Upland Bird and Small Game Hunting
Casper
After a period of growth for several years, sage-grouse populations appear to be in the midst of a downward swing within their population cycle throughout the Casper Region. Regardless, hunters should still find plenty of birds in areas south and west of Casper. Sage-grouse populations in northeast Wyoming are relatively small and isolated, with very conservative hunting seasons in place in some counties while other areas remain closed. Blue (dusky) grouse numbers in the Laramie Range were relatively good last year, although dusky grouse numbers can be highly variable from year to year in the Laramie Range. Hungarian partridge numbers declined in the Casper area in recent years, and hunters should not expect to see high numbers in 2019 either. As a general rule, upland game bird hunters should not expect to see high densities of “huns” in this part of the state as much of the Casper Region is not considered to be good Hungarian partridge habitat. The Black Hills will continue to provide modest hunting opportunity for ruffed grouse on National Forest lands, although this can be highly variable from year to year. Hunters willing to work hard and hunt aspen and birch dominated areas should be able to find a few “ruffies” for the table.
After several years of almost unfettered growth resulting in a recent peak in their population cycle, cottontail rabbit populations have declined dramatically in most of the Casper Region. Regardless, even when cottontails are at the low end of their population cycle, there are still ample hunting opportunities in the Casper Region.
Cody
Success for upland game bird hunting in 2019 in the Big Horn Basin will not be as good as it was in the previous season. Upland bird hunting success in 2018 was down compared to previous years, with many hunters finding only scattered numbers of huns, chukars, grouse and pheasants. Biologists observed fewer upland bird broods afield this year. Upland bird production was likely negatively impacted by heavy spring and early summer precipitation. Bird numbers have been down for a few years, so it will take a couple of years with ideal weather conditions for bird numbers to increase. Bird hunters should remember hunting has little to no effect on upland bird populations; weather and habitat play a much more significant role than hunting by influencing nesting success and chick survival.
Green River
The 2019 upland game bird seasons for the Green River region are similar to last year with the exception of a date shift (anchored to the 3rd Saturday in September) for sage-grouse. Sage-grouse hunting in the Green River Region should be fair to good throughout much of the region. Mountain grouse (ruffed grouse and dusky (blue) grouse) will vary by locality, although some pockets of good hunting are likely to occur.
Cottontail rabbits appeared to have peaked throughout much of the region in 2016, and have been followed by the typical crash in numbers. Rabbits of all species are noticeably fewer than in recent years, and hunters will have a harder time finding a limit of cottontails. Some areas of high densities still occur, and a hunter willing to put the legwork in will find plenty of cottontails. Snowshoe hares, a species that receives very little harvest pressure in the Green River Region, are numerous in some of the higher elevations of the southern Wyoming Range, Uinta, and Sierra Madre mountains, providing additional hunting opportunity and opportunity to use those cross country skis or snowshoes. The Green River Region has limited opportunity for squirrel hunting, with the exception of red squirrels, but this species is abundant.
Jackson
Although relatively severe late winter conditions could possibly have a negative impact on over-winter survival of upland game birds, favorable spring conditions could result in a good start to the nesting season in 2019 and a quick improvement in bird numbers. Similar to other years, hunters will likely find localized populations of grouse that have reproduced well during the year. In 2018, the season for dusky (blue) and ruffed grouse was extended from November 30 to December 31. The birds may not be easy to find at this time of year, but the opportunity is there. Hunters will need to be mindful of winter range closures in some areas that begin either December 1 or December 15.
There is a healthy population of snowshoe hares within the Region, and the season was recently extended to March 31 to allow for more hunting opportunities in late winter. However, several areas of the Bridger Teton National Forest are closed to winter access beginning either December 1 or December 15 and hunters should check with the Bridger Teton National Forest for winter travel plan details.
Lander
Hunting upland game birds (sage, blue, and ruffed grouse, pheasants, chukars and hungarian partridge) will likely be a bit tougher in 2019 in the Lander Region. Cold, wet spring conditions appear to have impacted nesting success thereby decreasing chick. Early field observations of sage-grouse are revealing few hens with broods as expected.
The Sand Mesa and Ocean Lake Wildlife Habitat Management Areas, and the one-day youth hunt at Sand Mesa continues to be very popular with pheasant hunters and will be continued in 2019. This year’s youth hunt will occur on Saturday, November 16th . Bird farm pheasants will again be released at the Sand Mesa and Ocean Lake Habitat Units through November.
Cottontails, snowshoe hares, and red squirrels appear to be similar to that in 2018 within the Lander Region. For those interested in pursuing these animals, hunting conditions should again be good in 2019.
Laramie
Sage grouse populations are predicted to decrease this year. Statewide, the 2018 chicks per hen ratio was 0.8 chicks:1 hen. Sage grouse require 1.4-1.6 chicks per hen for population stability. The number of birds harvested each year, however, is related strongly to hatching success and over-summer chick survival. In the Saratoga area, biologists observed a large number of nest/brood failures due to the wet, cold spring conditions. We anticipate a similar trend across most of the region.
Forest grouse hunting should be similar to the 2018 season, though cold conditions during the 2019 nesting and brooding seasons could lead to lower productivity. Populations of pheasants and sharp-tailed grouse in the eastern portion of the region have increased since 2013. Similar to forest grouse, hunting for these species should be comparable to the 2018 season.
Cotton-tailed rabbit numbers increased dramatically in 2016 in the Laramie region. Population growth appears to be slowing, however, with anecdotally fewer numbers on the western slopes of the Snowy Range. Hunters should find pockets of abundant rabbits, but overall anticipate more challenging hunts.
Pinedale
Sage grouse seasons will again run later in September in an attempt to reduce the vulnerability of hens with broods. In 2018, the season for dusky (blue) and ruffed grouse was extended from November 30 to December 31. In years with later than average onset of snow, access to the forested habitats of these gamebirds provides additional time afield for upland enthusiasts and the season structure will remain the same in 2019. Hunters will need to be mindful of winter range closures in some areas that begin in November and December.
There is a healthy population of snowshoe hares and cottontail rabbits within the Region, and the season has been extended to March 31 to allow for more hunting opportunities in late winter. However, several areas of the Bridger Teton National Forest are closed to winter access beginning in November and December and hunters should check with the Bridger Teton National Forest for details of their winter travel plan.
Sheridan
Upland game bird hunters found tougher hunting in 2018 for nearly all species. Blue grouse hunters had more difficulty finding birds in the Bighorn Mountains. Sharp-tailed grouse and gray partridge populations also remained low. Nesting success is key to good fall populations of upland game birds and this year’s wet, cool spring likely dampened nesting success and brood survival. Conversely, the excellent moisture and extended green-up benefited broods that survived as well as hens that re-nested. A three-day sage-grouse hunting season in Hunt Area 4 has been set for September 21-23, 2019.
Pheasants from Game and Fish’s Sheridan Bird Farm will continue to be released on some Walk-In Areas and other public lands in the Sheridan Region. A fourth annual youth only hunt day will be held Nov. 16, 2019 on the Bud Love Wildlife Habitat Management Area near Buffalo. The youth hunt provides an excellent opportunity for youth hunters to experience upland bird hunting.
After a period of growth for several years, sage-grouse populations appear to be in the midst of a downward swing within their population cycle throughout the Casper Region. Regardless, hunters should still find plenty of birds in areas south and west of Casper. Sage-grouse populations in northeast Wyoming are relatively small and isolated, with very conservative hunting seasons in place in some counties while other areas remain closed. Blue (dusky) grouse numbers in the Laramie Range were relatively good last year, although dusky grouse numbers can be highly variable from year to year in the Laramie Range. Hungarian partridge numbers declined in the Casper area in recent years, and hunters should not expect to see high numbers in 2019 either. As a general rule, upland game bird hunters should not expect to see high densities of “huns” in this part of the state as much of the Casper Region is not considered to be good Hungarian partridge habitat. The Black Hills will continue to provide modest hunting opportunity for ruffed grouse on National Forest lands, although this can be highly variable from year to year. Hunters willing to work hard and hunt aspen and birch dominated areas should be able to find a few “ruffies” for the table.
After several years of almost unfettered growth resulting in a recent peak in their population cycle, cottontail rabbit populations have declined dramatically in most of the Casper Region. Regardless, even when cottontails are at the low end of their population cycle, there are still ample hunting opportunities in the Casper Region.
Cody
Success for upland game bird hunting in 2019 in the Big Horn Basin will not be as good as it was in the previous season. Upland bird hunting success in 2018 was down compared to previous years, with many hunters finding only scattered numbers of huns, chukars, grouse and pheasants. Biologists observed fewer upland bird broods afield this year. Upland bird production was likely negatively impacted by heavy spring and early summer precipitation. Bird numbers have been down for a few years, so it will take a couple of years with ideal weather conditions for bird numbers to increase. Bird hunters should remember hunting has little to no effect on upland bird populations; weather and habitat play a much more significant role than hunting by influencing nesting success and chick survival.
Green River
The 2019 upland game bird seasons for the Green River region are similar to last year with the exception of a date shift (anchored to the 3rd Saturday in September) for sage-grouse. Sage-grouse hunting in the Green River Region should be fair to good throughout much of the region. Mountain grouse (ruffed grouse and dusky (blue) grouse) will vary by locality, although some pockets of good hunting are likely to occur.
Cottontail rabbits appeared to have peaked throughout much of the region in 2016, and have been followed by the typical crash in numbers. Rabbits of all species are noticeably fewer than in recent years, and hunters will have a harder time finding a limit of cottontails. Some areas of high densities still occur, and a hunter willing to put the legwork in will find plenty of cottontails. Snowshoe hares, a species that receives very little harvest pressure in the Green River Region, are numerous in some of the higher elevations of the southern Wyoming Range, Uinta, and Sierra Madre mountains, providing additional hunting opportunity and opportunity to use those cross country skis or snowshoes. The Green River Region has limited opportunity for squirrel hunting, with the exception of red squirrels, but this species is abundant.
Jackson
Although relatively severe late winter conditions could possibly have a negative impact on over-winter survival of upland game birds, favorable spring conditions could result in a good start to the nesting season in 2019 and a quick improvement in bird numbers. Similar to other years, hunters will likely find localized populations of grouse that have reproduced well during the year. In 2018, the season for dusky (blue) and ruffed grouse was extended from November 30 to December 31. The birds may not be easy to find at this time of year, but the opportunity is there. Hunters will need to be mindful of winter range closures in some areas that begin either December 1 or December 15.
There is a healthy population of snowshoe hares within the Region, and the season was recently extended to March 31 to allow for more hunting opportunities in late winter. However, several areas of the Bridger Teton National Forest are closed to winter access beginning either December 1 or December 15 and hunters should check with the Bridger Teton National Forest for winter travel plan details.
Lander
Hunting upland game birds (sage, blue, and ruffed grouse, pheasants, chukars and hungarian partridge) will likely be a bit tougher in 2019 in the Lander Region. Cold, wet spring conditions appear to have impacted nesting success thereby decreasing chick. Early field observations of sage-grouse are revealing few hens with broods as expected.
The Sand Mesa and Ocean Lake Wildlife Habitat Management Areas, and the one-day youth hunt at Sand Mesa continues to be very popular with pheasant hunters and will be continued in 2019. This year’s youth hunt will occur on Saturday, November 16th . Bird farm pheasants will again be released at the Sand Mesa and Ocean Lake Habitat Units through November.
Cottontails, snowshoe hares, and red squirrels appear to be similar to that in 2018 within the Lander Region. For those interested in pursuing these animals, hunting conditions should again be good in 2019.
Laramie
Sage grouse populations are predicted to decrease this year. Statewide, the 2018 chicks per hen ratio was 0.8 chicks:1 hen. Sage grouse require 1.4-1.6 chicks per hen for population stability. The number of birds harvested each year, however, is related strongly to hatching success and over-summer chick survival. In the Saratoga area, biologists observed a large number of nest/brood failures due to the wet, cold spring conditions. We anticipate a similar trend across most of the region.
Forest grouse hunting should be similar to the 2018 season, though cold conditions during the 2019 nesting and brooding seasons could lead to lower productivity. Populations of pheasants and sharp-tailed grouse in the eastern portion of the region have increased since 2013. Similar to forest grouse, hunting for these species should be comparable to the 2018 season.
Cotton-tailed rabbit numbers increased dramatically in 2016 in the Laramie region. Population growth appears to be slowing, however, with anecdotally fewer numbers on the western slopes of the Snowy Range. Hunters should find pockets of abundant rabbits, but overall anticipate more challenging hunts.
Pinedale
Sage grouse seasons will again run later in September in an attempt to reduce the vulnerability of hens with broods. In 2018, the season for dusky (blue) and ruffed grouse was extended from November 30 to December 31. In years with later than average onset of snow, access to the forested habitats of these gamebirds provides additional time afield for upland enthusiasts and the season structure will remain the same in 2019. Hunters will need to be mindful of winter range closures in some areas that begin in November and December.
There is a healthy population of snowshoe hares and cottontail rabbits within the Region, and the season has been extended to March 31 to allow for more hunting opportunities in late winter. However, several areas of the Bridger Teton National Forest are closed to winter access beginning in November and December and hunters should check with the Bridger Teton National Forest for details of their winter travel plan.
Sheridan
Upland game bird hunters found tougher hunting in 2018 for nearly all species. Blue grouse hunters had more difficulty finding birds in the Bighorn Mountains. Sharp-tailed grouse and gray partridge populations also remained low. Nesting success is key to good fall populations of upland game birds and this year’s wet, cool spring likely dampened nesting success and brood survival. Conversely, the excellent moisture and extended green-up benefited broods that survived as well as hens that re-nested. A three-day sage-grouse hunting season in Hunt Area 4 has been set for September 21-23, 2019.
Pheasants from Game and Fish’s Sheridan Bird Farm will continue to be released on some Walk-In Areas and other public lands in the Sheridan Region. A fourth annual youth only hunt day will be held Nov. 16, 2019 on the Bud Love Wildlife Habitat Management Area near Buffalo. The youth hunt provides an excellent opportunity for youth hunters to experience upland bird hunting.