Montana Mountain Grouse Hunting Lodge

If you’re a fan of serious upland bird hunting, this is an experience you should consider! This northwest corner of Montana consistently has good populations of what are referred to in the west as mountain grouse: ruffed, blue and spruce. The outfitter has over 100 square miles of hunting area permitted by the Kootenai National Forest.

Ruffed grouse, though populations are cyclical by nature, are found in great numbers in this part of Montana. They inhabit logged areas with ten to thirty year old regrowth, coniferous forest edges, alder and aspen groves and creek bottoms. They are the primary species on this hunt. There’s nothing more satisfying than watching a dog flush or point a ruffed grouse and making a clean shot just before it disappears into the darkest cover.

Blue grouse, the largest of the three species, are found in good numbers throughout the area. They frequent subalpine terrain featuring open ridgetops with stands of conifers, and feed on a variety of insects, berries, and plants.

Spruce grouse are found in healthy numbers and frequent deeper woods, thick coniferous areas, and feed on insects, clover, berries, and evergreen needles. They are darker than blue grouse and sometimes appear blue-black. Spruce grouse, while not considered strong flyers, are a lovely bird and make an interesting addition to the trophy room.

As is the case with all upland hunting, solid, well-trained dogs add another dimension to the hunt. Flushing dogs are preferred and currently run golden retrievers are used by this outfitter. Accommodations consist of three handcrafted log cabins located in Yaak, MT, minutes from the Yaak river, which offers great trout fishing. Each cabin has a queen bedroom, loft with two twin beds, full bath, kitchen, and porch overlooking the Kootenai National Forest.