Dog Boarding & Training Articles
Thank you for your interest in our Bird Hunting in Montana article. We hope that you find it interesting and informatiive. Please check out our other blog posts about dogs on our main blog page or select one by subject matter below!
About the Author:
Leonard Houser, owner and operator of Thunder Ridge Kennels, has been training and boarding dogs for over 30 years. He is well known nationally for his expert training ability and getting excellent reults with all types and mannerisms of breeds, He is a well respected member of the field trial community and his success in both competition and traing dogs for others is outstanding in the field.
Bird Hunting in Montana
— Published 10-04-2018 by: Leonard Houser (Thunder Ridge Kennels)
Montana is a popular hunting destination for a wide variety of game. In addition to having such sought after species of big game such as: deer, pronghorn, elk, mountain goats, big horn sheep, and bears, the wide variety of terrain in our huge state also provides some excellent bird hunting opportunities! As long time professional bird dog trainers, we thought it appropriate to write an article about bird hunting in Montana.
Why Hunt Birds?
If you have to ask then most likely it is because you have never done it! There are few things in life that even come close to the pure joy and satisfaction that come from a day in the field with your trusty bird dog. Whether you prefer to hunt waterfowl or upland game birds, Montana has aboundant opportunities for you and your dog to get out there and have the time of your life. Even if you are only training or are unsuccessful at harvesting any birds for the day, the simple joy of watching your dog work the terrain and birds is a satisfaction that most never get to experience. If you are thinking about either getting a dog, having one trained, or simply learning more about the sport feel free to give Leonard a call at Thunder Ridge Kennels. He will be glad to talk bird dogs and can certainly help get you ‘pointed’ in the right direction for your next hunting adventure!
Hunting Montana Upland Game Birds
With a long upland game bird season (spanninng from September to January), there is lots of time to get you and your dog out in the field. In addition to a nice long season, Montana has a nice variety of upland game bird species to suit a wide variety of tastes and keep a good mix in the challenge of the sport. Available species here in Montana include:
- Hungarian Partridge
- Blue Grouse
- Spruce Grouse
- Ruffed Grouse
- Ringneck Pheasant
- Sharp Tailed Grouse
- Sage Grouse
With our abundance of wide open areas, variety of terrain, and ample bird species (not to mention healthy bird populations), Montana offers some of the best upland game bird hunting opportunities anywhere in the nation. We are also lucky to have well over 1,300 land owners cooperating the Block management Program for a whopping 7.3 million acres of private property open to upland game bird hunting! That is more acres of private land for bird hunting than 8 of the states have in total!
Hunting Montana Waterfowl
Interested in hunting ducks, geese, swans and/or coots? Montana shines in this area as well. In fact, We have had record duck populations for the last 2 years and the outlook is for populations to actually increase! While we have a lot of places to hunt waterfowl in Montana, the Bighorn River is often referred to as a bird hunter’s dream come true! Canyon Ferry and the Missouri River offer lots of opportunity as well. Some of the popular waterfolw species to hunt in Montana include:
- Mallards
- Canada Geese
- Pintails
- Redheads
- Canvasbacks
- Scaup
- Snow Geese
- Blue Geese
- Ross’s Geese
- Mergansers
- Coots
- Tundra Swan
