Despite the best efforts of some conservation groups, state and federal agencies and landowners, Montana’s sage grouse numbers have been on a steady decline over the past few years. The big prairie birds’ populations tend to cycle up and down over about 10-year spans. But the long-term trend has been a steady drop, with the population highs and lows decreasing. The information was contained in a presentation to the Montana Sage Grouse Oversight Team, which met in Helena on Tuesday. To learn more about how the birds are doing, and the efforts to keep their numbers intact, check out my story on MontanaUntamed.com at http://montanauntamed.com/hunting/article_1a809109-5d30-526d-98fd-d585225a8890.html