I too have been hunting chickens for about the same amount of time. Lesser prairie-chickens were nearly decimated by blizzard and then drought. During this time of the season, chickens feed mostly on insects that are still abundant across the prairie landscape. Hunted the last legal day in Oklahoma and been going at it in mid-western Kansas ever since. Find Relief Birds flush. To purchase a license or permit during this time, visit kshuntfishcamp.com or a license vendor near you, or download our HuntFish KS mobile app. Notice. Prairie chickens often travel several miles from grassy roosting sites to feed. A prairie chicken taken on the wing is nothing short of an upland trophy. In this region of Kansas this field will rotate into wheat. Once, the dog is locked up, walk up as quickly and safe as you can. For many upland hunters, the Greater Prairie Chicken (Tympanuchus Cupido) is on the top of the hit list for birds to harvest and mount. Pheasants and quail require only a Kansas hunting license. Prairie Chickens and Sharptail Grouse thrive in these grass hills. Guide to Hunting Prairie Chickens in Kansas - Project Upland I learned through trial and error, and the tactics I wrote about seem to work. Try these techniques, and modify them to work for you depending on where you are hunting and in what type of habitat and environment. Each provides the upland bird hunter a chance to experience prairie-chicken hunting differently. Prairie chickens are now found only in isolated pockets spread throughout a handful of states, the Sunflower State being one of them. Each Spring, at sunup, from about mid March to mid May, the Lesser Prairie Chicken can be seen on the western plains of Kansas performing their calling, dancing and mating rituals, called "lekking". Now what? The 2 most talked about areas are either Ft Pierre, SD or Valentine, NE. Cluck, cluck, cluck is the sound chickens make when roused as they try to put as much space between them and you. The short and mid-grass prairie is pristine enough to also support black-footed ferrets, swift foxes, buffalo, prairie dogs, burrowing owls, ferruginous hawks and many more classic species. Edgar, great article. Your safety is our priority. Birds will tend to hold longer in heavier cover, but those that have the high ground or the ability to see what’s coming for them will flush far. For the latest information on KDWPT facilities and services, visit https://ksoutdoors.com/KDWPT-COVID-19-Updates. A good pair of boots and an adequate supply of water for both hunter and dog are key ingredients in September. Pheasant and quail season in Kansas runs from the second Saturday in November through the end of January. 2. Preferred feeding sites are soybeans and milo, but … The squawking, stomping chicken of the grasslands is back in Colorado. Kansas Prairie Chicken Spot. The Flint Hills is considered the traditional stronghold for prairie chickens in Kansas, where the season split into two parts. Glad you liked the article. May have to do a bit of research to hunt some WIHA. The 2020 Kansas Upland Game Bird season starts Saturday with regular quail and pheasant, while the regular greater prairie chicken season begins the following weekend, Nov. 21. Tom wrote this blog post years ago, but everything in it holds true today. The birds will either flush from their feeding or loafing areas or be observed going to and from such locations. Using the contours of the land, get as close as possible without being seen. Good luck this season. If you are willing to share some stories please feel free to contact me. In my experience, early-season chickens tend to hold for pointing dogs, but not always. Edgar Castillo is a veteran law enforcement officer who documents his travels across public lands throughout Kansas–hunting open fields, walking treelines, and bustin’ through plum thickets. We scout out the feed fields that the chickens are using and set up for a pass shoot. Topeka, KS - Kansas has long been a premier destination for hunters pursuing pheasants, quail, and prairie chickens. These usually rare upland game birds are still abundant in the Sandhills, offering plenty of adrenalin-charged thrills as they rocket into the air and challenge even the best wingshooter. The Hoeme Ranch is the winner of the pre… As someone new to hunting and unfamiliar with what it actually takes to successfully bag any type of fowl, I appreciate seeing the specific tactics that are best used on certain types of birds. This is where a GPS comes into play and becomes invaluable for future seasons. But by using one or more of these tips, it may help you harvest that most prized possession of the prairie. Nice write-up. The prime time to catch birds in the air is in the early to late morning or evening when they are flying to hillsides and thickets looking for cover. They were a popular game bird, and like many prairie birds, which have also suffered massive habitat loss, they are now on the verge of extinction, with the wild bird population at around 200 in Illinois in … Ksoutdoors.com will be temporarily unavailable starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, February 6 for maintenance. The saying here is “Winner Winner, Prairie Chicken Dinner” or DIY Prairie Chicken Hunting Tips. Great stuff. My first prairie chicken was taken using these tactics, and the scenario played out exactly how I have described it above. Walk slowly, zigzagging through the area and be ready for a second delayed flush. Mr. Millensifer soory about the late response, this is not set up for me to receive notices when there is a comment or question…appreciate your comment. What the heck is a lek? Watch for prairie chickens flying, using a strange combination of rapid wing beats followed by a long glide. The early portion of the season runs from mid-September to mid-October. It still does, although there are an estimated 460,000 birds still living their chicken lives, mostly in a compact range stretching from eastern North Dakota down to central South Dakota, south through Nebraska and into Kansas. Thank you. I wanted it to be informative for both new and experienced hunters. Prairie Chickens currently require a Kansas hunting license and a Prairie Chicken Permit. 10 Outfitters that offer Greater Prairie Chicken Hunting Trips, Guides and Oufitters found. Normally associated with turkeys and big game, the use of binos is a good way to catch birds coming and going. 2 Day Single Turkey Hunting Packages: $2,295 Per Hunter. The Chicken was on my bucket list and I was eager to find an area that had a decent huntable population. I have never hunted them in the NW part of Kansas only the Flint Hills and North Central. Since 1856. Along with bragging rights for shooting one of the most wild and majestic of game birds. Great article. https://ksoutdoors.com/KDWPT-COVID-19-Updates. I’ll use my binoculars to watch chickens lead me to prime shady spots. Once numbering in the millions across several states, prairie chickens have seen both their range and their population diminish drastically. Printable Version It was an easy shot but I remembered how disappointing the bird had been to eat years before so I … Prairie-chicken hunters often assume that all the birds have gone with the initial covey rise, but you should continue watching the dog for signs that they are still birdy. If the odds are in your favor, and you’re lucky to come across some chickens, they will usually be found in small groups or singles. http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/index.htm, Transferring Fish and Game to Another Person, Education, Exhibition, Collecting, and Salvage Permits. In Illinois alone, in the 1800s the prairie chicken numbered in the millions. In North America, market hunting took note of the popularity for the demand of the bird. Greater prairie chickens are commonly found in the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas and the Smokey Hills of central Kansas. To most wingshooters, the allure of hunting prairie grouse includes breathtaking landscapes and wide, open spaces. The greater prairie chicken is one of the most elusive birds that can be hunted. They are all throughout this area. The best deer, elk, bear and other big game outfitters in Texas, Colorado and beyond are right here on Guidefitter. After feeding, the birds will look for a place to loaf. Stocky with a short and round tail, this bird is about 19 inches in length. I would tell you that the Flint Hills is by far the best place. Two distinct forms of prairie chicken hunting occur in Kansas. Preferred feeding sites are soybeans and milo, but … Hope to hear from you. Smoky Valley Ranch and the Hoeme Ranch are in the historic Smoky Hills of western Kansas. They are more common than the lesser prairie chicken. Take notice of the location, as they will likely continue to use the spot. This past season after tracking it for quite a while my dog flushed a prairie chicken. At one time prairie chicken hunting was all the range in the Texas Panhandle, but the Lesser prairie chicken population has declined dramatically over the past 50 years. That won’t change in 2008 with good numbers of birds and more than 1.5 million acres open to hunting between private lands enrolled in the department’s walk-in-hunting areas (WIHA) program and publicly owned properties. For the latest information on COVID-19, visit http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/index.htm. ted the plow. This is a good excuse to get the dogs out. Late summer can be quite warm in Kansas, so the focus on finding chickens should be to do what you and I would do when the temperature starts to climb: find a bit of relief in the shade. Prairie chickens numbers are low, but how low is what biologist hope to find. We are a dying breed. Now they’re back, after a four-year, joint relocation effort by wildlife biologists in Colorado and Kansas. 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