Chook Looking in Montana 2024-25

Upland chicken looking underneath the massive sky of Montana is a ravishing problem with a whole lot of sport chicken selection, try the newest season dates and impactful points.

Earlier than us stretched an enormous sage steppe that appeared to increase ceaselessly 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 looking sage grouse, and after taking pictures my first sharptail, I later took down an enormous previous sage grouse bomber. Once I unfold its wings open, they have been wider than my very own arm span. That is simply one of many many numerous alternatives within the Massive Sky state. From forest grouse within the mountains to wild chukar and Huns, Montana provides unbelievable variety 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 a substantial amount of it’s open for looking.

Obtain: the 2024/25 Montana Upland Recreation Chook Information

2024-25 Montana Upland Chook 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 common decline within the reputation 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 price estimates of $150 per pheasant.

The season for ring-necked pheasant in Montana begins October eighth and ends January 1st with a each day bag restrict of three roosters. 

Mountain Grouse (Forest Grouse)

Montana is dwelling to 3 species of forest grouse: ruffed, dusky (blue), and spruce (often called Franklin’s grouse in Montana). Whereas most states refer to those as forest grouse, Montana gives a useful clue on the place to search out them by calling them “Mountain Grouse” of their digest. Whereas dusky grouse looking is among the many extra common pursuits on this class, Montana is without doubt one of the few states within the decrease 48 the place you possibly can nonetheless hunt spruce grouse. The subspecies of ruffed grouse in Montana is Bonasa umbellus sabini, which provides great alternatives and is thought for habits fairly totally different from its japanese counterpart, Bonasa umbellus umbellus.

The season for mountain grouse begins September 1st and ends January 1st. There’s a each day bag restrict of three mountain grouse no matter species. 

Sharp-tailed Grouse 

The sharp-tailed grouse is probably going the most well-liked native species to hunt in Montana. With populations usually 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 looking seasons begin a lot later. Montana’s sharp-tailed grouse looking alternatives are maybe solely rivaled by these in North Dakota.

The sharp-tailed grouse is taken into account a species of concern in Montana as a consequence of declining populations. Nonetheless, its vary covers a lot of the state, apart from the counties alongside the Montana-Idaho border. It is very important be aware that attempting to find sharptails just isn’t permitted west of the Continental Divide.

The season for sharp-tailed grouse begins September 1st and ends January 1st with a each 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 sport birds have been first launched within the early 1900s and now happen within the wild. In line with 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 each day bag restrict of 8 birds per day in Montana. Nonetheless, hunters ought to be ethically aware of how taking 8 birds from a single covey can impression the inhabitants in an space earlier than filling their sport bag. The season opens on September 1st and ends on January 1st.

Better sage grouse 

Sage grouse are the most important upland sport chicken in North America (if you don’t think about the wild turkey as upland sport), and Montana is without doubt one of the few states with steady sage grouse looking alternatives. As their identify implies, higher sage grouse sometimes 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 each day bag restrict of two birds and a most possession restrict of 4 birds.

Chukar

Chukar looking alternatives exist in Montana and are definitely worth the chase for individuals who love the problem of those “satan birds,” together with in elements of the long-lasting Hell’s Canyon. Additionally a non-native species, chukars have been first launched in 1933 and are initially native to Pakistan.

The season opens on September 1 and ends on January 1, with a each day bag restrict of 8.

Different species for chicken looking in Montana 

Montana provides dove looking alternatives for mourning doves and Eurasian collared doves. Mourning dove season opens on September 1 and ends on October 30, with a each 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 possibly can hunt snipe in Montana. Each mourning doves and snipe require a HIP allow however don’t require using non-toxic shot.

Probably the most uncommon upland sport chicken looking seasons in Montana are associated to quail. California quail are thought of a non-game species and will be hunted year-round. They’re a pleasant chicken to hunt, providing one of the vital uncommon year-round seasons within the nation for a North American quail. These quail will be present in abundance in some elements of the state, offering an thrilling alternative for each hunters and canines.

Gambel’s quail fall underneath 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 looking license.

Upland chicken licensing charges for Montana

Hunter security course and canine coaching for chicken looking in Montana

In case you have been born after January 1, 1985, you need to full a licensed hunter schooling course earlier than making use of for a looking license. For extra info, try 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’ll need to fill out a certificates type, which prices $5, and observe the necessities regarding mentors.

You might not prepare your canine for chicken looking in Montana inside one mile of any designated sport protect, chicken nesting space, or administration space.

Associated conservation and non-profit organizations for Montana chicken looking

Pheasants Without end
Quail Without end
North American Versatile Looking Canine Affiliation (NAVHDA)
Montana Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Program 

The chicken looking season dates, sport chicken species out there, and different info is topic to alter. The article might not mirror this. Please go to Montana, Fish, Wildlife & Parks for the hottest info on chicken looking in Montana.