The 2021 Drought has impacted Gamebird Hunting

Biologists for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks are expecting that many areas of the region will be challenging for upland bird hunting this fall. However, some areas with good habitat conditions should have fair bird populations for hunters prepared to find them.

Habitat conditions, spring adult populations, and recent brood observations vary widely across the region for all species. Most noticeably, the severe drought has negatively impacted vegetation throughout the season and has likely led to a decrease in nest and brood success of all species.

Overall, the reduced cover in all areas of the region which will impact the distribution of gamebirds. Spring adult surveys did show near to above numbers for most species, but the 2021 drought severely affected brood-rearing and juvenile populations…and that will be a challenge for hunters.

“From check station and wing barrel data we observe that juveniles (birds hatched that year) typically comprise most of the birds harvested (60-80% depending on the species),” says Brett Dorak, Malta-area biologist. “With drought conditions, hunters will likely find lower juvenile numbers on the landscape and may have to cover more ground and seek out "good" habitat conditions to be successful.”

In addition to the drought, increased haying and grazing has occurred in most areas of the region, and other biological factors are at play as well.

“Severe grasshopper outbreaks in some portions of the region are also reducing the amount of cover available to game birds,” says Ken Plourde, Region 6 upland gamebird biologist. “In addition, emergency haying and grazing of CRP was authorized this year due to drought conditions, and that will reduce cover as well.”

Sage-Grouse: Season dates: Sept. 1-Sept. 30. Bag limit: 2 daily and 4 in possession. Closed west of the continental divide

Based on spring adult survey data, sage grouse populations are looking about average. In the central and western portion of the region, where sage-grouse habitat exists, adult numbers were near to slightly above average. Core sage-grouse habitat primarily exists south of Highway 2 and is composed of mixed grass and Wyoming big sagebrush rangeland. Drought has likely impacted brood success, especially in areas lacking riparian areas. Hunters should expect to find better numbers of sage-grouse in areas containing some riparian habitat.

Sharp-tailed grouse. Season dates: Sept.1-Jan. 1. Bag limit: 4 daily and 16 in possession. Closed west of the continental divide.

Grouse hunters headed to Region 6 will likely encounter a grouse population that carried over from 2020. Spring surveys showed adult populations ranged from above average in the eastern half of the region to average in the western half of the region. However, due to the severe drought conditions, juvenile numbers will be down in many areas and subsequently decrease overall numbers and harvest. Like pheasants, in the few areas that received precipitation in early summer, sharp-tailed grouse brood success appears average.

Gray (Hungarian) Partridge: Season dates: Sept.1-Jan. 1. Bag limit: 8 daily and 32 in possession.

Partridge populations saw similar decreases to pheasants and sharp-tailed grouse due to the drought in 2017 and 2018, and they have been slower to recover. Partridge numbers improved in 2020 but will likely be impacted again by drought this year. Hunters will need to focus on the best habitats to find huns this year.

Pheasants: Season dates: Oct. 9-Jan. 1. Bag limit: 3 daily and 9 in possession.

Pheasant populations in much of the region were steadily increasing after a few years of below-average numbers. Spring “crowing” surveys that measure the rooster pheasant populations in the eastern half of the region showed populations around average or slightly above average, with pheasant populations in the western half of the region near average to below average in the western-most counties.

However, brood success will be low in areas hardest hit by the drought. In the few areas of the region that received some precipitation during early summer, brood success appears fair. The resulting decrease of juvenile birds will mean a lower overall population, and harvest is expected to be down.