The holiday season is often an excuse for packing on a few extra pounds. Nothing helps with weight loss more than exercise. Chasing upland birds around keeps you on your feet while ensuring you get your steps in for the day. Going hunting is therefore good for your health. Now that you have every excuse you need to make the case for another day outdoors, here is a list of upland bird hunting opportunities across the Midwest Region.
Michigan – Ruffed Grouse
Michigan has a healthy population of Ruffed Grouse and plenty of public land on which to pursue them. Nick Green, editor of Michigan Out-of-Doors Magazine, said, “In Michigan, we are currently in a boom at the top of a cycle. Years that end in zero are usually the best years of a decade.” The Huron-Manistee National Forests offers hunters nearly a million acres of public land grouse hunting across the northern portion of the lower peninsula of Michigan.
Nebraska – Prairie Chickens
Prairie chicken numbers have seen better times across most of their original range. Numbers have crashed to nearly non-existent in Missouri and Illinois. According to the USDA, populations appear to be most secure in Nebraska and South Dakota. Nebraska is a top choice to chase these gorgeous prairie grouse. Load up your canine companions and head to the Sandhills. The Open Fields and Waters Program has made 346,000 acres of private land accessible for hunting. A map is available on the Nebraska Game and Parks website.
Iowa – Pheasant
When it comes to Pheasants, Iowa may not be the Dakotas, but there are still plenty of birds out there to make hunting roosters worth the walk. With a long season running into January, you may not have the first crack at fresh roosters but should still find plenty of birds late int eh game. The daily bag limit for pheasants in Iowa is 3 and the possession limit is 12. Shooting hours are a bit strange, running from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. You need a hunting license and habitat fee and must wear blaze orange.
South Dakota – Grouse
Sharp-tailed grouse, ruffed grouse and greater prairie-chickens give wing shooters plenty to be excited about in South Dakota beyond pheasants. The season runs through the end of the year. Cold mornings that turn into warmer afternoons are perfect for stomping grasslands in search of sharp-tails and chickens. The 115,890 acre Fort Pierre National Grassland gives grouse hunters plenty of room to roam. Ruffies are only found in the Black Hills Region. Look for them throughout the Black Hills National Forest wherever multiple age classes of aspen trees occur.
Kansas – Sandhill Cranes
Sandhill crane hunting doesn’t take place across the entire Midwest. In fact, only two states east of the Mississippi River, Kentucky and Tennessee, allow crane hunting. Making Kansas a special Central Flyway state where one can chase these birds. Hunting cranes takes a lot of work. Decoy spreads often push a thousand. This is one endeavor where a guide service can really up your odds. Sandhills are known to be one of the best-tasting wild-game meats hunters have the privilege of harvesting in North America. Many refer to Sandhill cranes as the “ribeye of the sky.” The daily limit is 3.
North Dakota – Sharp-tailed Grouse
With a population of just more than 750,000 residents, only Alaska, Vermont and Wyoming are home to fewer people than North Dakota. But at 70,700 square miles, this sportsman’s paradise is the 19th largest state in the country. So, there is a lot of space for spreading out. The National Grasslands are a great place to do so in pursuit of sharp-tailed grouse. These badlands spoke to Theodore Roosevelt. Tramp around them behind a good bird dog and you’ll know why. Grouse season opens September 10.
Minnesota – Pheasants
The southern portion of the state has good pheasant hunting. The limit is two roosters per day. Hunters must possess a Pheasant stamp and small game license. Shooting hours are 9 a.m. to sunset. Minnesota has a lot of public land and Walk-In land that holds pheasants. On the DNR website, you can search for WMAs by county and species. This tool will help you find a few pheasant spots close to home.
See you down the trail….
Brandon Butler
bbutler@driftwoodoutdoors.com
Pic: Upland bird hunting offers exercise opportunity during the Holiday Season.
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