Sharptail grouse are a popular upland game bird for hunters in Montana. Hunting sharptail grouse requires some knowledge about their habitat, behavior, and the regulations for hunting them. This guide will provide tips on locating sharptail grouse, decoy setups, effective firearms and ammunition, and other useful information for a successful sharptail grouse hunt in Montana.
When is Sharptail Grouse Season in Montana?
The sharptail grouse hunting season in Montana typically runs from early September through early January. Here are the key dates for the 2023 sharptail grouse season in Montana:
Season | Dates |
---|---|
Regular Season | September 1 – January 1 |
Keep in mind the season dates can vary slightly each year, so be sure to check the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks website for current regulations before planning your hunt.
Where to Find Sharptail Grouse in Montana
Sharptail grouse inhabit open grasslands, sagebrush flats, grain fields, and brushy foothills in many parts of central and eastern Montana. Here are some of the top areas to find sharptail grouse in Montana:
- Central Montana – Areas around Lewistown, Stanford, Hobson, and Judith Gap.
- Northeast Montana – Open prairie and badlands around Glasgow, Malta, Wolf Point, and Plentywood.
- Southeast Montana – Billings, Pompeys Pillar, Bighorn Canyon, Pryor Mountains.
- South Central Montana – Grasslands and sagebrush flats outside of Roundup, Harlowton, and White Sulphur Springs.
Focus on areas with a mix of grassy openings, agricultural fields, and sagebrush. Places near streams, ravines, or brushy fencerows are prime spots. Public land areas like national wildlife refuges and BLM tracts offer excellent walk-in sharptail hunting access.
Scouting for Sharptail Grouse
Scouting your hunting areas well before opener is key to sharptail success. Spend time in potential spots looking for signs of birds and locating where they feed, dust, loaf, and roost. Good areas will show signs like feathers, droppings, dusting bowls, and tracks. Listen for sharptail vocalizations like cackles and clucking which can help pinpoint bird locations. Use binoculars and spotting scopes to scan openings and locate birds from a distance.
Spotting Sharptails
When scouting, focus on the edges of openings and areas where two habitat types meet, like brush to grasslands. Scan fence posts and rocky outcroppings where sharptails like to perch during early morning and evening. Check any area with bare dirt for dusting bowl scrapes which signal grouse activity. Locate roosting trees and bushes where birds spend the night. Plan your hunting locations and setup spots based on recent sign and where you observe birds using during scouting.
Hunting Dogs
Using a trained pointing dog can be extremely helpful for locating and flushing sharptail grouse. Their nose and ability to pinpoint birds in cover that you might otherwise walk right by is invaluable. Common pointing breeds used for sharptail hunting include English Setters, Brittany Spaniels, German Shorthaired Pointers, and Labrador Retrievers. If you don’t own a dog, you can often hire an experienced guide with dogs for a sharptail hunt.
Shotguns & Loads for Sharptails
A quality 12 or 20 gauge shotgun is perfect for sharptail grouse hunting. Models like the Remington 870, Browning A5, or Benelli Montefeltro are proven performers. A modified or improved cylinder choke paired with lead birdshot in #6 to #8 shot sizes works well. This provides enough shot density to cleanly take birds flushing at close range. For open areas, larger shot sizes like #4s can be effective. Non-toxic shot like tungsten Matrix, bismuth, or heavy steel is required on some national wildlife refuges.
Effective Ranges
Sharptail grouse generally flush fairly close, offering shots within 30 yards. Focus on keeping swings smooth and avoiding snap shooting. For longer or crossing shots, allow for proper lead and pick your shots carefully. Most sharptails are taken well within 40 yards so there is no need to take risky long shots. Practice shooting clay targets leading up to the season to prepare for the fast flying sharptails you’ll encounter.
Hunting Techniques
Sharptail grouse occupy more open terrain than forest grouse, requiring slightly different hunting strategies. Take advantage of any available cover when approaching openings to conceal your approach. Whether hunting alone or with a group, spacing hunters 20-30 yards apart provides adequate coverage. Walk slowly and patiently, stopping frequently to scan and listen ahead. Here are some effective sharptail hunting techniques to try:
Spot and Stalk
If you spot sharptails feeding well out in an opening, you can attempt to sneak closer for a shot. Use available cover like sagebrush, terrain contours, or fencelines to conceal your approach. Move slowly and pause frequently. Be ready to shoot quickly once you hit shooting range. This works best with multiple hunters so some can stay back and be ready as birds are pushed towards them.
Walk-Hunting
Simply walking through likely cover searching for birds is an effective sharptail hunting technique. Focus on edges, rabbit trails, and any habitat transitions where sharptails are likely to be feeding. Maintain a slow but steady pace, stopping to sit quietly and observe periodically. Have your shotgun ready and safely carry it in the ready position as you walk.
Find Roosts
Locating evening roost sites by scouting allows you to setup right where birds will fly down at dawn. Sit quietly 30-60 minutes before sunrise and be ready when sharptails fly down into feeding areas. Ambushing birds leaving water sources in early morning can also be productive.
Using Decoys
Decoys can be highly effective for sharptails, especially when birds are vocal and responding to calls. Arrange decoys in a natural feeding scene in openings near cover. Use both upright feeder decoys and relaxed horizontal roosters. Create a spread of 1-2 dozen decoys leaving room to work calling birds. Mix hen and rooster decoys at about a 70/30 ratio. Leave a landing zone open downwind of the spread to allow birds to approach. Update your spread to reflect birds’ positions as they work in.
Decoy Tips
Set decoys in a staggered, uneven pattern that looks natural. Put out decoys shortly before daylight when hunting morning roost spots. Brush in blinds with natural vegetation to conceal movement. Use decoys and calls sparingly once shooting begins to avoid flaring incoming birds. Carry decoys afield in a lightweight, collapsible decoy bag for easy transport.
Sharptail Calling Tips
Calling can pull in sharptails from long distances and get their attention when decoying. Calls that imitate cackles, clucks, mating coos, and squeals get responses. Start calling sequences soft and increase volume as birds get closer. Mix in feeding clucks and contentment notes to mimic a relaxed flock. Silent periods in calling sequences also work well to peak birds’ interest. Pay attention to birds’ reactions and adjust your calling tactics accordingly.
Aggressive Calling
When sharptails are vocal and responding aggressively, get their attention with loud, rapid calling. Sharp cutting notes and excited cackling will often pull in territorial birds from afar. Keep it loud and intense until they commit over decoys, then soften your calling.
Subtle Calling
If birds seem reluctant, try subtle, infrequent calling. Use just a few seductive squeals and sparse feeding clucks to get them interested. Sharptails often approach quietly when you call just enough to get their attention without flaring them. Calling softly also works better once shooting begins.
Field Care for Sharptails
Caring for your harvested sharptails properly ensures delicious table fare. Follow these tips for cleaning and caring for your birds after a successful hunt:
- Field dress birds as soon as possible by removing entrails to allow the cavity to cool quickly.
- Use cheesecloth bags to protect feathers when carrying birds from the field.
- Keep birds cool and dry by placing in a cooler, game bag, or on a drying rack.
- Aging the birds 1-3 days in the fridge allows flavors to develop.
- Cook sharptails within 4 days of harvest for best flavor and freshness.
Sharptail Recipes
The delicate, savory flavor of sharptails makes them a tasty meal. They can be prepared in ways similar to chicken or other game birds. Try pan-frying, roasting, grilling, or slow cooking. Recipes to consider include:
- Seared sharptail with a red wine reduction.
- Bacon-wrapped sharptail with jalapeno cream cheese.
- Smoked sharptail salad with wild rice and cranberries.
- Slow cooked sharptail soup with root vegetables.
- Curried sharptail pot pie with puff pastry crust.
Sharptail Grouse Hunting Tips
Follow these proven tips to increase your sharptail hunting success:
- Hunt sunrise and evenings when sharptails are most active.
- Bring a variety of decoys and know when to use them.
- Use calling sparingly and only when needed.
- Focus on hunting transitions between cover and openings.
- Walk slowly and pause frequently when flushing birds.
- Aiming just ahead of crossing birds leads to better shot success.
- Quickly retrieve downed birds before flushing others.
- Have great dog work can make up for a lack of birds.
Conclusion
With open terrain hunting, proper scouting, decoys, and calling, sharptail grouse offer a premier upland bird hunting experience. Their hearty population and accessibility provides great hunting opportunity across Montana. Now that you know where to find sharptails, effective techniques, and how to care for your harvested birds, you just need to get out and experience it for yourself. Wishing you many memorable sharptail hunts this season!