Guided Bird Hunts
Experience the wild and scenic prairie behind well trained bird dogs.
Guided upland bird hunting trips on the prairie in Central Montana. We help you coordinate with Montana Bird Hunts who operate on endless amounts of pristine wild bird habitat on private land around Big Timber and Lewistown.
Starting in September and going until the weather allows, usually sometime in November, our upland bird hunting season is diverse and we enjoy hunting a variety of species depending on the time of year and what the conditions allow. Following hard working bird dogs under the command and expertise of a professional guide is the best way to experience wild bird hunting in the west. The season is short and it’s something we look forward to every year.
Big Timber, MT
A small town on the Yellowstone river, located halfway between Bozeman and Billings, Big Timber and the surrounding area offer the most stunning backdrop for upland bird hunting in the west. Here we hunt a diverse landscape with various types of habitat that create some of the best Hungarian partridge hunting around. We also hunt sharp-tailed grouse and occasionally find blue and ruffed grouse.
Lewistown, MT
The crown jewel of Montana, Lewistown is geographically located in the center of the state and is a great tipping off point for some of the more rural prairie landscapes. Here we hunt pheasants in creek bottoms and brushy coulees as well as sharp-tailed grouse and Hungarian partridge on various types of terrain. During the month of September we also hunt sage grouse in the vast and rugged terrain of the sage brush steppe.
The Birds
Hungarian (grey) partridge
Huns, as we like to call them, are one of the more exciting covey birds to hunt over a pointing dog. Known for being elusive and jumpy at times, these birds offer some of the most fun and challenging wing shooting on the prairie. A native to Eurasia, the Hun was first introduced to North America in the late 1700’s, but it is said the populations really took hold in the west during the early 1900’s. Here in Montana, we find Huns in a diverse array of habitat and we hunt them in everything from agricultural fields to native sage brush steppe. Huns often seek a higher level of structure on the landscape so our rugged terrain in Big Timber is perfect for harboring this wild bird.
Sharp-tailed grouse
A native to the northern plains of North America, “sharpies” are one of the more unique wild birds seen on the landscape. Built for the rugged weather conditions on the prairie, sharpies have evolved over time to survive in almost any type of habitat using their diverse diet and somewhat migratory behavior. Young broods of birds tend to hold very tight in the early part of the season which equates to some of the more exciting dog work we see all year. In addition to being one of our favorite birds to hunt, they also offer some of the best table fare out there. Their dark and tender breast meat is something to be cherished.
Sage grouse
Sage grouse are the largest and least distributed grouse in Montana. They are known for their complex dancing ritual that is often displayed during the spring months as part of their complex lekking system on the prairie. The larger males, or “bombers”as we call them, weigh four to seven pounds and they are truly a beautiful trophy bird. We’re lucky enough to have access to some wonderful sage steppe grasslands where abundant populations of these magnificent birds exist for a thrilling hunt in some unique country.
Pheasant
Introduced to North America in the 1800’s the pheasant is one of the most widely distributed and popular game birds among upland hunters. Many hunters shift their focus toward pheasants as the season progresses and hunting these birds in a large brushy coulee or creek bottom in Montana is about as exciting as it gets. Their ability to remain on the move while evading dogs and hunters means you have to be ready at all times and we often hunt them with a flushing dog or pointing dogs that are keen on the dense habitat these birds thrive in. The loud explosive flush of a wild rooster will get your heart pumping.
Mountain grouse
Montana is home to three species of mountain grouse and we’re lucky enough to hunt two of them throughout the season. While most of our hunting is on species that thrive in the prairie habitat, we occasionally find ourselves in pockets of terrain that harbor both ruffed and blue (dusky) grouse.
What to Expect
What we provide:
All meals, lodging, and guided upland bird hunting.
Dogs. Each guide furnishes their own dogs for your hunt. We welcome hunters to bring their own dogs as well.
Non-alcoholic drinks and a cooler.
Client transportation in the field.
Bird cleaning and packaging for transportation.
What’s not included:
Transportation to lodging, most hunters fly into Bozeman, Billings, or Great Falls and rent a car for travel to Big Timber or Lewistown.
Alcoholic Beverages for after the hunt.
Guns(break action shotguns only) and shells appropriate for the game being pursued.
Guide Gratuity.
Montana hunting license. You can buy online here.
Our bird hunts are operated and booked with Montana Bird Hunts and all expectations and booking policies are subject to the policies of Montana Bird Hunts and Casey Phelps, MT Outfitter #20433.