Big Sky Upland Bird Association

10/12/2026

Montana's '26 Sage grouse season is now in the rear view mirror. Some of us appreciated getting out to hunt them for a few days. Here is a scene from yesteryear of T. Roosevelt pursuing them. He wrote of hunting them in both Montana and Wyoming.

10/10/2026

As one friend noted, it was a "toad soaker" of a rain in western Montana starting early this morning on the pheasant season opener. All wild birds. Still, some roosters, and dogs, cooperated on the CSK tribal reservation. All non-residents are welcomed Day 1!

10/08/2026

Breaking news- the Ft. Peck Fish and Game department has just announced that all upland bird and pheasant licenses are sold out for the '26 season.

Honestly, we'd never heard they even had a cap on upland license sales. Maybe this is the first time they've hit it?

10/08/2026

It is REALLY a different kind of year out there for griz encounters in the Flathead Valley. Recent reports of a sow with big cubs at the Herak Waterfowl Production Area 2 miles SW of Ninepipes dam, and a big boar closer to the dam. Another hotspot is north of Round Butte Rd. west of Ronan and Westland Seeds toward the golf course. A composting site has been set up to process dead deer and fish waste from the tribal lake trout fishery. Take precautions with bear spray, or just wait until tracks in snow can tell you where bears are roaming.

10/07/2026

Pheasant hunting season to open October 10
HELENA – Pheasant season opens on Saturday, Oct. 10, and FWP is busy with a second round of pheasant releases at several state lands sites across Montana.

As a reminder, nonresident upland game bird hunters using private lands enrolled in Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks hunting access programs – including block management – or hunting on public lands may not begin hunting until Oct. 20, which is 10 days later than resident upland bird hunters, for all upland species except mountain grouse (blue, spruce and ruffed grouse).

AND carry bear spray if you are anywhere in the Flathead valley or along the Rocky Mountain front. Griz are down low this fall due to a berry crop failure in the mountains.

09/27/2026

Need to find time to watch this!

Sage grouse populations have plummeted, but innovative conservation efforts are offering a path to recovery.

09/20/2026

Pheasant season opening in the Flathead in less than 3 weeks, and griz can be literally anywhere.

Two grizzly bears were spotted swimming in Polson Bay and on a dock near the Polson Bay Golf Course. One has been trapped and will be relocated.

Photos courtesy of the CSKT NRD Fish, Wildlife, Recreation & Conservation page

09/18/2026

https://missoulian.com/outdoors/article_a7513c45-d6c9-5436-995f-77c1a4800f21.html

A special youth hunt is offered this weekend, Sept. 19-20, for pheasant.

09/09/2026

ID that bird!