Montana has a long upland bird season running September 1 through January 1, with generous limits. Good luck, and enjoy the fall season in Bitterroot Valley. We have several large ranches leased for these hunts. The most abundant birds are the blue grouse, ruffed grouse, sage grouse and sharptail grouse. #130 of 422 Nature & Parks in Montana “ There are benches on the end of a few of the switchbacks if you need to stop and rest. Dick Sellers. The Dusky Grouse (until recently known as the Blue Grouse) is the largest of Montana's three species of mountain grouse. Montana Grouse Hunting Property For Sale offers a variety of options for buyers. This range extends into parts of west-central Montana as well. By John Haviland. The dusky grouse is a tough bird to hunt, mostly because of the rough environments they choose to live in. Wildlife Vacation in Montana's Bitterroot Valley, wildlife vacation in Montana's Bitterroot Valley, Downhill, Cross Country Skiing & Snowboarding, Ravalli County Tourism Business Improvement District (RCTBID). The benefit of that scenario is that if you flush a dusky grouse on the ground, stand ready for a few more birds to flush from the brood, just in case. They primarily occur in Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Oregon, and Washington, as well as most of British Columbia, Alberta, and the Yukon Territory. Grouse hunting in the mountains of Montana is both exciting and inspiring (Don’t forget to look up and enjoy the incredible scenery every now and then!). The dusky grouse primarily occupies the drier, interior (eastern) side of our Western mountain ranges, while the sooty grouse usually occurs on the moist, coastal (western) side. We also have some bird hunting on these same ranches for sharptails, pheasants, prairie chickens, and blue grouse. There are Ruffed Grouse, Blue Grouse, which are also called Dusky Grouse, and Spruce Grouse or sometimes called Franklin Grouse. They look the same, sometimes live in the same regions, but rarely interbreed. As mentioned above, the males will typically move up into higher elevations sooner than females with their brood. So whenever you can, try to get above wherever you suspect the birds to be and keep yourself positioned for a shot downhill at all times. Dusky Grouse are one of North America’s largest grouse. Throughout the spring and summer, they forage and nest at lower elevations in grasslands, sagebrush flats, shrublands, and deciduous or coniferous forests (NatureServe 2018; National Audubon Society 2018). The Blue Grouse is the largest of the species, and all species are primarily found in Central to Western Montana. If you like to hike in the mountains and want to try your luck at dusky grouse hunting, here are a few states where you can start your search. Cast Iron Chef. The sage grouse is prevalent in the more flatland sage country Montana is home to some of the most diverse and plentiful big game populations in the world. 2016. Ruffed grouse, or Ruffs, are found in typically denser cover than the Dusky grouse. But, lesser known, is that the Bitterroot Valley is also a must-go destination for upland bird hunters. Dusky Grouse, Gallo de las Rocosas Negro, Tetraz-azul, Schwarzenfelsengebirgshuhn, kék fajd, Blauwe Sneeuwhoen, Pernice blu, Blåjärpe, Blåjerpe, kupido … Montana is home to some of the most diverse and plentiful big game populations in the world. The dusky and sooty grouse, though very similar, can hybridize, but generally have selective breeding. Discover (and save!) Your example of a duck is illogical, as not all ducks are the same. Also, south-facing slopes may concentrate the birds more than any other direction, so prioritize them when you’re crunched for time. They eat needles, buds, berries, and insects. The Best Ways to Cook Every Cut of Venison. Sep 11, 2012 - This Pin was discovered by Distinctly Montana. S3-E01: Straight Flush: Montana Mountain Grouse 21m Steven Rinella and his friend Ronny Boehme drive into the mountains of southwest Montana to hunt the high ridge tops for dusky grouse. The easiest way, at least for me to tell the difference is that the Sooty live from the Cascade Mountains west to the coast, while the Dusky … Ryan Lisson is a biologist and regular content contributor to several outdoor manufacturers, hunting shows, publications, and blogs. Both sexes have long, square tails which are unbarred. Hunting. Healthy mixed forests, early successional forests, and edges of aspen forests may be important habitats during the nesting season. Logging activities may reduce summer nesting habitat as well as high elevation, coniferous winter habitat in some areas. USA.) “ It took the 4 of us in our 60s about 35 minutes to get up and that was with short breaks once … September 18, 2007. The Sooty Grouse is a large game bird of the wet mountain forests of the Pacific Coast. Even hunting in the early season at lower elevations may produce more hens and young birds than larger males. Males are very different looking than females, with darker brown and black feathers. Montana has a long upland bird season running September 1 through January 1, with generous limits. It’s like comparing the Eastern and Western Meadowlark, or the Eastern and Western Bluebird. In the spring, dusky grouse leave the high country and move to their breeding grounds. Canada. Ryan is also passionate about helping other adults experience the outdoors for their first time, which spurred him to launch Zero to Hunt, a website devoted to mentoring new hunters. Abstract: Distribution of Dusky Grouse in Montana. In the winter, dusky grouse live in the high country, roosting and feeding in stands of Douglas fir and lodge pole pine. 2018. The Big Timber area also has very good sharp-tailed grouse habitat. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy, Dusky Grouse – An Upland Game Bird Profile, Sooty Grouse – An Upland Game Bird Profile, How to Find Dusky Grouse – A Bird Hunting Guide, https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Dusky_Grouse/lifehistory, http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22734690/0, http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/dusky-grouse. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life. If you would like to add another big game animal, pronghorn antelope may be added to this hunt. Dusky Grouse and Sooty Grouse used to be lumped together under the name Blue Grouse, but now the splitters have decided their DNA is different enough to call them separate species. 2018. 2018. This area has some of the best Hungarian partridge habitat in the state. On the rear side of their tail fan, they also have light gray and white feathers. 1 1/2 total miles rt if you are hiking to the 'M' only. 2018. Accessed at: http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/dusky-grouse, NatureServe. The dusky grouse may be somewhat threatened by climate change. Females are intricately camouflaged in brown, buff, and white. Spokane State Park, WA. They may also flap their wings loudly and strut on the ground with their tails fanned and red skin patches on display (National Audubon Society 2018). Please review our use of cookies and accept to continue. Montana gets a lot of press for its big game hunting opportunities, and rightly so. Douglas fir, subalpine fir, and lodgepole pine appear to be important tree species for winter survival. Dusky grouse survey technician(s) are needed from May 1st to May 31st to assist in monitoring dusky grouse in the mountainous areas of western Montana. Most dusky grouse hunting will take place at high elevations, so practice low oxygen hiking as much as you can before one of these hunts. The prairie and breaks country are prime areas for sharp-tailed and sage grouse. But their most noticeable feature while displaying for females is a red neck patch. Females will be mottled brown. Phone: 406-361-1214Email:info@visitbitterrootvalley.com, Breweries, Wineries, Cideries & Distilleries. Splitting them into smaller sub-groups makes it easier for anti-hunting people to declare them endangered and stop people from hunting them. The dusky grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) is a species of forest -dwelling grouse native to the Rocky Mountains in North America. Posted August 7, 2018. Our site uses cookies. The Sooty Grouse will have a yellow throat sac and wattle while the Dusky Grouse will have a purplish throat sac and a yellow to red colored wattle over the eye during display. Raptors (e.g., bald and golden eagles, hawks, owls, etc. Montana Grouse Hunting Property For Sale offers a variety of options for buyers. Grouse Ecology. Adult dusky grouse forage on the ground throughout the spring and summer, but transition to foraging in trees during the winter when deep snows block access to the ground. Grouse. In Kootenai Country Montana, there are three types of grouse that fit the mountain grouse category. Females are intricately camouflaged in brown, buff, and white. These birds offer the wing shooter plenty of excitement, and, also, excellent table fare after a good day’s hunt. Montana State University Library MSU Library Digital Collections. All About Birds. Beginning in April to May, males establish a territory and call with a series of loud hooting noises on the ground to attract females (NatureServe 2018). This a fairly large bird, between 12 to 15 inches in length or about the size of a medium weight chicken. After mating season ends, the males largely carry on with their solitary existence again. These are your stories.”. Learn how your comment data is processed. However, due to their remote nature and habitat preferences, hunting and human influence is unlikely to play a significant role in their mortality. Guide to North American Birds. Audio recording of bird sounds . However, the females will scratch a depression into the ground and line it with conifer needles, twigs, leaves, and feathers. Dendragapus obscurus. The Dusky Grouse are kin to the chicken, pheasant and partridge. Usually areas where there’s a creek bed and dense cover you’ll find these birds. Dusky grouse inhabit mountainous regions with high amounts of conifer trees. Dusky grouse are considered forest grouse, but during different times of the year they utilize distinctly different habitat types. The sage grouse is prevalent in the more flatland sage country. The Dusky Grouse, Dendragapus obscurus, is a species of forest-dwelling grouse native to North America's Rocky Mountains. White-tailed ptarmigan, which cannot be hunted, also occupy some alpine areas of northwestern Montana. Montana gets a lot of press for its big game hunting opportunities, and rightly so. In the winter, however, they feed mostly on the buds and needles of Douglas and other firs, pines, and hemlocks (NatureServe 2018; National Audubon Society 2018). Canada. They did it in Colorado with Sage Grouse. Again, like Dusky grouse, Ruffs are equally well-suited for both the flushing and pointing breeds of dogs. Their tail feathers are black with a light gray band across the tips. Dusky grouse are large grouse colored a slate-blue, and are well-suited for hunting with dogs—pointing or flushing (both breeds can excel equally on these birds)—and, also, for the hunter without any dogs (In fact, it’s commonly thought that because grouse season coexists with the state’s general big game archery season, that many more grouse are skewered by bow hunters than hunted traditionally by a bird hunter with a shotgun). Accessed at: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Dusky_Grouse/lifehistory, BirdLife International. The range of Dusky Grouse extends from the Yukon Territory east to western Northwest Territories in Canada south to Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado. It is closely related to the sooty grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosus), and the two were previously considered a single species, the blue grouse. Right Now is The Best Time to Be a Public-Land Small-Game Hunter. Grouse Up High. The global breeding population is estimated to be approximately 3 million birds, split roughly in half between the United States (56 percent) and Canada (44 percent) (All About Birds 2018; BirdLife International 2016). That’s the Dusky Grouse — handsome, big and a bit dim. Here is what you need to know about the dusky grouse. Dick Sellers. More Hunting. Steven Rinella and his friend Ronny Boehme drive into the mountains of southwest Montana to hunt the high ridge tops for dusky grouse. The dusky grouse is a large forest grouse species, larger than the ruffed grouse, weighing approximately 2 to 3 pounds on average. Saved by Distinctly Montana. Montana hosts three species of mountain grouse, Blue (Dusky Grouse), Ruffed, and Franklin's (Spruce Grouse). aMontanaView. A mixed bag awaits mountain hunters. The Sooty Grouse is a large game bird of the wet mountain forests of the Pacific Coast. Expect to walk six to eight miles a day. The study involves conducting point count surveys at predetermined locations along a transect with and without the use of electronic callback. They have a moderately long dark gray tail. Dusky grouse are found in the fall in high meadows, usually in places immediately adjacent to thick woods that provide cover. They primarily feed on leaves, flowers, buds, berries, and conifer needles in the summer, while the chicks primarily eat insects (National Audubon Society 2018). Males have slate-colored upper parts, white-based neck feathers around the air sacs, and yellow-orange eye combs. More likely than not, they will usually flush downhill. The prairie and breaks country are prime areas for sharp-tailed and sage grouse. If you are an upland bird hunter, who has never had the chance to hunt the mountains for both ruffed grouse and dusky grouse (also referred to as the more common distinction of blue grouse) you’re missing out. The central and western mountains are home to blue grouse, … Though they are considered a forest grouse species, they also spend a significant chunk of their life in montane areas and shrublands. It was formerly known (until 2006) as the blue grouse and is the second largest grouse on our continent, measuring 12 to 15 inches in length. Noms étrangers . ©2020 Northwoods Collective. Grouse Montana … Guns . to ne Oregon and w Wyoming (USA)) Dendragapus obscurus oreinus (e Nevada, s Idaho, w Utah. See more. 1. However, they seasonally migrate in winter to higher elevations where coniferous forests (e.g., spruce, fir, pine, etc.) ), martens, weasels, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, lynx, and even larger mammals may prey on the eggs, chicks, or adults throughout the year. A couple times when hunting Dusky grouse I have encountered ruffed grouse also. Males are a steely gray-blue, but during courtship they reveal orange eye combs and yellow-orange air sacs in the neck. Advanced Search. Link to post Share on other sites. Latest. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The central and western mountains are home to blue grouse, also known as dusky grouse, ruffed grouse, and spruce grouse, sometimes called Franklin’s grouse. The dusky grouse population appears to be relatively stable overall and is globally secure, yet it is difficult to gather accurate population estimates for such a remote bird (NatureServe 2018). A digital collection at Montana State University Library. Most other states call these forest grouse. Ronny's Bracco Italiano hunting dogs have been bred and trained for this work, but can Ronny handle the altitude? Accessed at: https://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01273. They primarily occur in Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Oregon, and Washington, as well as most of British Columbia, Alberta, and the Yukon Territory. It is the largest of Montana’s forest grouse, weighing about two pounds. And, when the general rifle season commences in October to wear enough orange to be recognized as a fellow hunter. Male Dusky Grouse (Dendragapus obscurus), Mt. Montana has three species of mountain grouse: ruffed, dusky (blue) and spruce (Franklin’s). Dusky grouse monitoring study, June 5th-July 5th. Download this stock image: Dusky grouse (blue grouse) (Dendragapus obscurus) hen, Glacier National Park, Montana, United States of America, North America - D1FW90 from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. The dusky grouse is found throughout the western United States and Canada. “To expose the uplands to the world, to capture defining moments, to push our passion and culture forward, to bring our community closer, to make us feel. 5 Old-School Snow Goose Tactics That Still Work Today. The latest articles, films, podcasts, and exclusive offers. The grouse chased the car on the wing as I stomped the gas and fled. Their calls may be heard up to 100 meters away (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 2018). Your email address will not be published. A male Dusky Grouse blocked the Rock Creek Road while FWP wildlife biologist, Julie Golla, attempted to drive by during a survey for bighorn sheep. Then again, if you are crunched for time, chasing this elusive mountain grouse may not be the best idea. (Though to my tastes, the grouse tastes better than any of the three.) are more prevalent. When the chicks hatch, they can follow their mother to feed within a day and can fly in just over a week. Species & Ecosystem Science. If you’re thinking about a little Upland Game Bird mountain grouse hunting, here are a few tips! It is closely related to the Sooty Grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosus), and the two were previously considered a single species, the Blue Grouse. We use cookies to give you the best online experience. Yes, there are pheasants and grouse in the river bottoms and the open land, as there are all over the state of Montana, but did you also know that the mountains are full of two separate species of grouse, both of which offer unique and exciting opportunities for the upland bird hunter? The blue grouse was split because there are minute genetic differences that imply speciation. Since this species makes seasonal altitudinal migrations, a warming climate could affect how far they have to migrate, which could stress the birds. Our state can also boast about the many opportunities to hunt those big game animals on public land. Accessed at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22734690/0, National Audubon Society. The dusky grouse is found throughout the western United States and Canada. Males are a steely gray-blue, but during courtship they reveal orange eye combs and yellow-orange air sacs in the neck. Contributor to several outdoor manufacturers, hunting shows, publications, and hunter. 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