American GrouseHunters
All Core 9 species

Forest Four

Dusky Grouse

Dendragapus obscurus

Field Guide
Core 9
Dusky Grouse in natural habitat
Photo: Daniel Lombardi / Glacier National Park (Public Domain)
Range

The interior mountain West, from the Rockies of Canada south through the United States.

Habitat

Open conifer forest, aspen pockets and berry-rich mountain slopes, often climbing higher as fall advances.

Best timing

September combines open access, family groups and predictable feeding near edges and mountain trails.

Identification

Large, dark grouse with a long rounded tail. Displaying males show a yellow-orange neck sac edged in white.

Public-land starting points

Best bets for the quest

01

Montana

Kootenai, Flathead, Lolo and Bitterroot National Forests

Official agency
02

Colorado

National Forest lands along the western slope

Official agency
03

Idaho

Panhandle, Clearwater and Salmon-Challis National Forests

Official agency

How to hunt the habitat

Field approach

  1. 1Walk contour trails through mixed fir, pine and aspen near feeding openings.
  2. 2Begin around mid-elevations, then move uphill as the season advances.
  3. 3Listen for soft clucks and watch tree limbs after a covey flush.