive for prairie grouse … and sometimes the only name of the game. If it’s not forest or prairie but somewhere in-betweensies, that could be your ticket to sharptails.

It should be a good year to try such an adventure, and I might suggest the first or second week of October. Here’s the scoop from the field.

Winter Survival Good

“We lacked roosting snow cover, but sharptails fared well with the mild temperatures,” says Kyle Arola, Wildlife Supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Middle River, Minnesota.

“Our Karlstad work area had little to no snow, and rather mild temperatures,” adds Jason Wollin, Area Wildlife Manager for the DNR in Karlstad, Minnesota. “I’m not sure how it affected the sharptails, but we still seem to have good numbers of birds.”

Up near Roseau, “Sharptails overwintered well and our spring lek counts were excellent,” says Tom Enright, Area Wildlife Supervisor with the Minnesota DNR at the sprawling Roseau River Wildlife Management Area (WMA).

“Spring surveys indicated that sharptails increased substantially in the Northwest,” adds Charlotte Roy, Grouse Project Leader with the Minnesota DNR. “This is likely because of the mild winter, which may have been beneficial to overwinter survival.”

Nesting Success Should Have Been Fair

As opposed to 2023, when drought was rampant across Minnesota, 2024 saw the rains return … unfortunately just in time for nesting and brood-rearing season. But sharptails are tough, and the birds seemed to persevere for some localized hatch success.

“I would suspect that we did have too much rain at the wrong time for a high level of nest success,” says Wollin. “However, I have seen sharptails with broods this summer.” That’s good.

“We received a lot of rain in May and June, which resulted in localized flooding,” says Arola. “This negatively impacted nest success and chick survival.”

“Our spring was hard on nesting sharptails,” says Enright. “Over 8 inches of rain were received in May and June, with less than 5 days without precipitation in May. Birds were observed dancing until early June in dry spots in fields” though. Some hope rests on a late hatch, and re-nesting attempts.

“It was not ideal for a banner sharptail hatch,” says Charlie Tucker, manager of the Red Lake WMA near Roosevelt, Minnesota. “Red Lake WMA in Lake of the Woods County is admittedly on the eastern edge of good sharptail hunting areas in northwestern Minnesota, but we do have sharptails in our peatland/brushland habitats.”

“Our spring lek counts seemed to be similar to years’ past,” Tucker adds.

Habitat is in Great Shape

Rain is always a double-edged sword. Habitat has rebounded from the drought.

“Habitat in the Karlstad work area has been great,” says Wollin. “We did get a few prescribed burns done this spring, and hope to maybe get some fall burning in too. We did get funding to do more brush treatments, and have been contracting work out.”

“CRP remains down, but the condition of the habitat out there is good,” says Enright.

“In the Northwest, there has been a lot of habitat management the last few years, and sharp-tailed grouse are increasing in the region,” says Roy.

Grouse Are Being Spotted

Several calls to folks in the Northwest revealed sharptail brood sightings. So the hatch was not a total bust. And the birds seem to still be at it.

“We are seeing decent numbers of grouse throughout northwestern Minnesota at this time,” says Arola.

“Most of the birds hunters see in the fall are young of the year,” says Roy. “So production of young will play heavily into what happens this fall. If folks can find areas that were unaffected or less affected by heavy rains in June, they could get into good numbers of birds.”

“Adult numbers are strong, similar to the past 3 years,” reports Enright from the Roseau River WMA. “We completed a partial spring lek survey this spring, and of those surveyed birds, numbers were up, as was the number of leks.”

“Karlstad Area sharptail lek surveys this spring were average to good,” says Wollin. “We seem to continue to have strong numbers of birds.”

The Diligent Will Bag Birds

"Kittson County is the place to be,” says Wollin. “But Roseau and Marshall counties are also good. Both private and public lands hold birds, but don’t forget about The Nature Conservancy lands that are open to hunting.”

“Focusing on good habitat in the northwestern counties will put you on birds this fall!” says Arola.

Do some research. “It’s probably a good idea for hunters to move around to areas that had less extreme rain events in June,” adds Roy.

Places to Go

If you ever lament not having a place to hunt, Minnesota solves that conundrum. Here are but 5 big (big) WMAs that offer sharptail hunting, but also have ruffed grouse and woodcock opportunity.

Season Details

Minnesota’s sharp-tailed grouse season runs September 14 to November 30 in the northwest counties (see regulations for map), north of U.S. Highway 2. The bag limit is 3 birds, with a possession limit of 6.

PRAIRIE CHICKEN NOTES

“Prairie chicken numbers throughout the work area are stable,” reports Rob Baden Area Wildlife Supervisor for the Minnesota DNR out of Detroit Lakes.

“This past winter was very easy compared to the previous two, so birds came through winter in good shape,” he says. “Breeding/nesting efforts started off well in April/May, but I’m sure the rain that started in late May impacted the early nesting attempts.”

“Habitat is in great shape,” he says. “Vegetation is very robust, THE best growth we have seen in years due to all the rain since mid-May. Insect numbers are good too, with the frequent rains.”

“We are seeing some young prairie chickens,” he says. “I was out Three weeks ago and ran into two separate broods of prairie chickens on WMAs. One brood was only days old (10 little puff balls), while the other brood of 8 were flying already. So I think the early nesting attempts likely met with high failure rates due to the rain, and later nesting attempts are producing some young birds.”

“Hunt prospects are decent,” Baden says. “I think there will be less young of the year birds on the landscape, but hunters who work at it in the core prairie chicken areas should still find decent success.”

Ross Hier of Crookston spends a lot of time on the land. “Bird numbers are okay,” he says. “But we are starting to see some of the effects of sharptails pioneering southward into our prairie chicken country.” He reported seeing 4 sharptails, and one chicken-sharptail hybrid bird, on one of his favorite leks this spring.

Tom Carpenter is editor at Pheasants Forever.

Prairie Grouse Primer 2024: Nebraska

Sandhills Show Signs of Recovery for Nebraska's Prairie Grouse

By Ryan Sparks

To understand the current state of Nebraska’s prairie grouse, it is important to know how conditions have been the last several years.

“2022 was an extremely dry year in the Nebraska Sandhills, so in 2022 and 2023 we experienced the lowest prairie grouse harvests since the drought of 2012, which were some of the lowest harvests ever recorded,” says Greg Wright, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Forest Service.

Wright notes that harvest data contains major variables like overall hunter effort and participation in voluntary wing collection boxes. It isn’t an exact science, but when combined with lek counts and summer brood observations, harvest data helps to give a more complete picture of current conditions and prairie grouse numbers.

The sandhills saw moderate drought in 2023, leaving good residual cover and a flush of annual cover (think sunflowers) on the landscape for this past spring.

“Nesting and brood-rearing conditions seemed quite good this year,” adds Wright. “With timely rains, no widespread devastating hail, and only a few days of extreme heat in June.”

Scorching hot temperatures can kill chicks if there is not adequate leafy cover to provide shade. Late July was hot in the sandhills, but there was likely enough cover on the landscape that it wasn’t detrimental.

“Currently there is good cover on the landscape, and there were a lot of grasshoppers present for broods this summer,” adds Wright. “It can only go up from here, right?”

Bryan O’Connor, Upland Game Program Manager with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, echoes this optimism, citing improved habitat conditions across the state.

“Winter survival seemed to be good, and we had good numbers of males present on leks this spring,” he says. “Good moisture this year has provided excellent nesting and brooding conditions. There has also been an abundance of grasshoppers and other insects.”

Overall, O’Connor thinks that this year’s healthy habitat combined with a couple of low-bird number years will result in an average numbers of prairie grouse. He notes that some areas could be spotty due to severe weather events, but most storms were isolated and not large scale.

Wright also expects numbers to be improved over last fall and is hopeful that populations will make a jump.

“I’ve tried to explain to folks that it’s like an investment,” he says. “If you’ve only got a few dollars (low bird numbers), you can only get so much of a return (chicks) even if the interest is great. For a large jump, you have to have a lot of birds contributing to nesting success to start with.”

Despite the significant challenges posed by the severe droughts of 2022 and the resulting low harvest numbers, conditions have shown marked improvement, though it may take a few more seasons for populations to fully recover. The outlook for Nebraska’s prairie grouse season is cautiously optimistic. Patience and persistence will be essential for hunters navigating this unique landscape.

Even if bird numbers are lower than average, the sandhills are the largest remaining tract of intact grasslands in the world. As Wright notes, “There are a lot worse things than a long walk with your dog through a huge grassland.”

Where to Go

For hunters, the sandhills offer vast public lands where prairie grouse can be found. Key areas include the Nebraska National Forest at Halsey, McKelvie National Forest, Cresent Lake NWR, and Valentine NWR. There are also smaller public parcels on the eastern and southern fringe of the sandhills. Together, these publicly accessible lands make up over 500,000 acres for upland hunters to explore.

Nebraska also has other wildlife management areas and private lands enrolled in the Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting access program throughout the sandhills. These parcels should not be overlooked. At the time of writing this article, Nebraska had 358,750 acres enrolled in the program, and an additional 30,000 acres are expected by fall 2024. A sizable portion of these acres are in the sandhills.

In general, sharptails inhabit the region’s western portion, with prairie chickens more likely in the gentler, low-rolling hills further east. Prairie chickens can also be found in decent numbers in southwestern Nebraska, on the larger Open Fields and Waters tracts in Chase, Keith, Lincoln, and Hayes counties.

The extreme western panhandle of the state has been very dry, so any cover outside of CRP will make for tough hunting. Hunters should look to other areas of the state unless they are highly knowledgeable of the local bird population.

If You Go

The Nebraska Sandhills are rough and remote. Wright recommends carrying a comb to get stickers out of your dog as well as a pair of pliers to cut snare wire or pull porcupine quills.

“Grouse hunting is a miles-per-bird game, not birds-per-mile,” he says. “Pick cooler days for all day walks, or focus on the fringe of the day.”

O’Connor notes that grouse country is large and can be intimidating. He suggests breaking up the landscape into manageable sections and to pay attention to habitat features when you find birds. If you can find what birds are keying in on you can more specifically target them in certain areas.

Ryan Sparks is editor of Quail Forever Journal.

Prairie Grouse Primer 2024: North Dakota

Should Be a Good Year For Nodak Sharptails

By Tori J. McCormick

Kurt Swenson is jazzed — and ready.

"I think we’re sitting on a good year for sharptails,” said Swenson, a longtime member and past president of the Knife River chapter of Pheasants Forever. “I’m pretty optimistic.”

An avid upland hunter, Swenson lives in Beulah, in west-central North Dakota in Mercer County, where he owns roughly 2,000 acres. His land is equal parts native prairie, hay and crops. He travels grouse country a lot, and he likes what he’s seeing. Habitat conditions, he said, look good. On his property and elsewhere.

“It’s looking like we’ve had a good nesting season,” said Swenson, adding area pastures are “thick with cover.” “I’m starting to see more and more broods. I’m excited. I’m really looking forward to the season.”

Swenson isn’t alone in his optimism for the upcoming season. RJ Gross, upland game biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish, says he’s “cautiously optimistic.”

“Our spring lek survey counted 51 percent more males than last year,” said Gross, adding the count is good measurement for “overwinter survival and how production was last year.”

“We had a very mild winter with little snow.” He says, “and came into the nesting season with good residual cover. Birds were in good body condition, too. The table was set.”

Gross says ample spring rains only improved habitat conditions, “greening up prairie and pasture lands” across North Dakota. The moisture also helped spur insect production. Insects provide essential protein-rich food for both chicks and adult birds.

"The only downside is that we had some rain in June with some cold nights, which we know can kill birds,” said Gross. “But those days were warm and hen sharptails do a good job of tending to their young.”

Gross says he won’t know the “full production picture” for sharptails until the state’s annual summer roadside brood count survey is completed. Its findings will be released in early September.

"I’m starting to see more broods show up on my routes, and larger broods too—I counted one with eight and another with 12 the other day,” said Gross. “That’s reason for optimism.”

State officials say North Dakota is a traditional hotspot for resident and nonresident sharptail hunters because the state is home to roughly one-third of the total North American population of sharptails … and has ample public land on which to hunt. That includes the Little Missouri National Grassland in western North Dakota — the birds’ core range. At roughly a million acres, the Little Missouri tract of mostly mixed grass prairie is located in parts of McKenzie, Billings, Slope and Golden Valley Counties. “It’s popular with hunters because there is so much land to hunt, and many camp here early the season,” said J.J. Nelson, a U.S. Forest Service biologist.

Jesse Kolar, upland game management supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish, said hunters should concentrate their efforts in areas with ample native prairie, pasture and hay lands.

Kolar said the state’s school trust lands, which are leased for livestock grazing, are good options. Those public lands are the so-called blue squares on the state’s PLOTS maps. PLOTS is the state’s Private land Open To Sportsmen (PLOTS) program for public walk-in hunting access. It’s popular among upland hunters, Kolar says. North Dakota will have 836,000 acres enrolled this year, a slight increase from 2023.

“You want to hunt grass that’s basically below your knee,” said Kolar.

Added Kolar: “Even if we have average reproduction, I think we’re still going to have a good overall hunting season. With the mild winter, we had a good carry-over population of adult birds.”

Emily Spolyar, North Dakota state coordinator for Pheasants Forever, said hunters need to prepare themselves and their dogs for early-season hunting. “September can be incredibly hot and humid in North Dakota. Hunters need to keep that in mind,” said Spolyar, an avid upland hunter who lives near Regent in southwest North Dakota. “Bring a lot of fresh water and make sure you have a plan if something goes wrong.”

In 2023, 21,512 hunters in North Dakota harvested 67,710 sharp-tailed grouse. By comparison, 20,461 hunters harvested 62,640 birds in 2022.

SEASON DETAILS

Dates

Licenses

Daily Bag and Possession Limits

Shooting Hours

As a full-time outdoor writer, Tori McCormick tracks down a lot of prime information and insights for midwestern hunters and anglers every year.

Prairie Grouse Primer 2024: Montana

Big Sky Country Should Be Good For Grouse This Fall

By Jack Hutson

After multiple years of drought, Montana’s notoriously fickle weather has been relatively pleasant to the prairie side of the state. Will Montana’s Big Sky be tickled by puffs of prairie grouse feathers? I contacted experts from the three primary prairie grouse regions to find out.

REGION 4 / NORTH-CENTRAL MONTANA

“The winter in North-Central Montana was relatively mild. Snow was slightly below average for most of the region and what extreme cold events we did have were quickly followed by warmups,” says Matthew Strauch, Game Bird Specialist for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (MT FWP) based out of Great Falls.

Putting grouse into perspective, Strauch adds. “Grouse likely weathered well due to the better conditions, with good cover and access to ample food resources.”

Winter survival is an important part of the prairie grouse production cycle but, as every uplander knows, the key that starts it all are the spring nesting conditions. Strauch offers this observation: “Spring brought varied conditions throughout the region. Much of the region received average rainfall for the spring months.”

He adds this caution: “The Highwoods, Little Belts and Snowy Mountains experienced large spring storms that produced heavy wet snow in April and early May. These large weather events could have impacted nest survival in the foothills of these mountain ranges.”

Though lek reports weren’t offered, moving into late summer with hay and other crops being harvested, brood sightings are becoming more common. Understandably, weather conditions still haunt the region to some extent. Strauch says, “Although we are still recovering from the severe drought conditions of 2021 and 22, July moved much of the region into drought status, and habitat conditions are improved along with brood numbers.”

Strauch concludes, “Given that there were no extreme weather events, I would anticipate hunters will experience a season similar to 2023.”

REGION 6 / NORTHEASTERN MONTANA

Looking back, northeastern Montana seems to have been the least affected by the multiple years of drought. Again, starting with winter, Kenneth Plourde, Regional Upland Bird Specialist for MT FW&P offers this report:

“The winter was relatively mild in all parts of Region 6, and there were no extraordinary events to impact game bird populations.” Plourde goes on to report that the winter was relatively dry with little snow, and the overall conditions were dry across much of the region going into spring.

Moving into May, the amount of precipitation was roughly average. “May brought with it wetter than average conditions across the region, leading to good habitat conditions as nesting season was in its most critical phase,” Plourde recalls. Concerned, he continues, “June was generally cooler than normal throughout the region and several nights were cooler than average during the peak weeks of the hatch. This may have caused some mortality of young game bird chicks, but the total impact won’t be known until after brood surveys are conducted later in summer.”

Pheasants Forever biologist Martin Townsend noted similar conditions: “It stayed cold longer than usual, that’s for sure.” Townsend works with the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance centrally located in Region 6. Townsend says, “I’ve noticed a number of broods with smaller-sized chicks, an indication that a second attempt at nesting has occurred in some areas.”

The region is experiencing a change in the weather. For the first time since 2017, the central and western portions of the region are sitting with above-average precipitation. Conversely, the eastern third of the region, especially the three counties in the northeast corner of the state, are drier than average and on the precipice of drought.

How will this affect grouse? Plourde says, “While the onset of this condition began late enough that young broods were not likely impacted, if dry conditions persist, they could still negatively impact overall game bird numbers.”

There seem to be several concerns for the region’s prairie grouse. Plourde responds, “Let’s not forget that, overall, the habitat for grouse was better than it has been in recent years.”

Plourde concludes, “Given weather and habitat, I predict that sharp-tailed grouse populations in the western and center of the region are likely to improve and reach near average to above average numbers. As for sage grouse populations, they are expected to improve slightly but remain well below average.”

REGION 7 / SOUTHEASTERN MONTANA

“Winter in southeastern Montana was relatively mild with some periods of extreme cold and snow one week followed by rain and above freezing temperatures the next,” says Justin Hughes, Game Bird Specialist for Montana FW&P based out of Miles City. His weather observations continue: “The cover over most of the region is good. The mild weather and good habitat suggests that prairie grouse entered spring in good condition.”

How were spring conditions in the region? Hughes says, “Spring across the southeastern part of the state started off dry, but precipitation picked up through the month of May while hens were initiating nests.” Painting in broad strokes, Hughes observes, “Conditions varied across the region. Some areas didn’t receive the moisture that other areas did – some, too much, perhaps. Overall, I’d say, conditions were favorable for nesting upland birds.”

About the question of fall prospects, Hughes replies, “The region has experienced some sporadic cells of severe weather over the course of June and July. These extreme weather events can have a localized effect on upland bird numbers. But overall, I would anticipate the fall hunt to be on track similar to what folks saw in 2023.”

For most of eastern Montana, 2023 offered better conditions – and therefore, better grouse numbers -- than in the few years that preceded it. The general consensus among our experts seems to be that prairie grouse possibilities may have improved somewhat; especially when compared to the consecutive years of drought.

GOOD ADVICE

When asked for any additional information they may wish to add, all experts placed wildfire concerns as their top priority. Better habitat conditions mean more dry cover, especially during early September prairie grouse hunts. Remember: To prevent loss of life and property, keep rubber on the gravel and use boot leather to hunt for birds.

Better conditions don’t only affect upland birds. Townsend suggests, “We (Region 6) have had huge increases in ground squirrels and, with it, rattlesnakes. Folks with dogs should consider snake bite precautions (including vaccinations) before their early-season hunt on the prairie.” About dogs and early season hunts, I recommend packing as much water as you can carry to keep them doused and hydrated. In many areas, cactus and rocky footing require paw protection in the form of good, rubber-soled, dog boots.

In addition, early fall can be a busy time for the ranchers and farmers kind enough to offer access to their property. To maintain good relations, Plourde advises, “When parking near a field approach or gated entry, leave room to allow wide farm equipment to access these areas.”

About tactics for hunting, Plourde offers, “In recent years, good holding cover was confined to smaller areas; causing complaints of over-crowding by hunters.”

Given the good habitat conditions and the expected average or better sharptail numbers, Plourde suggests this strategy for enjoying success and peace on the prairie: “This is going to be a good year to explore new areas and still find good success, as bird numbers are likely to be at least average or better in many areas.”

Strauch adds similar advice: “Given the variability in past and current conditions throughout eastern Montana, hunters should do some homework when selecting places to hunt for this season. Spending some time looking at past weather conditions could be the key to finding success in 2024.”

Take it from a retired college professor and avid bird hunter, doing your homework is always good advice!

GROUSE SEASON DETAILS

Sharp-tailed grouse season runs September 1 thru January 1 2025 with a bag limit of 4 birds per day, and 4 times the daily bag in possession.

Sage grouse season runs September 1 to 30 and the bag limit is 2 per day. Possession limit is two times the daily bag limit.

There is no open season for either species west of the Continental Divide. For firearm restrictions, legal hunting hours and other details, see Montana’s Upland Bird Regulations here.

Note: In some areas, Gray (Hungarian) Partridge will share the prairie with grouse and the season coincides with sharp-tails: September 1 thru January 1 2025, with a daily limit of 8 Huns.

LICENSES & FEES

Base Hunting License: $10 for residents, $15 for non-residents. Conservation Fee: $4 for residents ages 12-17 and over 62 / $8 Ages 18-61 years. For nonresidents the cost is $10.

Season Upland Game Bird License: Residents pay $7.50 Ages 18 – 61 / $3.75 Ages 12-17*, Senior (62+) or Disabled. For nonresidents the cost runs $55 ages 12-17* / $110 Ages 18 and over.
*Ages 10 & 11 may be eligible to hunt, see regs for complete information

Three-day Upland Game Bird License: $50 for nonresidents. The license is not valid for sage grouse at any time, or for ring-necked pheasants during the opening week of season.

Jack Hutson is a converted college professor who trains gun dogs. When he’s not doing that, he is upland hunting or fly fishing … or writing about them.

Prairie Grouse Primer 2024: South Dakota

Stage Is Set For a Banner Year of Grouse Hunting in South Dakota

By Andrew Johnson

Grouse hunters have a lot to look forward to in the Rushmore State this fall. For the first time in years, drought and severe winter weather aren’t grabbing the headlines. Instead, the state’s primary grouse range has seen plenty of precipitation for the better part of the past year, and with fall right around the corner, the big blocks of grassland habitat — the stuff grouse love — are in great shape.

This welcome news comes on the heels of harvest data from last fall’s hunting season, when hunters bagged an estimated 69,400 grouse — the highest total in over 20 years.

The strong harvest numbers suggested prairie grouse carried a healthy breeding population into the winter months, and then Mother Nature cooperated even further with an extremely light winter. To top things off, lek data from central South Dakota collected this spring by the state Game, Fish and Parks Department and U.S. Forest Service staff indicated record high numbers of greater prairie chickens and sharp-tailed grouse.

To sum things up, an easy winter followed by good weather during spring and summer has created excellent grassland habitat and subsequent nesting and brood-rearing conditions in a majority of central and western South Dakota. As a result, SDGFP recently issued a statement saying the 2024 prairie grouse hunting outlook is expected to be even better than last year.

North-Central Region
(Campbell, Edmunds and Walworth Counties)

“Winter conditions this past year were very mild, with many long-time residents having a hard time remembering a winter with more favorable conditions,” says Tom Zinter, a senior Farm Bill biologist for Pheasants Forever, serving north-central South Dakota. “Those conditions brought the bird populations through the winter in what should have been ideal condition to start the breeding and nesting seasons.”

Zinter feels spring nesting conditions in the north-central region were above average, with good spring rains spurring on the growth of cool-season grasses. He also said the area was able to avoid nesting setbacks.

“We were fortunate to not be impacted by the flooding that was seen to the south and east of us,” he continues. “Based on the conditions, nesting should have been right on schedule.”

Zinter says habitat conditions held up well throughout the brood-rearing season, as timely July rains kept grass stands healthy and also produced plenty of bugs across the landscape. He has seen several sharptail broods throughout the summer, mostly from “first nesters,” with good-sized chicks and average brood sizes. With cooler temperatures in the extended forecast, Zinter said the good conditions should hold on until the fall hunting seasons arrive.

“Haying has been at an average level across the area, and pastures and rangelands are looking healthy,” he concludes. “I expect this year to be another good one with plenty of opportunities for grouse hunters. Targeting the areas with large blocks of well-grazed and undisturbed grasslands should flush some birds.”

Western South Dakota
(Pennington, Meade, Haakon, and parts of Jackson and Ziebach Counties)

Orey Fricke, a PF Farm Bill biologist covering several counties across western South Dakota, also believes grouse hunters should expect to see plenty of birds this fall.

“Just the other day my wife and I were out scouting some ponds for doves, and we saw about 10 different sharptail broods get up and take off,” says Fricke. “I also helped with the early spring lek surveys south of Wall, and those counts were higher than normal.”

Most of western South Dakota’s grouse country saw well above-average rainfall this spring, but once July arrived, things dried out quickly. However, the grass was in good shape when it mattered most.

“I think nesting was awesome and the birds did well,” he says. “However, we went from one of the best Junes we’ve had in the last 10 years to where we’re back on the drought monitor already here in August.”

As a result, Fricke advises hunters to double-check the areas they plan on hunting, as there is some emergency haying and grazing happening in western South Dakota right now. However, he also reminds hunters that CRP isn’t as prevalent out west as it is in central and eastern South Dakota’s farm country.

“Out here we have a lot of buy-in to the Environmental Quality Incentives (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). These are grazing plans, so there’s always plenty of cover around for the grouse,” he says.

While the region is known more for its sharptails, especially on the sprawling Buffalo Gap National Grassland, Fricke says hunters shouldn’t sleep on the variety of birds that can be found in western South Dakota. In addition to sharpies, certain areas — especially in the eastern parts of Jackson and Haakon counties hold decent numbers of prairie chickens too.

“It takes a little work, but there are pockets of chickens that definitely provide that mixed-bag opportunity,” he concludes.

Central and South-Central Regions
(Gregory, Haakon, Jones, Lyman, Mellette, Stanley and Tripp Counties)

Grouse hunters heading to this area should expect another great fall out chasing prairie grouse, according to farm bill biologists Trent Walrod and Zachary Vilkauskas.

“Central South Dakota has been blessed this year with good rains throughout the growing season. We had many multi-day rain events throughout the nesting season, but luckily there was not much flooding in this part of the state,” reports Walrod, who is based out of Kennebec. “I’d say the nesting was a little delayed, but not by much. Grass grew well, and we have a lot of cover in the area that looks great.”

Even better, things dried up just enough when chicks started hitting the ground in June.

“The grasses and forbs look great, and a ton of bugs swarm me when I go outside right now, so the chicks have had plenty to eat,” Walrod says.

“I have seen quite a few broods with lots of chicks running around in the fields that I have been in and along roads that I have been on recently,” reports Vilkauskas, who is based a little further west in Murdo. “Summer is starting to heat up and become drier, but there are some cooler temperatures and rain in the forecast which will hopefully keep the habitat in good condition.”

So far, the Farm Service Agency has not opened emergency haying and grazing in these counties, but both biologists say that another shot or two of rain would be welcome.

“Grouse habitat looks decent going into fall,” Walrod says. “After recently making my way around Lyman County and up through the Fort Pierre National Grassland, everything looked pretty good. I’m hopeful for another day or two of soaking rains to really get those early grazed pastures into prime condition heading into the fall, because that is what we really need in my opinion.”

About the only negative thing that both biologists reported was recent hail that strafed isolated parts of the region.

“We just had a hailstorm and strong winds in Jones County at the end of July,” Vilkauskas says. “I was concerned about how the birds and their habitat would react to the storm, but I haven’t seen any negative effects on either while out in the field.”

If You Go

Grouse hunters will get an extra month to chase sharpies and chickens in South Dakota this year, as the season opens Sept. 21 and closes Jan. 31. In the past, grouse seasons closed Jan. 1, but the new closing date of Jan. 31 aligns with when the state’s pheasant season closes.

Shooting hours are from sunrise to sunset, and the daily limit is three birds, with a possession limit of 15.

Andrew Johnson is a key correspondent for Pheasants Forever in South Dakota.

Prairie Grouse Primer 2024: Wyoming

Weird Weather Shapes Wyoming's Grouse Seasons

By Josh Tatman

Last winter was exceptionally warm and dry across most of Wyoming. Modest spring precipitation preceded a scorcher of a summer. Wyoming's sharp-tailed and sage grouse ride out the weather roller coaster.

AN AVERAGE HUNTING SEASON FOR SHARP-TAILED GROUSE

Tim Thomas and Joe Sandrini are the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD)’s senior wildlife biologists in the Sheridan and Newcastle areas. They think the sharptail season will be about average in northern Wyoming, based on last year’s numbers and good overwinter survival. Sharptails only occupy a few pockets of northeast Wyoming with limited public land hunting opportunities.

Keaton Weber, WGFD’s biologist in the Wheatland area, points out, “Some portions of southeastern Wyoming entered moderate drought conditions as early as the first week of June. These dry conditions caused very poor growth of both cool- and warm-season grasses, and likely caused poor bug production for chick survival.” He is hopeful that the mild winter will offset the current drought, but with spring lek counts flatlined, the jury is out.

Weber notes that public sharptail access is limited in southeastern Wyoming, with “a decrease in CRP enrollment, so hunters should continue to take advantage of walk-in hunting areas.”

Season Details

Plains sharp-tailed grouse are open to hunting anywhere east of the continental divide (Hunt Area 1), while isolated Columbian sharptail populations in south central Wyoming are closed to hunting.

Wyoming residents can purchase a daily bird hunting license for $9.00, or an annual permit for $16.00. Nonresidents pay $22.00 for a daily permit or $74.00 for an annual license. Most annual licenses also require a $21.50 conservation stamp. Proof of hunter's safety education is required for most hunters.

Dates:

IMPROVING SAGE GROUSE NUMBERS IN WYOMING

Nyssa Whitford, lead sage grouse-sagebrush biologist for WGFD, predicts good sage grouse hunting in Wyoming this season. "Preliminary data from lek observations this spring seem encouraging. We expect populations to continue on their upward trend in terms of number of birds and hunter success,” she says.

Spring hatch conditions were generally good state-wide, with just enough moisture to green up vegetation and kick off insect numbers. Neither severe weather nor late snowstorms had a significant impact.

However, summer brought a long drought with record-breaking temperatures. The effect of this heatwave on brood survival is yet to be seen, but it could lead to tough foraging for young birds, especially as insect hatches drop off.

Hunter experience may vary depending on region. Whitford says, “The population is not increasing consistently statewide. In general, larger increases are being observed in areas with higher quality habitat.” Southern Wyoming may be a better target for hunters, as near-normal winter precipitation contributed to better soil moisture there. Drought conditions worsen with northern extent across Wyoming.

Northeast Wyoming (Hunt Area 4) remains closed to sage grouse hunting for a second season. Jackson Hole (Hunt Area 3) and southeastern Wyoming (Hunt Area 2) have been closed to hunting for many years, leaving a broad swath of central and southwest Wyoming (Hunt Area 1) open to sage grouse hunting.

WGFD is rolling out a new sage grouse permit system for 2024. Nyssa Whitford explains, “This regulation aims to enhance our efforts to survey hunters about their experiences. After the sage grouse hunting season ends, hunters will receive a harvest survey specifically for sage grouse.” All sage grouse hunters are required to carry the free permit, including falconry, lifetime, and pioneer license holders. Only hunters under age 14 are exempt, unless they opt to buy an upland license. Everyone else needs both a sage grouse permit and an upland bird license.

Season Details

Like sharp-tailed grouse, sage grouse can be pursued with an over-the-counter bird hunting license (see above). Starting this season, hunters also need a free sage grouse hunting permit. This permit will not be available at license retailers, but can be obtained at WGFD’s website, bit.ly/sg-permit. Dog training on sage grouse out of season is prohibited in Wyoming.

Dates:

Josh Tatman adventures and writes from home in northern Wyoming.