Say the words sharp-tailed grouse and most bird hunters think of the windswept prairies of the Dakotas, the Sand hills of Nebraska or perhaps the high lonesome of eastern Montana.
Historically though, seven subspecies of sharp-tailed grouse were found in two thirds of the lower 48 states from Michigan to California, Alaska and in the Canadian provinces from Quebec west to the Yukon Territories. The New Mexico sharp tail subspecies was declared extinct in 1952, leaving six, some with huntable populations and others reduced to only remnants of their former populations. Good populations of sharp tails still exist in the northern Plains states, eastern Montana and Alaska, as well the Intermountain West.
Many bird hunters are surprised that the Mountain West states of Utah, Wyoming, Idaho and Colorado boast huntable populations of sharp-tailed grouse. The subspecies found there is the Columbian sharp tail, first noticed and categorized as a different subspecies from the Plains sharp tail by none other than Lewis and Clark. Of those four states, Idaho is reported to have some of the most robust populations and the longest season. As of press time, the season runs from Oct. 1–31 with roughly the eastern third of the state open to hunting. And the daily bag limit is two birds per day, four in possession. While there are more commonalties among sharp tail subspecies than differences, there are some unique habits of the Columbian subspecies that can make hunting for them a challenge. At times, the Columbian subspecies can be found near ruffed grouse habitat.
Habits and Habitats
This story is from the Autumn 2017 edition of The Upland Almanac.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Autumn 2017 edition of The Upland Almanac.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Luigi Franchi Imperial Monte Carlo Extra: One of Italy's "Best" SxS Doubles
As on London’s gun-maker’s row, Italians had skilled craftsmen who made “Best” guns of superb quality
An Upland Bird Hunter's Equipment in Need and Equipment Indeed...
From the first year I discovered upland bird hunting in my early teens, my search for the right clothing and equipment began in earnest. All you need to see to support this reality is to look at all the upland clothing and equipment I have stored from ceiling to floor in my garage and sportsman’s closet downstairs
Day's End - Making memories
Has there ever been a bird dog man or woman with a soul so dead that he or she has not been re-energized by the first cool days of September, by the first forecast of frost, by noting the opening days marked on the calendar so many months before?
A SIMPLE PLEASURE: THE HUNT LUNCH
In William Harnden Foster’s classic book, New England Grouse Shooting (1942), for which he wrote the text and provided numerous black-and-white sketches, he includes a wide-ranging catch-all chapter called “Grouse Shooting Outfits
PACKING for Success
I spend a lot of time these days chasing game birds. But it hasn’t always been this way
Shooting FAST and SLOW
Scientists have recently discovered that human brains operate in two settings – a fast, reactionary “fight or flight” mode (System 1) and a slow, considered, contemplative mode (System 2)
Private Lands, Public Access
“Just what lies behind that fence?”
Early Season - GREATER PRAIRIE CHICKEN HUNTING
Greater prairie chickens are tailor-made for early fall gunning. Young birds hatch early enough to be nearly full-grown by September, offering lots of potential targets in good habitat
QUAIL Struggle to Survive a Multitude of KILLERS
By some estimates, the wild bobwhite population in the U.S. has declined 70 to 80% since the 1960s
Journeys Shared: A Worcester Letter
Hi Bob, Just finished the sensational roller coaster “memoir-style” essays of man and bird dog(s) that you and Dave Smith assembled and put into print