Expanded opportunities for sage grouse hunting will be offered this year in Montana as bird populations have rebounded well after two years

Sage grouse hunting open again in Montana for month of September
Expanded opportunities for sage grouse hunting will be offered this year in Montana as bird populations have rebounded well after two years of favorable spring weather conditions.

Though the brief decline and subsequent bounce back of sage grouse numbers can likely be attributed to weather and normal cycles in bird populations, the population numbers and quick rebound are encouraging, said Catherine Wightman, wildlife habitat and Farm Bill coordinator for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

“These kinds of population cycles are normal, what we’re hoping to do with our habitat conservation efforts and monitoring work is to keep the dips in population from being so dramatic,” Wightman said.

Sage grouse season opens Sept. 1 and runs through the month, closing Sept. 30. The bag limit is two birds with a possession limit of four.

>> Read more at fwp.mt.gov

(Report via FWP)