Prairie Three
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Tympanuchus phasianellus
Core 9
Range
Northern prairie and shrub-steppe from western Canada into the northern Great Plains and interior West.
Habitat
Mixed grass, brushy draws, prairie edges, light agricultural cover and scattered woody shelter.
Best timing
September and October, when broods gather and cool mornings make expansive prairie manageable.
Identification
Pointed central tail feathers, pale belly and dark V-shaped markings distinguish it from prairie-chickens.
Public-land starting points
Best bets for the quest
How to hunt the habitat
Field approach
- 1Use access programs to connect large grass blocks and brushy draws.
- 2Hunt into the wind and work ridge shoulders above feeding flats.
- 3Expect birds to flush farther as pressure and the season increase.