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Small Game Hunting - Grouse, Partridge, Dove

SHARP-TAILED GROUSE and GREATER PRAIRIE CHICKEN HUNTING

Central and eastern areas: mid-September to mid-December.
Extreme eastern areas: mid-October to mid-December.

Prairie and Ruffed Grouse Seasons (GFP)

Sharp-tailed grouse can be found in the western two-thirds of the state overlapping with pheasants in the central part of the state. Prairie chickens are most abundant in counties that border the Missouri River near the central part of the state and south to the Nebraska border. Combination hunts for sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chickens exist in this region. Sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chickens prefer mature stands of native prairie grass. Grasslands adjacent to crop lands, brushy draws and river breaks are ideal habitat situations for prairie grouse. Hot weather forces birds into the shade of draws, trees and bushes. In cool, wet and windy conditions, birds will sit high on the downwind side of ridge tops where they have good visibility.

More information about grouse and prairie chicken hunting. (GFP)

Prairie Grouse Hunting Tips Locating grouse. Found in coveys, prairie grouse often hold for pointing dogs early in the season. As cooler weather sets in, the birds congregate, making it harder to approach coveys. Bird identification. Learn to identify birds on the wing. Prairie grouse and pheasant ranges overlap. First-time grouse hunters may confuse hen pheasants with prairie grouse. Prepare for the weather. Carry extra water for yourself and your dog. Early season hunts can be hot and strenuous on you and your dog. Chokes and shot. Use a modified choke with #6 shot early in the season and #4 shot later.

GRAY PARTRIDGE HUNTING

Central and western areas: mid-September to mid-December.
Extreme eastern areas: mid-October to mid-December.

Populations of gray or Hungarian partridge can be found in nearly every county of the state. They are especially abundant in the eastern farmlands and pastures. Gray partridge prefer brushy areas adjacent to crop lands and mowed pastures.

More information about partridge hunting. (GFP)

Partridge Hunting Tips Combine your hunts. Combine gray partridge hunting with pheasant and grouse hunting trips since these seasons overlap. Track the flight. Keep track of a covey's flight after flushing. It is often possible to track down the covey for another flush. Single-bird target. Pick one bird as your target during a covey flush. Flustered hunters often "flock shoot" and miss entirely. Use a dog. Wide-ranging pointing dogs help in locating coveys of partridge across large pastures and grasslands.

DOVE HUNTING

Statewide: September to mid-October.

Doves can be found statewide with migrants from the north also supplementing our population. Doves prefer perching areas with dead limbs overlooking feeding or watering areas. For feeding, they prefer corn, sunflowers, millet, oats or wheat, especially after the fields have been harvested.

More information about dove hunting. (GFP)

Dove Hunting Tips Scout first. Scout areas that contain all the needed elements for a dove's lifestyle: water, food, grit and perching sites. Target feeding time. Doves usually feed twice a day: in the morning and evening. Pass shooting along established flight paths can be effective. Bring storage. Carry along a cooler with ice while dove hunting to avoid meat spoilage in warm weather. Chokes and shot. Use a modified choke with shot sizes ranging from #7-1/2 to #8.