Wyoming Sharptail

[bdg848]

With the Preference Point situation being what it is, My dad and I were only able to pick up antelope doe tags and only for a unit with fairly limited public land around Sheridan. I figured if we can't find any antelope on public, or we do and tag out quickly, we would just make this a casual type of trip and bring the bird dog and shotguns, and a varmint rifle for prairie dogs too.

I've only hunted pheasants here in Iowa so I'm not really sure what to expect for Sharptail and Huns. The fish and game website says sharptails can be found from the base of the bighorns to the eastern border of the state but I'm curious if what to realistically expect near the big horns or if the population is better further east and we should focus that way more. Would anyone be willing to share their experience? I couldn't find a population distribution map to reference.

Also, I have seen sharptail in very sage-y type terrain on previous trips but is that typical? On youtube, where guys are hunting them, it looks more grassy than that. Are huns in the same sort of terrain?

Thanks for any tips.

 

[2ski]

Are your dogs snake broken?

Im not in Wyoming but Onx had a live zoom where they talked about scouting for sharpies. If thats available on YouTube it'll give you a good idea of where to look.

 

[bdg848]

Are your dogs snake broken?

Im not in Wyoming but Onx had a live zoom where they talked about scouting for sharpies. If thats available on YouTube it'll give you a good idea of where to look.

Not officially, She encountered a snake in our yard and barked at it but stayed away from it and I popped collar and called her off but She hasn't had any officail training. Rattlesnakes definitely are a concern I'm actively weighing.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Quite a few snakes in that corner of the state.

Look for buffalo berry and snow berry bushes. They like shin high prairie grass, rolling coulees.

 

[bdg848]

Quite a few snakes in that corner of the state.

Look for buffalo berry and snow berry bushes. They like shin high prairie grass, rolling coulees.

How bad are they still in October?

 

[Dos Perros]

We have found Montana sharptails and huns from the sage to the short prairie grass, and alfalfa and CRP too.

There are huns in the Big Horns, higher than you'd think.

If it has grasshoppers in the summer and a place to get out of the wind in the winter there is a good chance there could be birds there.

 

[Jason Snyder]

How bad are they still in October?

They are usually pretty sluggish in the mornings. Afternoonish they can be fairly active. They’ll be starting to concentrate around den sites.

 

[go_deep]

I feel like everywhere I see sharptail and kill them there's some grass. Grassy sage, to all grass, and grassy brush country, but there's always some grass, which would make me think is likely part of their diet.

I wouldn't not go because of snakes, but be aware. If your dog is stupid aggressive, that would be maybe the only reason I wouldn't take it with. That's being said, if the dog is trained to only go after birds and can be called back from non target critters, which it sounds like it can, go have a great time, just don't shoot a sage grouse.

Have a great trip!

 

[bdg848]

I feel like everywhere I see sharptail and kill them there's some grass. Grassy sage, to all grass, and grassy brush country, but there's always some grass, which would make me think is likely part of their diet.

I wouldn't not go because of snakes, but be aware. If your dog is stupid aggressive, that would be maybe the only reason I wouldn't take it with. That's being said, if the dog is trained to only go after birds and can be called back from non target critters, which it sounds like it can, go have a great time, just don't shoot a sage grouse.

Have a great trip!

Sounds good, I figured grass should be a main target area but wasn't sure since I had seen them elsewhere also. Thanks for the snake advice. She's not super aggressive, she's gotten after raccoons when she finds them so I am slightly concerned about porcupine but at least that won't be fatal. I can recall her easily and she doesn't run super big so hopefully I can keep an eye on her and notice if she acts like she's checking out something besides birds. As for grouse, pheasant size grouse yes, enormous chicken size grouse, NO! About right? Lol

 

[go_deep]

Sounds good, I figured grass should be a main target area but wasn't sure since I had seen them elsewhere also. Thanks for the snake advice. She's not super aggressive, she's gotten after raccoons when she finds them so I am slightly concerned about porcupine but at least that won't be fatal. I can recall her easily and she doesn't run super big so hopefully I can keep an eye on her and notice if she acts like she's checking out something besides birds. As for grouse, pheasant size grouse yes, enormous chicken size grouse, NO! About right? Lol

Prairie Dog towns and edges of rocky outcroppings are good den sites for snakes, so maybe skirt around them.
Size wise, yes, but this year's sage grouse can be fairly small sometimes, but I feel like the body shape still can give them away.

Check out the access yes tab on game and fish site, might find a few hidden private property gems in there for grouse...

 

[Jason Snyder]

^good advice. Learn the sound of sharp tail makes when they flush. It’s very distinct, and once you look at a couple of them, it’s pretty hard to mistake them for a sage grouse.

 

[Mojave]

Good luck to you.

There are more sage grouse in the southern and central part of the state. Only a couple-4 hour drive. Would worth it for the largest grouse in North America.

 

[bdg848]

Good luck to you.

There are more sage grouse in the southern and central part of the state. Only a couple-4 hour drive. Would worth it for the largest grouse in North America.

One day, but this trip is in October and I believe sage grouse are Sept.

 

[Jason Snyder]

One day, but this trip is in October and I believe sage grouse are Sept.

Correct.

 

[Mojave]

I almost think they do that to ensure that sage grouse don't get shot out during antelope season.