Upland Game Bird Hunting Outlook

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Montana’s upland game bird hunters appear to have a favorable season of hunting ahead.

"An open, mild winter made for good bird survival," said Rick Northrup, FWP upland and migratory bird coordinator. "Wet weather across most of the state into early June also favored birds. Timely spring moisture is very important for insect production and for providing good nesting and brood-rearing cover."

Most upland game bird hunting seasons open Sept. 1. The pheasant season opens Oct. 13. Upland bird seasons run through Jan. 1—with the exception of sage grouse season, which closes Nov. 1, and mountain grouse season, which closes Dec. 15.

The only potential pre-season sour notes were drought conditions after mid-June and some notable hailstorms that may have impacted pheasants and other upland game birds in some central and northern plains areas. Northrup, however, said some pheasants might have re-nested in response to severe weather events.

Conditions at Ninepipes Wildlife Management Area in northwestern Montana indicate a pheasant season comparable to 2006, with better brood numbers and sizes around the moist and irrigated areas on the WMA.

In general, sage and sharp-tailed grouse numbers are expected to be comparable to last year in most areas of central and eastern Montana. In many areas, the spring counts were in general as high or higher than last year’s.

Reports on Hungarian partridge are mixed around the state. Expect to find some good-sized broods scattered across eastern Montana, but generally that will be more the exception than the rule.

Reports on turkey populations are generally good statewide. In the past two years, fall turkey harvests have totaled 2,700 and 2,800 birds respectively.

Overall, this year’s excellent cover will require some effort to locate game birds. Recent extreme dryness and heat will also likely result in birds concentrating around moist habitats.

Northrup said that the year’s spring and early-summer weather patterns including spring moisture for insect production and good cover can indicate where bird reproduction may have been most successful. To check historical weather forecasts online,  Montana hunters can visit www.weather.gov . Click Climate. Then click Montana on the map.