Prairie Chicken

2lumpy

Long Time Member
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It’s almost time to start watching grouse strut….. over the years I watched varies species of grouse strut, on their lek, in March and April. I’ve never lived near prairie chickens so never been able to watch them. By any chance does anyone know of a reliable location I could drive to where I could watch them during their strutting season and maybe take some amateur photos/video.

Thank you.
 
Want to come out to California? Hopefully roads will be open.
 
I always thought prairie chicken was slang for Sage Grouse but I see it's a separate and unique species actually named Prairie Chicken.

Is there a hunting season for prairie chickens?
 
I think there still States that hunt them but they are getting pretty scarce so I think they keep the harvest pretty controlled.

Kansas……. maybe.
 
I always thought prairie chicken was slang for Sage Grouse but I see it's a separate and unique species actually named Prairie Chicken.

Is there a hunting season for prairie chickens?
Sage grouse are called sage chickens.

Yes there’s a season for them.
 
It’s almost time to start watching grouse strut….. over the years I watched varies species of grouse strut, on their lek, in March and April. I’ve never lived near prairie chickens so never been able to watch them. By any chance does anyone know of a reliable location I could drive to where I could watch them during their strutting season and maybe take some amateur photos/video.

Thank you.

I've never went and watched prairie chickens but I've heard of several places that are set up pretty well to do it. You didn't mention where you are located but here is few links:



I've snuck in in ground blind a few times on sharptails and it's a hoot:
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Thank you for the suggestions dgfavor. I appreciate it. I live in South Central Utah, next to I-70. Kansas is a stretch for me. I’ve done it to hunt whitetail deer and visit my wife’s family but I’m not sure I can justify it for a look at the prairie chickens. Too bad they don’t strut in the fall so I could couple that with a deer hunt.

There is a location north of Wray, Colorado that’s dang nearly to Kansas that I’m thinking I might go to…… it’s 630 miles, one way, so I’m have a struggle deciding if it’s worth the time and cost. That’s why I put this post out…… hoping maybe someone knew of a location a little closer but I’m starting to think maybe not.

I’ve seen the sharp tails but it’s been many years ago, before I really had much interest. I may have to run up and see them again too.

When ever I see Native American’s dancing, so much of their clothing and dance routines have grouse strutting actions. I quite enjoy watching both the dancers and the grouse and try to appreciate the spiritual connection between them.
 
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Thank you for the suggestions dgfavor. I appreciate it. I live in South Central Utah, next to I-70. Kansas is a stretch for me. I’ve done it to hunt whitetail deer and visit my wife’s family but I’m not sure I can justify it for a look at the prairie chickens. Too bad they don’t strut in the fall so I could couple that with a deer hunt.

There is a location north of Wray, Colorado that’s dang nearly to Kansas that I’m thinking I might go to…… it’s 630 miles, one way, so I’m have a struggle deciding if it’s worth the time and cost. That’s why I put this post out…… hoping maybe someone knew of a location a little closer but I’m starting to think maybe not.

I’ve seen the sharp tails but it’s been many years ago, before I really had much interest. I may have to run up and see them again too.

When ever I see Native American’s dancing, so much of their clothing and dance routines have grouse strutting actions. I quite enjoy watching both the dancers and the grouse and try to appreciate the spiritual connection between them.

Yah, sun coming up sitting on a prairie chicken lek is on the bucket list - they are just a cool looking bird.

Not as exciting but watching a marauding band of sharptails picking off late season October hoppers can be entertaining - I caught this crew ganging across my place one morning and couldn't help catching them on video...pretty much explains why I never get a big buck because I'm always d...ing off!!
 
Hell ya, df, there’ll always be a buck around, can’t pass up watching that action.

On a small scale it must have been very similar to a bunch of raptors getting after it during the Jurassic period. Love it.

Great video. Thanks.
 

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