Region 4 Upland Game Bird Forecast

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Upland bird hunters should find mostly average to above average conditions this fall in north central Montana, state wildlife biologists say.

Hunting season starts statewide Sept. 1 for Hungarian partridge and sharp-tailed, sage and mountain grouse. For pheasants, the season begins Oct. 13.

Sage grouse populations are spotty in Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 4, north central Montana. Better populations exist in eastern Montana.

But the other upland birds should have good numbers, with some exceptions.

Near Conrad, wildlife biologist Gary Olson says sharptails and Huns will be a little below average.

“I’m not hearing good reports for Huns and sharptails,” Olson says. “Hun brood sizes are way down and sharptail spring counts were not great.”

Pheasants numbers, however, show better promise for the hunter.

“They should be average or above average,” Olson says. “The problem is where are pheasants going to find water. East of Conrad has water, but west and north of Conrad are dry.”

The biggest obstacle for hunters will be finding a place to hunt.

“A lot of landowners are nervous about fire, and I don’t blame them,” Olson says.

Around Great Falls, the outlook for all three species is brighter.

“We had lots of broods of young birds,” wildlife biologist Cory Loecker says. “It is as good as last year in most places.”

The key has been good spring moisture and plenty of insects, Loecker says.

The one glitch, besides landowner concerns about fire, is hail. Some areas – especially around Geyser and Stanford – where hit hard by hail in June as young birds were hatching.

“Find areas were hailstorms didn’t hit,” Loecker advises.

Mountain grouse – ruffed and blue – are only hunted by a dedicated few, but those hunters should be cheered by Loecker’s news: “There are lots of mountain grouse.”

Near Lewistown, wildlife biologist Tom Stivers looks forward to a promising fall for birds.

“We had a pretty good year,” Stivers says. “We had good numbers over-winter and a productive spring. I’m pretty optomistic; it’s looking to be a good year.”