Sharptail Grouse / Prairie Chicken
hunting regulations.
Huntable in 16 states — 9 with general season, 7 draw / limited entry. Click any state for the state-specific page.
Sharptail grouse and the closely related greater and lesser prairie-chickens occupy the Northern Plains and historic prairie regions. Sharpies favor mixed prairie-shrub edge; prairie-chickens prefer tallgrass prairie. Both are tied to native prairie habitat that has been heavily impacted by ag conversion. Sharpies are widespread; prairie-chicken populations are far more constrained.
Most Northern Plains states (Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin) run sharpie seasons. Prairie-chicken hunting is more limited — Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and South Dakota have small seasons. Pointing dogs work best in the broken country these birds favor.
Hunting regulations change. The information on this page reflects what we know about species presence and hunt availability based on state agency listings. For current season dates, bag limits, weapon restrictions, tag requirements, and reporting obligations, verify directly with your state wildlife agency. You are responsible for confirming current regulations before hunting.
Where sharptail grouse / prairie chicken can be hunted
16 states- AlaskaAlaska Department of Fish and GameYGeneral seasonVerify →
- ColoradoColorado Parks and WildlifeDDraw / limited entryVerify →
- IdahoIdaho Department of Fish and GameYGeneral seasonVerify →
- KansasKansas Department of Wildlife and ParksYGeneral seasonVerify →
- MinnesotaMinnesota DNRYGeneral seasonVerify →
- MontanaMontana Fish, Wildlife & ParksYGeneral seasonVerify →
- NebraskaNebraska Game and Parks CommissionYGeneral seasonVerify →
- New MexicoNew Mexico Department of Game and FishDDraw / limited entryVerify →
- North DakotaND Game and Fish DepartmentYGeneral seasonVerify →
- OklahomaOklahoma Department of Wildlife ConservationDDraw / limited entryVerify →
- South DakotaSD Game, Fish and ParksYGeneral seasonVerify →
- TexasTexas Parks and WildlifeDDraw / limited entryVerify →
- UtahUtah Division of Wildlife ResourcesDDraw / limited entryVerify →
- WashingtonWashington Department of Fish and WildlifeDDraw / limited entryVerify →
- WisconsinWisconsin DNRDDraw / limited entryVerify →
- WyomingWyoming Game and Fish DepartmentYGeneral seasonVerify →
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