Prairie chickens are a type of grouse that live in the prairies of the central United States. There are two main species of prairie chickens: the greater prairie chicken and the lesser prairie chicken. Prairie chickens were once abundant across the Great Plains, but their populations have declined significantly due to habitat loss. However, they remain popular game birds for hunting in states where populations have remained stable. This article will examine if and how prairie chickens can legally be hunted.
Can Prairie Chickens Be Hunted?
Yes, prairie chickens can be legally hunted in certain areas and during specific seasons as determined by state wildlife agencies. Prairie chickens are considered game birds, so they can be hunted in states that have populations that can sustain limited harvests. Most states with remaining prairie chicken populations do allow hunting of the birds within regulated seasons and bag limits.
For example, Kansas is one state that still has sizable populations of greater and lesser prairie chickens and allows regulated hunting of both species. The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism sets annual hunting seasons and bag limits based on population monitoring data. Legal methods for taking prairie chickens in Kansas include shotguns and archery equipment. Hunters must have appropriate licenses and stamps to hunt prairie chickens in the state.
However, it’s important to note that not all states with wild prairie chicken populations allow hunting of the birds. Some states prohibit any harvest to protect small or vulnerable populations. For instance, New Mexico does not currently allow hunting of lesser prairie chickens due to severe population declines in recent decades. States periodically review their prairie chicken hunting regulations as populations fluctuate.
Prairie Chicken Range and Population Status
To understand prairie chicken hunting regulations, it’s helpful to look at the current range and conservation status of the two species:
Greater Prairie Chicken:
– Current Range: Tallgrass prairies of central U.S. from northern Oklahoma through eastern Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, into southern Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota. Isolated populations in Missouri, Arkansas, and areas east.
– Population Status: Estimated 140,000 remaining, down from millions historically. Species of Least Concern but populations fragmented and reduced. Still common enough in core range to support limited hunting.
Lesser Prairie Chicken:
– Current Range: Shortgrass and mixed grass prairies of southern Great Plains in western Kansas, eastern Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas.
– Population Status: Once abundant, estimated 35,000 remaining. Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Declines due to habitat loss have limited hunting opportunities.
As those summaries indicate, greater prairie chickens remain more widespread and numerous than lesser prairie chickens. This allows more flexibility in hunting regulations for greaters in states like Kansas. For the rarer lesser prairie chicken, most states are more cautious and restrictive with hunting allowances.
Regulated Prairie Chicken Hunting Seasons
Here are some examples of current regulations for prairie chicken hunting seasons in major range states:
Kansas
– Greater Prairie Chicken:
Season: Mid-September through mid-January
Bag Limit: 2 per day
– Lesser Prairie Chicken
Season: Mid-September through mid-January
Bag Limit: 1 per day
Nebraska
– Greater Prairie Chicken
Season: Late August through mid-January
Bag Limit: 3 per day
Oklahoma
– Greater Prairie Chicken
Season: November – January
Bag Limit: 2 per day
– Lesser Prairie Chicken
Limited permit-only season in May with restrictions. Check regulations.
Colorado
– Plains Sharp-tailed Grouse (related species):
Season: Mid-September through mid-November
Bag Limit: 2 per day
– No open season currently for Lesser Prairie Chicken.
Texas
– Lesser Prairie Chicken
Limited permit-only season with quota. Check regulations.
Minnesota
– Greater Prairie Chicken
Season: Mid-September through January
Bag Limit: 2 per day
As is evident from this summary, seasons, bag limits, and regulations can vary significantly between states and often between the two prairie chicken species within a state. Hunters interested in pursuing prairie chickens need to research current regulations in their state carefully each year.
Prairie Chicken Identification
Properly identifying between the two prairie chicken species is important for hunters, as the rules may differ between the two in a given state.
Greater and lesser prairie chickens can be challenging to tell apart. Here are some identification tips:
– Size: Greater’s are larger (16-18 inches long) compared to Lesser’s (14-16 inches long)
– Color pattern: Greaters have barring and lighter coloration overall. Lesser’s are more solidly brown.
– Tail pattern: Rectrices (long tail feathers) of Greaters have alternating horizontal white and brown bands. Lesser’s have vermiculated crossbar pattern on rectrices.
– Range: Greaters occur further north and east. Lesser’s are a bird mainly of the Southern Plains.
Being able to distinguish between these subtle differences requires study and experience. Misidentification could lead to illegally harvesting the wrong species. When in doubt, it’s best for hunters to pass up marginal shots. Proper identification is a key responsibility.
Prairie Chicken Hunting Methods and Techniques
Prairie chickens inhabit open grassland and agricultural landscapes. They are most active and visible on leks (communal breeding areas) during their spring mating season. Successful hunting requires different strategies compared to pursuing them on leks. Some tips include:
– Season timing: Target the early fall dispersal and wintering periods after lekking ends. Birds form larger flocks and redistribute across a wider area off leks.
– Habitat locations: Focus on areas with good cover nearby like CRP grasslands, pasture edges, hayfields, wet meadows. Birds will seek shelter and food there.
– Scout pre-season: Locate flocks through scouting and lek monitoring. Note their daily travel patterns.
– Blinds and decoys: Set up blinds and decoys in areas flocks regularly feed or fly over. Be concealed and have decoys visible.
– Calling: Use prairie chicken call recordings to attract birds within shooting range. Call softly to mimic foraging flock chatter.
– Shooting: Shotguns with improved cylinder or modified choke work best. Approach shots under 50 yards. Be ready for explosively fast flushes.
With the right techniques for the season, prairie chicken hunters can still enjoy success on these challenging birds. Just be sure to adhere to all regulations and identification requirements.
Prairie Chicken Conservation and Hunting
Regulated hunting of prairie grouse is considered compatible with and beneficial to overall conservation when populations are sufficiently large. Prairie chickens evolved with sustainable levels of natural predation, including by native people. Hunting mimics natural processes when done responsibly.
Hunting provides incentives for conservation, as license fees and excise taxes on equipment fund wildlife management. Regulated seasons and limits help control populations at levels where habitat can support them. They prevent overuse and damage to plant communities.
However, conservation must remain the priority. Where populations are critically low, hunting may be ceased completely to allow recovery. If declines persist despite protection, habitat restoration becomes the key need. The conservation status of prairie chickens is primarily tied to having ample suitable grassland habitat.
When habitat is sufficient, both public and private landowners often develop conservation plans that integrate prescribed grazing and haying, rest-rotation, and other practices beneficial to wildlife and cattle. Prairie chickens thrive in properly managed rangeland and pasture. Such habitat work is essential for allowing limited recreational harvest.
Field Care for Harvested Prairie Chickens
Hunters should promptly field dress, cool, and clean any harvested prairie chickens to ensure good eating and storage. Here are some tips:
– Field dress immediately by removing entrails, crop, and feathers. Keep carcass cool.
– Once dressed, prairie chickens should be cooled to 40 degrees F or less as soon as possible.
– Transport dressed birds in a cooler on ice if long distances from home. Prevent meat from directly contacting ice to avoid freeze burn.
– Clean the dressed bird thoroughly by removing skin and remaining feathers. Rinse well. Discard inedible parts.
– Optional aging by refrigeration for 1-3 days can improve tenderness before final butchering and freezing.
– When freezing grouse meat, use moisture-proof plastic bags or wrapping to store in portions you will use. Prevent freezer burn.
– Properly cared for and cleaned prairie chicken meat will store frozen for approximately 9 months before quality begins to decline.
Proper field to table care ensures delicious nutritious meals are the final reward after an enjoyable hunt. Strict adherence to regulations allows the tradition to continue sustainably.
Summary
In summary, prairie chickens may be legally hunted in many parts of their range under tightly controlled seasons and limits set by state wildlife agencies. Hunters must research and follow all regulations for the species in their state, properly identify birds, use ethical fair chase hunting practices, and care for harvested birds appropriately. When populations are high enough to allow it, regulated prairie chicken hunting and conservation can be mutually beneficial. But as habitat continues to dwindle, protection must take priority in areas with declining grouse numbers to prevent further losses. Going forward, enhancing and restoring expansive prairies will be key for the future of both greater and lesser prairie chickens.