Prairie Chickens - Needle in a Haystack?

[Mike of the Mountain]

Dean, prairie chickens are a bucket list hunt for me. I'd love to have a nice mount done for the lodge. It's encouraging to see that there are still some good populations out there.

[Dean Weber]

Originally Posted by Mike Koneski

Dean, prairie chickens are a bucket list hunt for me. I'd love to have a nice mount done for the lodge. It's encouraging to see that there are still some good populations out there.

Mike,

Great hunt and a great mount if you kill a boomer later in the season. It is a tradeoff. The experience and the mountable bird maybe be a few months apart. During Sept/October the hunting can be good with multiple flushes over dogs. In late season, when the big boomers develop their telltale "horn feathers" they are bunched up and can be difficult to hunt in a walkup situation.

Best!

[mikeschneider]

I drove out to SD a day earlier than normal, to allow me to go search for prairie grouse the Friday before pheasant opener. I called a CO out of Miller who was super kind, he offered to leave me a map at the sheriff’s office that he marked up a bit. I picked the spot closest to hwy 14, about 40-50 miles West of Miller. Very hard to access this public land, being surrounded by private land. I eventually decided to walk a section line that paralleled a winter wheat field, then turned North after 1 mile, and finished that 1/2 mile walk next to picked corn, the stalks of which were 3-4’ high. I walked in the pasture area for an hour or more…hilly, with sloughs in the bottoms, loaded with waterfowl…that water was a godsend for my 2 labs! Over 65, maybe 70 that day. Never contacted anything til I walked back out the way I came…dogs were quite birdy next to the corn…I did flush a rooster on the walk in…would you believe it, a covey of 20’sh or so sharpies erupted from that picked corn! Took me a second to figure this out! Dropped the first one I pulled up on with my Repro 28, mostly a straight away, and whiffed on #2, a crosser that was closer…darn that full choke 2nd barrel! I was elated, for sure. A minute after admiring that grouse, and getting it situated in my vest, my 5 year old was back in the wheat, very excited! A lone bird flushed out of range, maybe 80-100 yards where the covey had been….I watched it sail Westward, where I’d be walking the last mile to my truck. About 3/8 of that way back, a lone bird flushed from the very brushy fence I was walking next to…3’ of grass, brush, etc…I knew it wasn’t a pheasant, and the ounce of #5 lead took it down without any issue. I could tell it was a chicken when the dog was getting close on the retrieve…I was really thrilled! It was 10/18, and it had horns…5/8” I’d say, perhaps a skosh longer. Those 2 birds were appetizers 3 nights later, grilled rare after being marinated in Italian dressing after tenderizing them. Salt and peppered to taste…amazingly tender! They were medium rare after resting under foil for 5-7 minutes. The ribeyes we had next must have felt like the performer who went on after Hendrix or Joplin, who opened as very young performers! I eat lots of prairie grouse in September, as I spend a few weeks hunting them in a nearby state. Really enjoy hunting them, and dining on them…and that chicken was a real bonus! I shot my first on 1/3/24 in a different part of SD that is more oriented towards pheasants…that one was a female. Again, very special birds!

[Larry the Gun Guy]

I know that not everyone wants dead things around their house, sometimes especially the wifie. But, you never know when you may be shooting the last one of a species for yourself. Prairie chickens are not on every corner.
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[John Van B]

I’ve been hitting the Ft. Pierre Natl Grasslands the past 4 years, in search of PCs and Sharpies. Lots of miles walked for a few shots.

Every year I use last years’ errors and have a little more success. This year there were great numbers but it was difficult to get close for a shot. Finding a lek early on a wet and windy morning, I tried pass shooting.

I only had one opportunity that day and felt fortunate to bring one home. I was also happy I brought out my father’s first Parker - with its 32” full & full reach.

[Stan Hillis]

Originally Posted by Larry Stauch

I know that not everyone wants dead things around their house, sometimes especially the wifie. But, you never know when you may be shooting the last one of a species for yourself. Prairie chickens are not on every corner.
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Mounted birds are not "dead things", Larry. They are recreated things. Well done!

[Dean Weber]

Mike Koneski....this one would look good at your place.

[Mike of the Mountain]

OH YES!!!