WY/MT chukar/sage grouse advice

[Black ice]

Hey guys, as of late I've pondering a western hunt in search of chukars &/or sage grouse. Not sure why, but those 2 species have been on my list since I was a kid cruising thru the outdoor mags!
My bird hound just turned 5 on me(dayum time flies) & I'm tying the 'ol knot this summer

.....so I figure I had best make this trip happen in the next couple years!

I would like to stick with Wyoming &/or eastern Montana if possible, as I will be coming from Iowa.
I realize this may handicap a guy somewhat on the chukars, from what I can tell it sounds like parts of Oregon/Idaho/Utah are likely the best for that species. But, in the interest of saving several hundred miles, I have no problem "settling" for an area with a smaller but huntable population.
As for the sage grouse, it appears that WY & eastern MT are probably the best bet anyway.

So outside of browsing the net & making a few phone calls to the local Game & Fish biologists out that way, I thought I would see if anybody here has some prior experience or advice that might help me plan this trip. Areas where I could use a little help include (but are not limited to LOL)----

- Which general areas (either state) should I spend some time researching??
- What portion of the fall season would provide the best opportunity for both species??
- Roughly how many days should I allot to give myself a decent shot at finding & harvesting a handful of birds??
- Advice on equipment, dog maintenance, physical conditioning, weather/drought related concerns etc…..
- Public land suggestions (or places to avoid for that matter)…..
- Is it worth my time trying to gain private land access?? I realize that many ranches are likely leased/off limits for big game hunting purposes, not sure how this affects access for upland bird hunters…..

Hope this doesn’t sound like too much, I’ve just started to research this trip and trying to narrow things down a bit. I surely don’t expect anybody to provide “all the answers.”

That said, any help/advice would be much appreciated, and I apologize for the novel

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[phutch30]

Most of eastern MT has good numbers of sage grouse and many areas also have healthy sharptail populations. Find some large areas of BLM in open sage country or use the block manegement program. Call MT Fish and game in Miles City for specific population numbers in areas your looking at.

Sept/early oct will be best for numbers. If you want a mounter Sage grouse wail till late Oct. Season closes Nov 1.

Ther isnt reliable chuker hunting in MT. Supposed to be a few in the Pryer Mnts. But good luck finding them.

 

[EJ Reichenbach]

If you want chucker you need to hunt the Pryor mtns south of billings, mt or better yet the west side of the bighorn mtns in Wyoming, it's by Lovell Wyoming, they like to hang out in the rocks, about a quarter of the way up the face of the mountain. Montana is full of sharp tail.

 

[Black ice]

Thanks for the advice fellas, I may hit u guys with a PM or two as I get farther along with the planning.

What sort of upland hunting pressure have you observed on some of these BLM lands??

ph30, I know the chukar may be a long shot at best, but I would like to give them a crack if i make the trip out there.
Sounds like chukar country can be [beeep] on the dogs, I spose it would be best to do that leg of the trip last LOL!

 

[MikeWenz]

Just typed out a long response and some how lost it. Hunting sage grouse and chukars in Wyoming their seasons don't overlap. I've noticed more hunters out after sage grouse than I've seen in the last 25 years and most are out of staters hitting easy to access areas the Game and Fish recommends in the SW and south central parts of Wyoming. Find water and the birds are generally close by. Sage grouse seem to be making a come back from the drought of the 2000's. Saw them, pheasants and huns in areas the last two years where they haven' t been in the previous ten years. Chukars are not as wide spread, but they inhabit a larger area than most admit. The only other chukar hunters I see are the ones I'm hunting with. The country is so big and there are very few bird hunters. Chukars and sage grouse can have their habitats overlap. Last fall frequently saw Huns, chukars and sage grouse in the same areas.
Your dogs will need to be in excellent shape. Most hunting is done in rocky country or sage brush with cactus. They need to have tough feet. You also need to be in shape as most of the bird hunting is done from 4k to 7k feet. Hunting sage grouse isn't bad , but chukars like it where it is steep. Some times they hold great for the dog and others times they run straight uphill in the steepest country possible. I sure do like the dogs tracking collar. Lets you know when they are on point and out of sight.
Be careful of the info you get. Weather in the spring and water in the summer can make or break a season. Last year Wyoming game and fish said Huns, chukars and sharp tails were going to be in low abundance. I thought it was the best year it's been in a long time. Networking is worth your time. Find someone to show you the habitat they like and it will save you a lot of boot leather.
Don't know much about Montana. Their seasons are longer on sage grouse. I've hunted the state a few times and have found the people to be friendly like they are here. Get off the beaten path and permission isn't tough to get. I stay away from most ranches during the beginning of big game seasons as they probably have paying hunters. After that permission is easy to get.
Good luck.