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Idaho is the only location where you can add wild chukar and Hungarian (grey) partridge, along with dusky (blue) or ruffed grouse within a short drive or hike from sharp-tailed grouse and sage grouse range.

Sure, the hunting conditions can be a bit more "rugged" than the average prairie hunt. but you're not going to let that stop you, are you?

Last year, sage grouse numbers experienced a nice increase across all zones established by Idaho's Department of Fish & Game (IDFG) while sharptail lek counts were the best in over a decade.

IDFG sage grouse specialist Jennifer Struthers shared her thoughts: "In 2024 Idaho had its highest sage grouse harvest since the start of our tag system in 2021, and the highest harvest for sharptails in 15 years."

Idaho's Southeast region is where sage and sharptailed grouse exist in close enough proximity that same-day hunting is possible. With a little research, multiple game bird species can be located to complete a very extraordinary mixed-bag hunting opportunity.

Easy Winter

All sources agreed that winter survival of both sage grouse and sharptails was very good.

In the southeastern corner of the state, Pratt Griffeth is a Coordinating Wildlife Biologist for Pheasants Forever out of the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Preston office. He shared this detailed report:

"Southeastern Idaho experienced mild temperatures with shallower snow depth in the valleys below 4500 feet, with average snowfall in the mountains."

Tim Swearingen, Regional Wildlife Diversity Biologist for IDFG and long-time southeastern Idaho resident, specifically noted that regional sage grouse, known for their incredible migration into Wyoming, instead largely over-wintered on the Idaho desert lowlands due to relatively mild winter conditions.

Struthers described spring grouse production in this way: "Counts this spring were similar to 2024's incredible numbers for both species." Swearingen offered this report: "Incidental observations while conducting big game aerial surveys and other winter work showed grouse numbers above average."

Moving over to the southwestern corner of the Gem State, I chatted with Connor White, Project Coordinator for the Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-grouse Habitat (BOSH) Project.

White, an employee of PF & QF and a serious upland hunter, had this to say about regional sage grouse: "Over-winter survival is always excellent for sage grouse and, based on regional lek counts, this year was no different. They were stable to increasing from the 2024 counts, which was an excellent bird year."

White was up-beat about the BOSH project's observable success: "IDFG was flying their normal lek-count this spring in the Owyhees and found some potentially new leks in the process."

Though it takes several years to classify as an official lek, this was an exciting new development.

The observed increase in Idaho seems to correspond with neighboring Oregon's research findings of a 12% increase in sage grouse numbers in areas where habitat had been restored by conifer removal.

Summer Concerns

Winter was on the easy side, but summer conditions have been tough across Idaho: dry with very little rain.

Rachel Curtis, IDFG Regional Wildlife Biologist out of Nampa, reported: "Idaho's southwestern region started out with good numbers of sage grouse this spring, and we're encountering grouse frequently on the landscape. Recently dry conditions are not ideal for brood-rearing; while we see broods often, they're generally small."

Griffeth had similar concerns. "In the Southeast, vegetation is taking a hit from the drought. If broods are going to survive, they will rely heavily on crowded wet meadow/mesic/riparian areas while trying to avoid predators."

Swearingen agreed, then added a bright spot, "We've had a boom in mormon crickets - the most I have ever seen! This likely provided a high-quality food source for hens and broods in portions of the Southeast."

Fall Predictions

Struthers summarized everyone's thoughts: l "Due to the summer drought, hunters may encounter slightly lower productivity than last year and there may be fewer juveniles. But overall, we anticipate average to above average hunting conditions for both species this year."

In the Southwest, Curtis and White remained positive as well. Both expressed their belief that it will be another good year for sage grouse hunting; even if brood survival wasn't ideal, the carryover from a mild winter should be remarkable.

Good Advice

Due to extremely dry conditions, all experts implore hunters to park on gravel or dirt to avoid starting range fires. Griffeth notes, "Fire can be a great tool when used strategically. But fire can allow cheatgrass to invade and expand which destroys native habitat." It is also a danger to rangeland and livestock.

Indeed, cheatgrass, cactus and rocky conditions require closer attention to our canine companions. Many grouse zones are hot, dry and covered in "pointy" vegetation and jagged basalt rock. Along with adequate water breaks, well-made dog paw protection is advised.

Last, but not least, be wary of rattlesnakes.

Here is some further consideration for our canine companions.

The amount of water you can carry is a huge determining factor when you're hunting regions that grouse inhabit. It determines how far you can hike, how long you can hunt, and, if estimates fail, how many days you'll be able to hunt.

I suggest parking your vehicle appropriately in the center of an area. Use your vehicle as a "re-filling station," allowing you to spoke out and hunt portions of your intended hunting area more effectively.

Season Details

• IDFG has 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 maximum of two tags per hunter. Due to its slight complexity, it is important that prospective hunters research sage grouse information.
• Check out important sage grouse hunting details here.
• Sales for the limited sage grouse tags began August 1 and are required for the season that runs from September 20 to October 31.
  • Price for residents - $22.75; nonresidents - $74.25
• A permit required for sharp-tailed grouse may be purchased any time for the season that runs October 1 thru 31.
  • Price for residents - $4.75; nonresident - $17.75

• In addition, you will need an Idaho annual license:
  • Residents (adult-hunting) - $15.75
  • Non-Residents, (small game hunting) - $141.75
  • 3-Day (small game hunting) - $71.75

• For more information, check Idaho's upland regulations.
• For access opportunities, go to the IDF&G "Access-Yes!" program page.

There's almost always a "ying" and a "yang" to upland bird predictions.

Barring outright disaster, or the rare spring where all the stars align, weather and habitat conditions typically create both positives and negatives for birds. The outlook for Kansas prairie grouse in 2025 stays true to that trend.

Drought has dominated the conversation on habitat in Kansas for years, as dry conditions persisted across vast portions of the Great Plains.

That trend began to break in 2024, with more widespread rainfall across key areas for upland birds. This year brought more moisture, which helped habitat recover. However, excess rains during key periods can also hurt survival for very young broods, and that will likely impact numbers in Kansas this year

"Any time other areas of the country were in the news this summer for tornadoes and other bad weather, Kansas was getting hit with short but intense rainfalls," said Tyler Rafter, Pheasants Forever's Kansas state coordinator. Wichita flooded almost entirely in June, which was pretty unprecedented "All that rain is good for habitat regrowth after the fact, but some of the nests and young broods may have taken a hit."

Habitat Conditions and Outlook for Fall

While there are both positive and negative impacts at play in Kansas this year, prairie chickens tend to be hardier than pheasants or quail. Their numbers typically remain more stable year over year, and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) wildlife biologist James Svaty expects that trend to continue in central Kansas.

"We've been staying fairly steady. We haven't had a big swing one way or another in the last ten years," Svaty said. "Drought just isn't quite as hard on our prairie chickens as it is on pheasants and quail. It can definitely affect nesting cover, things get grazed a little harder and more things get hayed, but I still think the chickens are more resilient to all that."

East-central Kansas has seen more rain this spring, and habitat looks to be in good shape. But human factors are also at play in the Flint Hills that could negatively impact bird numbers, according to KDWP small game coordinator Caleb Durbin.

"What we've seen recently is the time when most individuals were burning their land tended to overlap with the nesting time for chickens, which resulted in removal of residual cover for nesting and may have affected production," Durbin said. "This, on top of the cool wet weather during the peak hatch and brooding, does not bode well for chickens brood survival."

The outlook for north-central Kansas is mostly positive. Much of this area got quality rainfall this spring and summer, which brought a much-needed boost to habitat after years of drought. Ill-timed rains could have cost the area some young broods; but overall, conditions are trending in the right direction.

"We did have cool, wet weather during the peak hatch which likely impacted chick survival," said Jeff Prendergast, KDWP's upland gamebird program coordinator. "But I expect with the rains we've had we'll see improvements in chicken densities — particularly in the Smoky Hills, which had been hit with intense drought over the last two to three years."

Western Kansas also had ample rainfall this spring, and should boast good grouse numbers this season. Longtime bird hunter and Pheasant Forever corespondent Jim Millensifer hunts primarily in Northwest Kansas, and said the area looks good heading into fall.

"Overall, our moisture has been very positive," Millensifer he said. "There hasn't been too much, and we didn't have significant ugly storms with frozen rain or hail. I was talking to a friend recently that lives near Selden and it's still pretty dry up there, but about everywhere else has received pretty doggone good rain."

Much of the empirical data surrounding Kansas prairie chickens this spring is not yet finalized or available. But anecdotally, Millensifer is hearing good reports in his area.

"All the conversations I'm having are that brood counts are up," he said. "It's all been pretty positive."

In the off-season, Millensifer conducts lek viewings for lesser prairie chickens, which are a federally protected species and not open to hunting. This year he guided over 250 clients on these tours throughout numerous properties across Southwest Kansas, and his counts over this period were up 25 percent from last year. Lesser and greater prairie chickens inhabit significantly different parts of western Kansas, but Millensifer has noticed a correlation between the two in years past.

"2024 viewings were down from 2023, and 2024 greater prairie chickens that I saw hunting were also down from the previous year," he said. "So it did correlate last year, but whether that was an anomaly or not, I don't know."

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 KDWP official prairie chicken unit map here.

Also, while Kansas has ample public access through its Walk-in Hunting Access (WIHA) program, hunters should make sure the specific parcel they plan to hunt is open. Not all WIHA land opens at the same time. Prendergast with KDWP also mentioned challenges with access in Kansas this year, as the walk-in landscape changes across the state.

"Access opportunities continue to slowly decline as we compete with other private interests," he said, "as well as changes in land cover and land ownership changes."

Season Details

• Greater Prairie Chicken: Sept 15, 2025 to Jan 31, 2026
  • Daily bag limit: 2
  • Possession limit: 8

• Nonresident Annual Hunt Permit - $127.50
• Nonresident Youth (under age 16) Annual Hunt Permit - $42.50
• Resident Annual Hunt Permit - $27.50
• Prairie Chicken Permit - $2.50

In the scheme of prairie grouse hunting, the king of ruffed grouse states does not make most travelling prairie grouse hunters' radar screens.

That's just fine if you ask a Minnesota sharptail hunter. We'll be out there just the same, on hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands, chasing the king of prairie grouse.

But you are invited.

Minnesota annually harvests between 10,000 and 22,000 sharptails. Hunting is limited to the northwest quadrant of the state, the sharptail's key range in the North Star State.

Lucky resident draw recipients (125 of them) also get to hunt prairie chickens in a strip roughly 50 miles wide and 200 miles north to south, running along the eastern beach of Glacial Lake Agassiz, just south of the state's primary sharptail range.

Sharptail Overview

The average number of sharp-tailed grouse per lek in the northwest was 12 this year, compared to 15.3 last year. In 2024, the northwest sharp-tailed grouse population was the highest it's been since 2009, according to spring population counts conducted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and cooperating organizations.

"Our bird numbers at sharp-tailed grouse leks were pretty good this year, though not quite as good as last year, which was very good," says Charlotte Roy, Grouse Project Leader with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

"Our managers have been working really hard on the habitat side, so I am sure hunters will find lots of great habitat out there," adds Roy. "If you can find one of these areas that escaped 2-inch rainfalls during nesting and while chicks were little, I'm sure you can get into some birds."

Let's take our annual tour of Minnesota's sharptail country up in the prairies and aspen parklands toward the Canada border.

Red Lake Area

"Red Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is on the forested edge of good sharptail habitat, but we do conduct some lek surveys on the west side of our work area," says Charlie Tucker, Manager of Red Lake WMA for the Minnesota DNR.

"Lek attendance was average this spring, except we did count one lek with 44 birds, which was a record high for our area going back at least a couple decades," he says. "Whether that large lek was actually a good sign, or the result of habitat loss and the convergence of birds from several leks into one lek I do not know. This area continues to see conversion of pasture and brushland into row crops."

"June was relatively dry," Snavely reports, "so there should have been good hatching success and chick survival in eastern Roseau County."

Thief Lake Area

"The Thief Lake area saw good sharpie lek attendance, with numerous leks having 20+ birds present during counts this spring," Kyle Arola, Thief Lake Area Wildlife Manager for the Minnesota DNR.

"We have not seen many broods this summer," he adds, “but that seems to be typical."

"There are a lot of opportunities in the Northwest on the large WMAs for those willing to put a few miles on the boots," he says.

"Sharpie numbers in the Pennington, Red Lake, and the southern half of Marshall County, have been stable the past couple years," adds Doug Franke, Area Wildlife Supervisor based out of Thief River Falls.

"I manage WMAs in six townships on the western edge of Beltrami County," he adds. “Sharpie numbers have steadily declined in this area the past few years due primarily to the loss of private grass to CRP loss and crops."

Baudette Area

"Lek counts were slightly down in the Baudette area this spring," says Bob Schmidt, Minnesota DNR Area Wildlife Manger based out of Baudette.

"We still had good overall numbers observed though, with some leks being active for the first time in a while," he reports. "We averaged about 10 sharpies per lek this year, down from about a 13 long-term average."

"June was dry," he says, "so hatching success should have been good. We do expect plenty of sharptails available for folks to chase this fall… and there is plenty of great public land in the area to do so on."

Karlstad Area

"Our sharptail surveys this spring we very comparable to last spring," says Jason Wollin, Wildlife Supervisor in the Karlstad Area for the Minnesota DNR.

"May and June were a dry time for nesting, but July was wetter," he adds. That could be a good recipe for bird production as well as habitat quality.

"We have a large landscape of WMA and Nature Conservancy lands that have great habitat for both sharp-tailed and ruffed grouse," he says. "I think that hunting this fall should be average to good."

Roseau River Area

"It seemed like the peak lek attendance was early this year, and with the unusually warm weather which I attribute to our counts being all over the board," says Tom Enright, Area Wildlife Supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the sprawling Roseau River WMA.

"We were very dry this spring, and the conditions remained so through June, which should have improved nest success," he adds. "July, on the other hand, saw one spotty storm after another which may have reduced survival in areas."

"The fall hunting forecast is probably average, which in my mind is promising with all the CRP that has gone back into production," he concludes. "The WMAs on my work area are more lowland in nature and generally have better later season opportunities than private lands."

Prairie Chickens

"Prairie-chickens were down a bit in the core of the range this year, likely because of the minimal snow cover for roosting during some really, really cold weeks this winter," says Roy.

Greater prairie-chickens were surveyed in all 17 survey blocks during the spring of 2025. Observers located 41 booming grounds and counted 460 males and birds of unknown sex in the survey blocks. When areas outside the survey blocks are included, observers located 102 booming grounds, 955 male prairie-chickens, and 56 birds of unknown sex.

These results are similar to densities during recent years, and during the 10 years preceding modern hunting seasons (i.e., 1993-2002), but lower than the peak in booming grounds/km2 in 2007 when Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands were common.

"There have been regular rain events in 2025 on a weekly basis during the past two months with, some drier conditions back in April and May," adds Snavely regarding the state's prairie chicken range. Hopeful news for a good hatch.

"To be to be successful this year in the northern permit areas for prairie chickens, hunters may need to cover more ground than they're used to," says Snavely.

Sharptails seem to be making significant encroachments southwards into the state's prairie chicken range, sometimes displacing the less-aggressive chickens.

Season Details

• Sharp-tailed Grouse: September 13 - November 30
  • Daily Bag Limit: 3
  • Possession: 6
  • Area: North of U.S. Highway 2
• Prairie Chickens: September 27 - October 5
  • Season Bag Limit: 2 Birds
  • Areas: See map here

Montana's 2024 sharp-tailed grouse season was an interesting contradiction of long searches to locate a few pairs and singles, or collecting a limit of giggling grouse during a short trek across the prairie.

I guess I just described prairie grouse hunting in general, didn't I?

This year's conditions seem ripe for a good upland bird season. Bu that's an armchair quarterback's perspective. What do the regional pros have to say? Let's find out!

Region 4: North-Central Montana

"Region 4 is large but, generally, all along the Rocky Mountain Front and the western Hi-Line experienced below average snowfall and average winter temperatures." That was Matthew Strauch, Game Bird Specialist for Montana Fish, Wildlife & PARK (MTFWP) and his assessment of the region's winter conditions.

Dissecting the region further, Strauch said: "The eastern parts of Region 4 (Great Falls to Lewistown) experienced several strong winter storms. These storms produced heavy snowfall and strong winds. However, spring surveys showed populations handled the winter conditions better than expected."

Moving into spring, Strauch observed, "Spring brought average temperatures and precipitation which was great for habitat conditions. Sharp-tailed grouse lek counts were mostly up from 2024, still slightly below the historical average. Sage grouse counts showed a similar upward tilt as compared to the previous two years."

Strauch added some concern. "The region around Great Falls experienced some large hailstorms in early summer," he said, "and this year's crop harvest seems to have been slightly ahead of normal which could have a combined (negative) effect on nest success and brood survival."

Fall conditions should be good, but it is important for hunters (and their dogs) to be prepared for long hikes and to be able to identify the best habitat to focus their hunting efforts on. Certainly, knowing what to look for will allow for some "e-scouting" that might save some travel time and steps in the field.

Region 6: Northeastern Montana

Scott Hemmer, MTFWP Biologist in Region 6, took a few minutes between forays to the field to provide this report: "I would say that in my part of the state (western Region 6) we had good winter survival. We had a relatively mild winter until February, and did not have too much snow."

Hemmer continued: "Due to good conditions last year and the milder winter, lek counts for both sage and sharp-tailed grouse were up from last year. However, prairie grouse numbers remain slightly below the long-term average due to the extreme drought conditions of 2021 and '22."

Indeed, research showed that the statewide sage grouse population in spring 2024 was only down less than 1% from the previous year, but reduced by about 30% from the 2021 peak.

In the spring of 2023, Region 6 determined that the count of male sage grouse was 26% lower than in 2022 and 36% below the long-term average, (2004-2024). Proving, at least deductively, that the drought years had a significant effect on sage grouse numbers. But conditions since may have the birds rebounding.

Hemmer confirmed that this year's overall conditions were conducive to a promising nesting season. "We had good nesting conditions this spring," he said, "with good residual cover from last year, and assume nest success was relatively good." Brood survival is more of a guessing game until brood surveys can be compiled later in August and, of course, when uplanders begin moving birds in September.

For news on the eastern portion of Region 6, I contacted Scott Thompson out of the MTFWP Glasgow office.

"In the far-northeastern corner of Montana, the conditions of last summer, going into winter, seemed to have an effect on the sharptailed grouse numbers going into this spring," Thompson said.

The winter in the Northeast corner wasn't extreme, and there was good moisture, but very dry spring conditions have scorched the habitat, which had Thompson concerned about brood survival.

Thompson notes, "Lek counts were down about 18%, which places those numbers slightly below average." Both Thompson and Hemmer agreed that determining nesting success and brood survival at this point is difficult.

Long-time resident and Pheasant's Forever's new Farm Bill Manager for Montana, Stephanie Berry, had summer concerns for the northeastern corner of Region 6.

"Summer started out hot and dry," Berry said. "Some crop and hay fields were slow to grow initially. Daniels County in particular spent 8 weeks in D2 (severe drought) status."

Now late into the summer, the weather has turned more positive. "In the past couple weeks, we have had a number of large storms rolling through with rain," Berry said. "Things are looking better and greener now than a couple weeks ago."

Putting his boots to the flame, Hemmer gave me his prediction: "As of right now, I would expect it to be a decent year for bird hunting in the western part of Region 6 based on the improved spring counts and good nesting conditions."

But the far Northeast may require effort, "It seems that the sharptail numbers have fallen slightly from the peak of the 2022 and '23 seasons. There'll be birds to hunt but they may be fewer and farther apart," Thompson reported. Berry concurred: "I expect there should be plenty of birds on the landscape. Hunters may need to be patient though."

Region 4: Southeastern Montana

Eastern Montana regional experts seem to agree that overall winter weather conditions were quite tolerable.

One of the driest portions of Big Sky Country lies within Montana's Region 7. Regional MTFWP Upland Bird Specialist, Justin Hughes, shared his reflection on the recent winter weather.

"Overall, bouts of weather (cold and snow) came and went throughout the winter," Hughes said, "Good habitat conditions and moderate snow levels spelled good news for prairie birds. Coming out of winter, grouse survival was fair to good across southeastern Montana."

"The winter weather abruptly ended and lead to a very dry spring," Hughes said. "Nesting conditions were ideal which should be reflected by the hatch and chick production. Although dry early, moisture has picked up since the hatch."

Henry Hastig, President of the Baker Chapter of PF, shared his observations.

"We had fairly dry conditions in April and May," Hastig said, "but late June and July were abnormally wet." Painting in broader strokes, Hughes noted, "The region is large and experiences a wide variety of weather. Overall, a vast majority of the region didn't receive much moisture until late June and into July."

"I like watching prairie grouse on some leks I know of, and there seemed to be plenty dancing this spring," Hastig recalled.

"Conditions have been conducive for good crops of upland birds the last few years." Hastig commented. "I think that bird numbers are good. It may be a special year for Huns; last year being the best ever for Huns, in my opinion."

Given good carryover and this year's conditions, hunters should expect to find good grouse numbers … with, as always, a little work.

"Birds will be very spread out due to the good habitat conditions," warned Hastig. Hughes always advises pre-scouting online to locate the best habitat and past weather conditions. "By being somewhat mobile, seeking out the best-looking habitat, hunters should find a vest full of birds," concluded Hughes.

Prevent Wildfires

All experts placed wildfire concerns as their top priority. Last year, a rancher relayed a horrific tale about a wildfire that devastated his herd of grazing cattle. He may never allow public access again. Remember: To prevent loss of life and property, keep rubber on the gravel and use boot leather to hunt for birds.

When accessing property through gates and field approaches, park appropriately at a distance that allows access for large farm equipment.

Season Details

• Sharp-tailed Grouse: September 1 - January 1, 2026
  • Daily Bag Limit: 4
  • Possession: 4 times the daily bag limit
• Sage Grouse: September 1 - 30
  • Daily Bag Limit: 2
  • Possession: 2 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, Grey (Hungarian) Partridge will share the prairie with grouse and the season coincides with sharp-tails: September 1 thru January 1, 2026 with a daily limit of 8.
• For additional information on current upland game bird enhancement projects, check-out the annual Montana UGBEP Projects Access Guide.

• Base Hunting License:
  • $10 - Residents
  • $15 - Non-residents
• Conservation Fee:
  • $4 - Residents ages 12-17 and over 62
  • $8 - Ages 18-61 years
  • $10 - Non-residents
• Season Upland Game Bird License:
  • $7.50 - Residents ages 18 - 61
  • $3.75 - Ages 12-17*, Senior (62+) or Disabled
  • $55 - Non-residents ages 12-17*
  • $110 - Non-residents ages 18 and over
  • You must have a free permit to hunt sage grouse.
• 3-day Upland Game Bird License:
  • $50 - Non-residents
  • The license is not valid for sage grouse at any time or for ring-necked pheasants during the opening week of season.

* Ages 10 & 11 may be eligible to hunt, see regs for complete information.

The 2025 prairie grouse season in Nebraska is shaping up to be a step forward in the long recovery from drought-induced lows of grouse numbers over the past few years.

While the road to full recovery is ongoing, both habitat conditions and bird numbers are trending in the right direction, and biologists are cautiously optimistic.

"Last fall's bird numbers were good — as good or better than we were hoping for, given a relatively low harvest the previous year," says Greg Wright, a U.S. Forest Service biologist based in the Sandhills.

"I think that after a few years of poor bird production, hunter habits get broken and they explore new areas … so hunting pressure is a little slower to rebound after," says Wright. "It is a lot like a lake that gets fished out - it takes a couple of years for people to rediscover it once it recovers."

Wright notes that harvest numbers remained below the long-term average in 2024, but field observations suggested solid grouse numbers. Factors like low hunting pressure - lingering from previous poor years - may have skewed the harvest data lower than actual bird numbers.

Bryan O'Connor, Upland Game Program Manager with Nebraska Game and Parks, agrees that last fall marked a clear improvement for hunting. "We had nearly double the number of wings turned into our grouse wing survey compared to the year before, and juvenile-to-adult ratios for both sharptails and prairie chickens were up," he says.

Nesting and Brood-Rearing

Although Nebraska entered spring 2025 on the dry side, both Wright and O'Connor report that timely rains in May and early June helped set the stage for productive nesting. Warm-season grasses responded well, and habitat across much of the grouse range is now rated as fair to excellent.

"My only fear was the impact of heavy rain and storms during the peak hatch in early June," O'Connor says. "But field reports of broods look good, so it seems the impact was minimal."

Wright echoes the sentiment. "Cool season grass production was a bit low due to early dryness, and plants may be a little shorter than average - but overall conditions look good. I've seen broods on the ground, which is always a promising sign."

Public Access and Where to Hunt

For hunters heading afield this fall, Nebraska's vast public lands remain the cornerstone of prairie grouse opportunity. The Nebraska National Forest at Halsey, Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest, and Valentine National Wildlife Refuge are perennial favorites due to their size and quality habitat.

O'Connor recommends not overlooking the Open Fields and Waters (OFW) walk-in access program. "We have around 409,000 acres enrolled in OFW, and that doesn't even include our upcoming stubble acres," he says. "There's great access out there."

The eastern Sandhills continue to provide some of the best hunting for prairie chickens, while sharp-tailed grouse are more prevalent in the central and western Sandhills. OFW parcels in southwestern Nebraska also offer good opportunities, especially in Chase, Lincoln and Hayes counties.

Wright notes that "recently rested" maps for the Bessey and McKelvie units will be available again this fall to help hunters locate lower-pressure areas. "And please, deposit your wings in the collection boxes," he adds. "That data is vital for long-term management."

A Prairie Optimism

Thanks to mild winter conditions and healthy spring carryover of birds, Nebraska's grouse breeding population entered the 2025 season on a strong note. Combined with improved habitat and observed brood success, expectations are for solid bird numbers this fall —if not yet a full bounceback, then at least a continued climb.

"I'm generally an optimist," Wright says. "But I genuinely believe hunting conditions this fall will be slightly above average."

Hunting Tips

Nebraska's grouse country is rugged and remote. Bring plenty of water, carry tools to help your dog with porcupines or burrs, and pick your days wisely (to be clear: watch the heat factor for your dog).

"Grouse hunting is a miles-per-bird game, not birds-per-mile," Wright says. "Focus on cooler mornings and evenings, or plan for all-day walks on mild days."

O'Connor reminds hunters that success often comes from observation and adjustment. "Break up big landscapes into manageable units. When you find birds, take note of the habitat — they're usually keying in on something."

Season Details

• A free East Zone Prairie Grouse Permit is required to hunt east of U.S. Highway 81.
• No new regulations are in effect for 2025.
• Stay informed by checking current OFW access maps and the 2024 Grouse Wing Survey Report.

• Sept. 1, 2025 - Jan. 31, 2026

• Resident: $18 annual (+$25 habitat stamp)
• Nonresident: $109 annual or $76 two-day
• Youth (under 16): $18 (nonresident)

• Public Access Atlas
• UNL Drought Monitor
• Grouse Wing Survey

You'd be hard pressed to find someone who has a more intimate connection to North Dakota's sharp-tailed grouse than Seth Owens.

Owens, of Bismarck, is the education and outreach coordinator for Pheasants Forever in North Dakota. From March to May, he hosts public viewing tours on their birds' display grounds, or leks. In the fall, he hunts the native bird — which he calls the icon of the prairie — with gusto. He's hoping for a good season.

"Grassland habitat looks very promising right now," said Owens. "We've gotten a lot of rain over the last few weeks. It's really lush out here for this time of year. We'll see what happens come fall."

Jesse Kolar, upland game management supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish in Dickinson, agrees. "Right now, it's as green as it gets in North Dakota in August,"he said. "So sharptail and pheasant habitat looks really good. And the added moisture has certainly helped with insect production, which chicks subsist on and need to survive."

However, Kolar says North Dakota has been in a wet cycle throughout late spring and summer. Intense thunderstorms, hail and even tornados hit isolated areas. On one hand, the moisture was needed to fortify grasslands after a dry winter. On the other, Kolar says the heavy, isolated rains likely flooded nests in some areas.

"Hail is extremely hard on chicks, too, so we'll have to wait and see," he said. "Right now, we're just not seeing a lot of broods or adults on the landscape, but there's also a lot of cover out there, too. On a typical year, they don't start showing up until the end of August."

In areas that didn't get hit with hail, Kolar believes grouse chick survival will be better than normal. "Better cover means less predation, and we're not lacking for cover," he said. "Hens will also renest up to three times if their eggs haven't hatched. You don't get the large clutch sizes, but they will renest."

Kolar says will know more about sharptail production after the agency completes its summer roadside brood count survey. "I'll have a more complete picture then," said Kolar, adding the survey's results will be released in early September. "But I think we're looking at an average year."

RJ Gross, upland game biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish, said even if production is down, hunters shouldn't allow that to dampen their enthusiasm for this year's season. North Dakota is in the birds' core range, he said, and the state is replete with public land (state and federal) to hunt. That includes the popular Private Land Open To Sportsmen (PLOTS) program, which will have about 800,000 acres open for public walk-in access this season.

"Do your homework," said Gross. "Target native prairie and pasture that's no more than shin-high."

Last year, 21,660 hunters in North Dakota harvested 73,010 birds. By comparison, 21,512 hunters harvested 67,710 sharptails in 2023. According to the North Dakota Game and Fish, counties with the "highest percentage of sharptails taken"were Divide, Hettinger, Williams, Morton and Bowman.

"Those are great counties for sharptail hunters to target," said Kolar.

In general, Kolar says southwestern North Dakota, which includes the popular Little Missouri National Grassland, and the Northwest, are two of the state's best sharptail regions.

"I've just started to see a few sharptail broods, with some that hit that eight-chick mark," said Ryan Hammargren, a Forest Service employee who helps with the state's spring lek surveys at the Little Missouri. "I'd be surprised if we didn't have a similar season to last year, which was pretty good for sharptails and Huns."

Renee Tomala is Senior Field Representative for Pheasants Forever in North Dakota. She's also the president of the Dakota PF chapter in Bismarck. Along with her four-year-old German wirehaired pointer Quill, Tomala says she'll be hunting sharptails "as much as I can"beginning on the September opener.

"I love sharptails because they're a native bird," she said. "They might be adapted to this environment, but they endure a lot. And they are not easy to hunt."

Tomala has some friendly advice for early-season hunters who have similar plans. North Dakota in early September, she says, can be hot and humid. Daytime temperatures routinely hit 80 or even 90 degrees.

"You have to be mindful of your dog in that situation," she said. "If you're new to North Dakota, September can be a little shocking out here, even if you do prepare for it. Dogs hit a different gear when they're hunting. It's just way different than regular exercise. You have to protect them from the heat. You have to protect them from themselves."

Tomala recommends hunting early. "When it's warm, I'm usually done by 10 a.m.," she said. "Take breaks. Take shorter walks. Make sure your dog has access to fresh water. I even carry an umbrella so my dog can get some shade when we're walking back to the vehicle. No bird is worth jeopardizing the health of your dog over."

Season Details

• Sharp-tailed Grouse: Sept. 13, 2025 - Jan. 4, 2026

• Nonresident Small Game License (must choose between a 14-consecutive-day or two 7-consectutive-day license periods and may purchase more than one license per year) — $150
• Nonresident Small Game License under age 16 (same period choice as above) — N/A
• Resident Small Game License (age 16 or older) — $20

The above prices do not include the General Game and Habitat License, which is required — $20

• 3 grouse / 12 in possession

• 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset

To this point, the prairie grouse news coming out of South Dakota this year is positive.

Prairie grouse numbers took a notable upswing in 2024, with the state Game, Fish and Parks Department (SDGFP) reporting that nearly 19,000 hunters bagged close to 99,000 birds — the highest annual total in 25 years.

As usual, the heart of the action was in the central and western reaches of the state, where expansive grasslands continue to produce solid opportunities for sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chickens.

To make things even better, an extremely mild winter resulted in above-average over-winter grouse survival across the state's primary grouse range. While some dry conditions persisted in spots, plenty of residual habitat awaited breeding and nesting birds this spring.

"Prairie grouse hunting in South Dakota is often overshadowed by the state's reputation for pheasant hunting opportunities,"says Alex Solem, GFP's senior wildlife biologist and upland bird guru. "However, this state offers superb prairie grouse hunting, and after a year like we've had for weather conditions, a lot of folks should have prairie grouse hunting on their radar and experience just how good it can be."

Long story short? This year could be one for the books for grouse hunters in the Rushmore State.

Central and South-Central Regions
(GREGORY, HAAKON, JONES, LYMAN, MELLETTE, STANLEY AND TRIPP COUNTIES)

If last year's grouse hunting in central and south-central South Dakota felt good, it wasn't just your imagination, according to two biologists who work in the region.

"Grouse hunting in our area was great last year, with plenty of birds for everyone who spent time looking for them," reports Trent Walrod, Natural Resource Specialist with NRCS in Lyman County.

This spring started on the dry side in Walrod's area, with minimal snowmelt or early moisture. However, late-spring rains greened up the landscape and set the table for great nesting conditions from mid-May through mid-June.

While July brought dry conditions and some spotty hailstorms, Walrod says the silver lining came in the form of a bumper crop of grasshoppers — protein-rich forage for grouse, both young and mature.

Walrod reports seeing broods in the field, and is hearing similar reports from landowners and other biologists.

"The grouse habitat currently looks okay to decent, depending on when the areas were grazed and which pastures have caught the right rains," he continues. "I feel like I have said this every year, but we could use one or two day-long soaking rains and we would be primed for a good habitat season in the area. Some years we get that rain and sometimes we don't, so hunters should keep an eye on weather reports through the end of August and early September."

A few counties west, PF Farm Bill Biologist Zach Vilkauskas — who covers Jones, Mellette, Todd and Haakon counties — echoes a similarly upbeat outlook.

"Spring conditions were very good," he says. "We had a good amount of consistent rain and lower temperatures that kept the grass in good condition for the nesting grouse. There were no devastating storms in my coverage area that would have affected the nesting birds."

Brood-rearing conditions stayed favorable through summer in Vilkauskas' region, and his time in the field has been encouraging.

"What I am hearing from co-workers in my office and landowners is that it should be a nice year for grouse hunting. Everyone has been reporting seeing grouse on their properties and driving around heading out to the field," he reports. "I was out in the field today and had one adult and three young birds flush while I was walking through the field, and I know I heard more birds running around in the grass."

Grouse habitat in Vilkauskas' region is holding strong, and barring any major late-summer setbacks, he's expecting excellent bird numbers. Some areas have been grazed or hayed, but he encourages hunters not to dismiss those parcels.

"The best advice I could give grouse hunters would be not to ignore a field that has been hayed or grazed responsibly," he says. "Last year a friend took me to a hay field, saying there were lots of grouse, and at first I doubted him. However, that field ended up holding the most grouse I saw in one flush up to that point."

North-Central Region
(CAMPBELL, CORSON, EDMUNDS AND WALWORTH COUNTIES)

Pheasants Forever's Farm Bill Program Manager Tom Zinter hails from North-Central South Dakota, and reports that overall grouse numbers were pretty good in the region last year. He also said some stretches of extremely cold temperatures were about the only hurdles birds encountered last winter.

"We were very dry coming out of the winter, with many fearing a summer of severe drought," Zinter admits. "However, about the start of upland bird nesting, we did start to get consistent rains that have kept up for most of the summer. This has led to good grass growth and nesting conditions."

Zinter reports that summer weather has been a bit of a mixed bag, with hot, humid stretches in July giving way to bouts of heavy rain in recent weeks. Fortunately, in the north-central region, those storms brought much-needed moisture without causing significant flooding or habitat damage.

"Overall, I would rate our range lands as above average for this time of the year," he continues. "Those areas that primarily hold most of our grouse have good cover heading into fall. My position doesn't get me out in the field as much as in past years, but I have heard some first-hand reports from a few others of seeing grouse broods. The reports I heard spoke to good brood sizes of what would have been hatched out of a first nesting attempt."

"I'm expecting a year very similar to what we saw last year," Zinter concludes. "Hopefully we can keep some rain coming throughout August, and we could have even better huntable cover once the season kicks off. Bird numbers should be similar to last year, with good opportunities for the area."

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, says grouse hunting was fantastic last year.

"I have personal reports of hunting after work and shooting limits with my wife in under an hour, and I've heard similar stories from others who hunted in the area."

While portions of the state have been inundated with heavy rains as of late, Fricke reports that rainfall has been somewhat spotty out his way.

"Through the spring and into summer we have been getting great rainfall in the Wall area. This rain, however, has been picky on where it falls. For instance, south of the Badlands is in a severe drought and vegetation is scarce down there, so it will be smart to do some research on rainfall in those areas."

Overall, Fricke maintains that brooding conditions have been above average for the most part, and that habitat is generally looking good going into early fall, especially in the northern parts of the counties he covers.

The best part? Based on what he's seen and field reports he's received from landowners and friends, there is an excitement building as the season nears. Fricke says they all predict this year will be just as good as last year, if not better.

"A majority of the bird hunters will find out here are sharptails, but prairie chickens or hybrids are scattered around in places," Fricke says. "There are even a few Huns sprinkled in the mix. I have started to see more of those this year than the previous two years, which is exciting."

Due to some lingering drought and abnormally dry conditions, there are emergency haying and grazing measures in place in the southern portions of Jackson and Pennington counties, as of this writing.

"However, the good news is the U.S. Forest Service, which manages a majority of the public access down here, doesn't open lands for emergency haying or grazing, so there should still be plenty of cover to walk if your favorite WIA has been mowed," Fricke concludes.

Hunting Tip

"A tip I have found to be very successful from midday to late in the day is to hit shrub clumps during the early season," says Fricke. "I've found these birds like to tuck up in these clumps to get out of the heat, which can make for some very exciting flushes."

Take Advantage of Public Opportunities

Some of the best grouse hunting opportunities in the state are wide open to all.

The 116,000 acres of the Fort Pierre National Grassland in the central part of the state are probably the most well-known, offering prime mixed-bag habitat for sharptails, prairie chickens and pheasants.

Of note, lek surveys conducted this spring on the grassland revealed a 40% increase in displaying males compared to last year's already impressive numbers. In fact, after 50 years of tracking by the U.S. Forest Service, this year's count set an all-time high.

But well-known and hard-hunted Fort Pierre is not the only game in town. Two other national grasslands receive less pressure still provide a bevy of upland opportunities, primarily for sharptails.

In the southwest, the Buffalo Gap National Grassland spans over 600,000 acres. The Grand River National Grassland adds another 155,000 acres up north. Want some adventure away from the crowds? Check these areas out. Even better, call the local ranger stations, and they'll be glad to help point you in the right direction.

Throw in the thousands of acres of Walk-In Areas and other state and federal lands scattered throughout central and western South Dakota, and you've got no shortage of ground to explore.

For the full rundown of all the public land available, check out the online public hunting atlas at gfp.sd.gov. That, along with the mobile GoOutdoorsSD app, which has mapping and GPS technology, are must-have resources for DIY bird hunters.

Season Details

• South Dakota's grouse season opens statewide on September 20 and closes January 31, 2026. In the past, grouse seasons closed Jan. 1, but the new closing date of Jan. 31 aligns with the closing day of the state's pheasant season.
• Shooting hours are from sunrise to sunset, and the daily limit is three birds in total (sharptails, chickens or mixed bag), with a possession limit of 15.

Recent weather trends have been kind to Wyoming's native grouse.

Average snowfall and spring rain are a boon to sage grouse and sharp-tailed grouse, providing a shot-in-the-arm to grassland habitat, and making for good insect and food production. With few large-scale contributors to bird mortality (from blizzards to hailstorms), upland hunters can expect a good season in 2025.

A Decent Season for Sharp-Tailed Grouse

Sharp-tailed grouse don't get the same attention in Wyoming as in neighboring states, but pockets of good bird numbers can be found in the eastern half of the Cowboy State. Over the last few years, southeastern Wyoming sharptail hunting has been lackluster due to prolonged drought coupled with hailstorms that kill young birds.

The dry trend of the last few years may not be over, but it isn't as pronounced this year. Rainfall has been good. Plus, the 2025 severe weather season brought few storms to eastern Wyoming, so this season's crop of birds should have had a good chance of survival.

Northeastern Wyoming sharpies have been more stable recently, and that trend is likely to continue. Nick Yashko is Pheasant's Forever's Wyoming State Coordinator. He thinks, "Overall, it will be a good season ahead. Conditions seem to be very favorable in the northeastern part of the state. I have seen a lot of forbs, and brood-rearing habitat, while driving around."

Northeastern Wyoming is the best bet this year for sharptail junkies, but good covers are limited. The patchy habitat was further whittled down by multiple large wildfires in 2024. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) doesn't conduct population assessments on sharp-tailed grouse, so for hunters it is a bit of an unknown.

As Nick says, "There will be birds to chase, it is just a matter of burning boot leather."

• Plains sharp-tailed grouse are open to hunting east of the continental divide (Hunt Area 1). Mountain 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 hunters' safety education is required for most hunters.

• Hunt area 1 (eastern and north-central, see regulations booklet for map): Sept. 1 - Dec. 31
• Daily Bag: 3
• Possession: 9

Sage Grouse Numbers Holding in Wyoming

The last few years have brought regionally variable weather to Wyoming, but as a whole the state has enjoyed near-average precipitation this year. Mild winters mean just enough snow for a spring green-up, without deep blizzards that bury the sage that grouse eats in the winter.

Long-term drought persists in the southern half of the state, but Pheasants Forever's southern Wyoming Farm Bill Biologist Reese Wray is optimistic about the hunting season. "I went out on lek counts this spring, and bird numbers are up again. Thanks to several mild winters in a row I expect brood counts to be up this year."

Those who closely monitor nesting and brood rearing conditions have some concerns about the short rainy season this spring, but an uncharacteristic midsummer wet spell will likely carry the young-of-the-year birds through till fall.

Nyssa Whitford is WGFD's sage grouse-sagebrush biologist in Lander. She says, "Lek observations this spring seem encouraging. We expect population trends to continue upward in terms of number of birds and hunter success."

There is debate over whether sage grouse are subject to a 7- to 10-year population swing. Regardless, Wyoming's sage grouse numbers are likely as good as we will see for the short-term, given habitat limitations. Nyssa says, "Populations are expected to enter the downward phase of their cycle starting next year."

While sage grouse populations remain well below historic numbers rangewide, Wyoming is one of the last best places in North America to hunt the largest grouse. Don't expect uniformly bountiful numbers, but those that do their homework will find pockets that offer excellent hunting.

Northeastern Wyoming (Hunt Area 4) remains closed to sage grouse hunting this year. The declining populations in this region were further crippled by several large wildfires last summer. Much of northwestern Wyoming (Hunt Area 3) and southeastern Wyoming (Hunt Area 2) remain in long-term hunting closures due to limited sage grouse populations.

Last year, WGFD initiated a new sage grouse permit system to better monitor hunter take. All hunters (and falconers) over age 14 will need to obtain and carry the free permit before venturing afield.

• Sage grouse can be pursued by hunters who have an over-the-counter bird hunting license AND a free sage grouse hunting permit. This permit is available at WGFD offices and online at bit.ly/sg-permit. Dog training on sage grouse out of season is prohibited in Wyoming.

• Hunt area 1 (central and southwest, see regulations booklet for map): Sept. 20 - 30
• Hunt areas 2, 3, 4: closed
• Daily Bag: 2
• Possession: 4