Grouse and Pheasant

huntFX4 · Jan 10, 2012

All,

As i mentioned in my other post on "MT deer population" i may be headed back home to SE MT for some deer hunting with my teenage boys who haven't had the opportunity to hunt more than rabbits up there.
With the Youth Combo Tag having the bird license i'm also desiring to put them on some Sharpies and pheasant. Hearing the deer populations didn't fair so well last winter, i'm wondering about the birds.
I want to take the time for birds, waterfowl and deer.
I'm thinking a easy winter so far and hopefully a good spring will up the populations for this year
Any thoughts on the how the birds are faring?

MTSHEDHEDZ · Jan 11, 2012

It will take several mild winters to repair the bird numbers we have lost over the last few winters.

NeMont · Jan 11, 2012

In NE Montana it was a weird season. Fair number of huns and sharpies, hunted the pheasant opener and killed on rooster. Hunting in December we had good numbers of roosters. All were short tailed roosters. I think they were 3rd hatch birds.

On top of an easy winter the most important thing is a good hatch. An easy winter and good hatch conditions can make the bird hunting go from so-so to fantastic in one year. Especially for pheasants.

Nemont

tkhunt · Jan 11, 2012

In SE Montana bird numbers were fairly good especially on the Crow Reservation. Lots of Pheasants and sharpies. The season is still open there until the 31st.

Dean Parisian · Jan 11, 2012

Those youth non-resident big game licenses include waterfowl as well I believe. Good luck and thank you for serving!

www.deanparisian.com
www.teammuleys.com

oldwyoelkhunter · Mar 4, 2012

TK: Is bird hunting allowed on the crow reservation? Are there tribal lands that you can buy a permit and access? Thanks

tkhunt · Mar 4, 2012

PM sent

SPAZ · Mar 4, 2012

I'm not much into bird hunting but when some of my hunting companions kept pointing out the gaggles of birds, I'd say eastern MT was pretty good last year, and with the mild weather, it'll probably be better this coming year. I did hunt ono weekend in the NE, on block.

"YOU'RE NOT WORTHY"

beech18 · Mar 4, 2012

Im not much into bird hunting, however living in SE Montana. Ive seen fair number of sharpies around this winter. Driving home after scouting a new area for deer hunting tonight, saw acouple of roosters along the road.

Zigga · Mar 5, 2012

What's odd is shthed knows everything about every square inch of Montana.....according to him. He's a good hand, just ask him.

Califelkslayer · Mar 24, 2012

shthed already commented, contrary to what everyone else said.

Soooooo, they must all be wrong because "It will take several mild winters to repair the bird numbers we have lost over the last few winters."

I know nothing about Montana upland game birds other than they must be hardy to survive that climate. I do know that chukar populations here and in Nevada are dependant on good moisture in the spring. A perfect spring can turn the numbers from dismal one year to fantastic the next.

mtmiller · Mar 25, 2012

LAST EDITED ON Mar-25-12 AT 05:50PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Mar-25-12 AT 05:50?PM (MST)

"Wet springs around here KILL the young chicks,they get pneumonia and die,shows exactly wtf you know."

Where exactly is your "here".

beech18 · Mar 25, 2012

LAST EDITED ON Mar-25-12 AT 07:12PM (MST)[p]Thats riding in style Spaz. Love it. After the hunt have the brew handy to numb the sore shoulder.

Zigga · Mar 26, 2012

Like I said before, shthd knows everything about every square inch of Montana at all times. Just ask him.

Zigga · Mar 26, 2012

.....or maybe they moved the Rocky Mountain front to SE Montana. Guess I didn't think of that. Let me reference Google Earth really quick for clarification.....

Randy11 · Apr 14, 2012

I've been driving all over the front these last two weeks for work, and have seen hundreds of pheasants.

mnmthunting · Apr 15, 2012

I spend a quite a lot of time out in Eastern MT. Tell you what! Pheasants/upland game birds DID take a beating, brutal Winters and Spring cold and rain. 09-010-01l.
This Past Winter will save the crop along with decent nesting/brood rearing conditions. Gonna take a couple three years favorable weather to get stuff back to normal, trust me.
Going West birds fared better.
I've seen plenty of ups and downs as far as pheasants in Eastern MT This IS a DOWN.
Little help with weather birds will rebound.