Prairie Three
Greater Sage-Grouse
Centrocercus urophasianus
Core 9
Range
Large sagebrush landscapes of the interior West. Seasons are limited and can change with population conditions.
Habitat
Continuous sagebrush with healthy native understory, wet meadow edges and broad, roadless basins.
Best timing
Where open, seasons are generally short and early in September. Verify the current proclamation before planning.
Identification
North America’s largest grouse; pointed tail, dark belly and white breast on males. Females are intricately mottled.
Public-land starting points
Best bets for the quest
How to hunt the habitat
Field approach
- 1Treat regulations and unit boundaries as the first step—not an afterthought.
- 2Scout water-adjacent sage, green forb pockets and basin-to-ridge transitions.
- 3Avoid disturbing active leks and follow all seasonal habitat restrictions.