Upland chicken searching below the massive sky of Montana is a good looking problem with quite a lot of recreation chicken selection, take a look at the newest season dates and impactful points.
Earlier than us stretched an enormous sage steppe that appeared to increase endlessly beside the pale mountains on the horizon. For somebody who grew up within the dense forests of New England, it was exhausting to think about a chicken—not to mention many birds—residing on this panorama. However with the laughter of sharp-tailed grouse as a big group burst up like popcorn in entrance of us, a Brittany persevering with to reposition as extra birds materialized, I used to be mesmerized by Montana.
At that second in time, I used to be searching sage grouse, and after capturing my first sharptail, I later took down a giant outdated sage grouse bomber. After I unfold its wings open, they had been wider than my very own arm span. That is simply one of many many various alternatives within the Huge Sky state. From forest grouse within the mountains to wild chukar and Huns, Montana provides unimaginable range and alternative to chicken hunters.
Beginning September 1, each touring hunters and locals alike can expertise a few of the finest wingshooting within the nation as they start their season. Because the fourth-largest state, Montana provides prairies, ranges, plateaus, valleys, lakes, and nice plains. Round 33 million acres of that land are public, that means an excessive amount of it’s open for searching.
Obtain: the 2024/25 Montana Upland Sport Hen Information
2024-25 Montana Upland Hen Looking Seasons
Ring-necked pheasant
Although they don’t seem to be native to North America, ring-necked pheasant have been a nationwide favourite of upland hunters for a very long time. There’s a basic decline within the recognition of non-native species, particularly these supported by stocking packages. 2022 marked a controversial coverage by Gov. Greg Gianforte’s administration that allocates $1 million for chicken rearing pens on the state jail. The coverage seeming to be deaf to the stakeholders need for such cash to be allotted on habitat work reasonably than ineffective stocking packages with value estimates of $150 per pheasant.
The season for ring-necked pheasant in Montana begins October eighth and ends January 1st with a every day bag restrict of three roosters.
Mountain Grouse (Forest Grouse)
Montana is residence to 3 species of forest grouse: ruffed, dusky (blue), and spruce (often known as Franklin’s grouse in Montana). Whereas most states refer to those as forest grouse, Montana gives a useful clue on the place to seek out them by calling them “Mountain Grouse” of their digest. Whereas dusky grouse searching is among the many extra well-liked pursuits on this class, Montana is among the few states within the decrease 48 the place you’ll be able to nonetheless hunt spruce grouse. The subspecies of ruffed grouse in Montana is Bonasa umbellus sabini, which provides fantastic alternatives and is thought for habits fairly totally different from its jap counterpart, Bonasa umbellus umbellus.
The season for mountain grouse begins September 1st and ends January 1st. There’s a every day bag restrict of three mountain grouse no matter species.
Sharp-tailed Grouse
The sharp-tailed grouse is probably going the preferred native species to hunt in Montana. With populations typically overlapping in areas the place sage grouse and Hungarian partridge are discovered, the early September 1 opener attracts many hunters from the East, the place chicken searching seasons begin a lot later. Montana’s sharp-tailed grouse searching alternatives are maybe solely rivaled by these in North Dakota.
The sharp-tailed grouse is taken into account a species of concern in Montana because of declining populations. Nonetheless, its vary covers many of the state, aside from the counties alongside the Montana-Idaho border. It is very important be aware that looking for sharptails will not be permitted west of the Continental Divide.
The season for sharp-tailed grouse begins September 1st and ends January 1st with a every day bag restrict of 4 birds.
Hungarian Partridge
If in case you have by no means skilled a covey of Hungarian partridge rising earlier than a pointing canine in open nation, you don’t know what you’re lacking. These non-native recreation birds had been first launched within the early 1900s and now happen within the wild. Based on Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, “Prime habitat in Montana is from the Rockies east and from Montana Freeway 200 north, in addition to in lots of mountain valleys within the western third of the state.”
Hungarian partridge have a excessive every day bag restrict of 8 birds per day in Montana. Nonetheless, hunters must be ethically aware of how taking 8 birds from a single covey can impression the inhabitants in an space earlier than filling their recreation bag. The season opens on September 1st and ends on January 1st.
Larger sage grouse
Sage grouse are the most important upland recreation chicken in North America (if you don’t take into account the wild turkey as upland recreation), and Montana is among the few states with steady sage grouse searching alternatives. As their identify implies, higher sage grouse usually inhabit landscapes dominated by sagebrush. The Montana Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Program goals to protect these pure habitats for this upland species. Central Montana and the counties east of the Continental Divide account for a lot of their vary.
The season begins on September 1st and ends on September thirtieth, with a every day bag restrict of two birds and a most possession restrict of 4 birds.
Chukar
Chukar searching alternatives exist in Montana and are definitely worth the chase for many who love the problem of those “satan birds,” together with in components of the long-lasting Hell’s Canyon. Additionally a non-native species, chukars had been first launched in 1933 and are initially native to Pakistan.
The season opens on September 1 and ends on January 1, with a every day bag restrict of 8.
Different species for chicken searching in Montana
Montana provides dove searching alternatives for mourning doves and Eurasian collared doves. Mourning dove season opens on September 1 and ends on October 30, with a every day bag restrict of 15. Eurasian collared doves, that are invasive in Montana, don’t have any closed season and don’t require a license.
For different migratory birds that aren’t waterfowl, you’ll be able to hunt snipe in Montana. Each mourning doves and snipe require a HIP allow however don’t require the usage of non-toxic shot.
Essentially the most uncommon upland recreation chicken searching seasons in Montana are associated to quail. California quail are thought of a non-game species and may be hunted year-round. They’re a pleasant chicken to hunt, providing some of the uncommon year-round seasons within the nation for a North American quail. These quail may be present in abundance in some components of the state, offering an thrilling alternative for each hunters and canines.
Gambel’s quail fall below the identical non-game designation, however so far as we all know, nobody has seen one in Montana not too long ago. They’re native to the Southwest, and the way they got here to be in Montana—or whether or not they nonetheless exist there in any respect—is considerably of a thriller. In case you occur to come across a covey of Gambel’s quail, there isn’t a restrict, neither is there a necessity for a searching license.
Upland chicken licensing charges for Montana
Hunter security course and canine coaching for chicken searching in Montana
In case you had been born after January 1, 1985, you will need to full a licensed hunter schooling course earlier than making use of for a searching license. For extra info, take a look at the hunter schooling course. In 2015, Montana created the Apprentice Hunter Program, which permits anybody between the ages of 10 and 17 to hunt with out finishing a hunter schooling course. You have to to fill out a certificates kind, which prices $5, and observe the necessities regarding mentors.
It’s possible you’ll not practice your canine for chicken searching in Montana inside one mile of any designated recreation protect, chicken nesting space, or administration space.
Associated conservation and non-profit organizations for Montana chicken searching
Pheasants ForeverQuail ForeverNorth American Versatile Looking Canine Affiliation (NAVHDA)Montana Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Program
The chicken searching season dates, recreation chicken species accessible, and different info is topic to vary. The article could not mirror this. Please go to Montana, Fish, Wildlife & Parks for the hottest info on chicken searching in Montana.
