Big Sky Upland Bird Association

09/09/2026

ID that bird!

09/02/2026

North Dakota detected avian influenza and West Nile virus antibodies in ~25% of upland birds tested last fall.

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota..com) – Last year’s tallies in the North Dakota summer upland bird roadside survey were a telling portent for the fall hunting seasons, as drops in numbers – from slight downward ticks in pheasant

09/02/2026

https://kyssfm.com/montana-game-bird-hunting-forecasts/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUEXCZwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMW1PS2g4NjlzQTh6TldaRFNzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEec3NRdRmonTcrTBMUWy9c7EiNSLeuCSyPIhonTkM-s6oKLYGiepASicqwhGo_aem_cnFJ1kfLpfko2pxXKOYLbw

09/01/2026

Nice numbers of grouse on the western Montana mountain we visited today. Definitely more Spruce grouse than usual (including this displaying male left unmolested), and perhaps fewer Dusky grouse than in some years.

09/01/2026

An interesting video on Dusky grouse... https://projectupland.com/hunting-videos/the-secret-life-of-the-dusky-grouse-a-project-upland-original-film/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUDJX5wZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6DSl5Ap1Lfr3Gst_fRbUFl6ZGWG6zbWVbBnzmNUnrYgEbdAUtQCzm52Ht3zA_aem_7Dymk8QVsEfrmI5UG5q4MQ

In the mountains of Utah, wildlife scientist and hunter Dr. Dave Dahlgren explores the deep...

08/31/2026

In western Montana it is supposed to hit the low 90's on tomorrow's upland bird opener. Then cooler temps but the possibility of rain every day for the rest of the week. A difficult forecast, but some of us will try mountain grouse... it worked well a few years ago! Have a good season!

08/20/2026

Yesterday the FWP Commission heard FWP’s presentation and opponent testimony to FWP's continuation and geographic expansion of the “Roosters for Recruitment” program. Opponent testimony outnumbered supporters 5-to-1.
There were a number of good questions from Commissioners particularly around hen release, cost per bagged bird, undemonstrated youth recruitment, potential shifts towards habitat improvement, legislative consultation, and even disease risks.
Commissioner Burrows (Region 2) advanced an amendment to shorten FWP's release authorization to 3 years (thru fall '29) but still allowing expansion to federal and private acreage. The vote was split (4 votes for and 3 opposed) and the measure passed.
New information is that all federal funding (75%) goes away at the end of this year, so that now the $1mil./yr. expenditure going forward will be shouldered 100% by hunting license sales in Montana. More $200 pen roosters coming your way!
Pictured: a flightless tail-less rooster with a gangrenous wing harvested by a dog on the Warm Springs WMA, 2023.

08/17/2026

Some of our members have let us know that there is a fraudster trying to sell T-shirts, coffee mugs, etc. with something that looks like the Big Sky Upland Bird Association logo. We don’t sell T-shirts or coffee mugs. This merchant has nothing to do with our association. Please don’t buy anything from them.

08/11/2026

See below page 1 of our new electronic newsletter containing Montana's '26 upland bird season forecast. To join BSUBA and receive all 8 pages (and 3 newsletter issues annually), just visit bigskyuplandbird.org
Annual dues are only $25/year.