Words on the Birds: Montana’s Updated Game Bird Hunting Forecasts

New this year, Montana upland game bird hunters have a 10-day head start on nonresident hunters.

THE RESULT OF SENATE BILL 514

Passed during the 2025 legislative session, nonresident upland game bird hunters using private lands enrolled in Montana FWP hunting access programs -- including block management – or hunting on public lands may not begin hunting until 10 days later than resident upland bird hunters for all upland species except mountain grouse  and ruffed grouse.

Whichever part of the state is your game bird go-to, let's take a look at the latest forecasts for all 7 regions.

NORTHWEST MONTANA (REGION 1)

Rains and the wet spring did not favor good brood production for upland game birds in northwest Montana this year. Mountain grouse numbers are expected to be below normal due to a lack of chick production. Pheasant and partridge habitat is limited in Region 1 to the Ninepipe Wildlife Management Area on the Flathead Reservation and the Flathead Valley. Pheasant and partridge brood production was likely negatively impacted by the cool, wet spring and periods of heavy rain as well. Overall, it looks like a down year for upland game numbers in Region 1.

Hunters looking to pursue upland game birds within the Flathead Reservation are reminded that a reservation upland game hunting license is needed for nontribal members.

WESTERN MONTANA (REGION 2)

Forest grouse and wild turkey populations in the region continue to look good and should offer quality opportunity during the hunting season. Consecutive mild winters have allowed for consistently high winter survival of adults and previous seasons broods. Despite a dry winter, the spring conditions turned out well with good and timely precipitation to create quality habitat for broods throughout the summer. Through several observations, wild turkeys and forest grouse had large broods slightly earlier in the spring, which should bode well for numbers this fall.

Spring surveys were conducted in Region 2 in May to gather information on spring mountain grouse numbers and allow FWP to obtain a reliable estimate to detect trends over time. The surveys focused primarily on dusky (blue) grouse but recorded ruffed and spruce grouse incidentally. Spring surveys showed abundant adult grouse numbers spread widely across the region. Hunters focusing on dusky grouse should move up in elevation as the season progresses.

To obtain a better estimate of summer brood production and juvenile recruitment, FWP is asking hunters in Region 2 to voluntarily submit one wing of each harvested mountain grouse. There will be a “wing barrel” set up at the Region 2 office in Missoula starting in September and at hunter check stations later in the fall. The wing will be used to age the harvested bird as a metric for estimating productivity.

SOUTHWEST MONTANA (REGION 3)

Wildlife biologists in Region 3 will be collecting wings from hunter-harvested grouse during the fall season to assess young-of-the year composition.

Sage grouse in southwestern Montana showed improved numbers for the second spring in a row. Hunter donated wings have indicated poor juvenile recruitment in recent years. However, in 2024 and 2025 this improved somewhat. This recruitment and a mild winter may have improved population performance. Thus far, conditions appear to have been favorable for recruitment. Though little snowpack was available, Region 3 has experienced regular precipitation, which may improve forage.

Information on mountain grouse is more limited. However, Region 3 has seen a similar pattern in juvenile-to-adult ratios as sage-grouse. Only a handful of mountain grouse surveys are conducted in spring, but results from this past spring were encouraging. In recent years recruitment appeared poor in mountain grouse but improved in the past two seasons.

NORTH-CENTRAL MONTANA (REGION 4)

Weather conditions during the winter of 2025-2026 in north-central Montana were quite mild. Much of the region had above-average temperatures, strong winds and very little snow accumulation, and the birds on the landscape carried over well due to this mild winter weather.

The above-average temperatures and low precipitation continued into the spring, but in June much of the region experienced multiple large weather events with large amounts of precipitation and cooler temps. The moisture from these storms has kept much of the region looking green well into July, and habitat conditions are looking good for the first time in several years. There is some concern that the cooler wet conditions in June may have affected brood survival, but it is still too early for biologists to determine the overall impacts at this time. Brood sightings around the region have been minimal but there is evidence suggesting a later hatch.

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SOUTH-CENTRAL MONTANA (REGION 5)

Following two very good years for upland birds in Region 5, staff expect hunters will have average opportunity to hunt and harvest birds this season.

Sharp-tailed grouse are expected to be closer to average following last year. Hunters should expect spotty encounters in favorable habitat and below average numbers in areas that have been impacted by drought. Spring sage-grouse surveys showed below average numbers across the region.

Brood counts indicate that gray partridge and chukar numbers will be good this fall.

Similarly, pheasant numbers are expected to be fair in favorable habitat though some areas were impacted by severe weather over the summer. Spring surveys showed pheasant crow counts below last year’s numbers in areas of good habitat.

Turkey numbers seem to be good with many broods observed around the region. Some areas may have been impacted by localized hail events.

Intense summer hailstorms negatively impacted upland birds in portions of northern Region 5 this year. The majority of the region is experiencing varying levels of drought conditions, which limits habitat cover.

NORTHEAST MONTANA (REGION 6) 

Northeast Montana had a mild winter across the region with good overwinter survival and an early spring. It was a dryer than normal spring with good residual cover, but by June it started to rain with good habitat response that should result in at least average nest success and brood-rearing conditions, and biologists believe it looks to be shaping up into a decent bird year.

Pheasant numbers across the region should provide good opportunities for hunters, and likely similar to or better than the last couple of years. Surveys in the central and western portion of the region saw increases from the previous year’s survey and numbers are near or above average. The eastern end of the region has seen lower numbers in recent years and are currently near average. Habitat conditions remain good throughout the region and should benefit broods into the fall.

Although populations of gray partridge are often spotty, there should be ample opportunity across the region for hunters pursuing this tasty game bird. Observations of widespread distribution and above-average harvest the past couple of years indicates that populations seem to be doing well, and based on the aforementioned weather and habitat conditions, biologists expect gray partridge numbers to be above average again this fall.

SOUTHEAST MONTANA (REGION 7)

Southeast Montana spring conditions were characterized by warm temperatures and below-average precipitation. Limited grass growth combined with frequent dust storms in late May, likely impacted early nesting attempts for upland game birds. By the end of May, most of southeastern Montana was in moderate to extreme drought conditions; however, frequent early summer precipitation dramatically improved habitat conditions. This timely moisture coincided with the nesting and brood-rearing season, likely boosting nesting and brood rearing success. However, this respite was short lived, as July saw hot, above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation.

Ring-necked pheasant crow count surveys were optimistic, with numbers well above average. Despite spring survey numbers, it is important to remember that for many upland game bird species, spring chick production is crucial to hunter success in the fall. Poor spring moisture and variable precipitation during late spring and early summer likely impacted upland game bird production. Upland game bird numbers will likely vary across the region depending on weather patterns and habitat conditions. As a result, hunters will likely have to work much harder to find birds than in previous years, when habitat conditions were more favorable.

If all of this information still wasn't quite enough to tickle your feathers, more details are available on this page of the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks website.