When September rolls around, upland bird hunters can count on the dove and sharp-tailed grouse openers to get them primed for the fall months. Sharptail are a great species to cut your teeth on before other upland seasons open up, and perfect for young dogs to get early reps in. Here’s how to find more sharpies this September.
Use hybrid/Topographic onX Hunt layers
Sharp-tailed grouse cover consists of rolling prairies covered in short, thick grass and wildflowers. If you’re in habitat you think you’ll find a pheasant, such as cattails, you won’t find sharp-tailed grouse. To locate contours in the landscape and ridgelines on the map, utilize the topography feature of onX Hunt. Avoid flat terrain. Locate high and low contour lines to find sharp-tailed grouse. Low areas tend to be greener, as water is found at lower contours, while lighter colors most likely represent grasses found on ridgetops.
Utilize Satalite Imagery
To get on birds, you need to locate the habitat and feed that sharptails prefer. Satellite imagery on onX Hunt allows you to zoom in closely to identify bushes, agriculture fields, and more. When you locate rolling prairies, look for dark bushes on the satellite imagery—these are most likely chokecherry or plum bushes. Both of these berries, as well as rosehips, are favored by sharp-tailed grouse. Alfalfa fields are also a solid place to hunt sharpies as grasshoppers favor these fields, and the jumping bug is a favorite meal for these birds in the early season.
Find Spots with Landowner and Walk-In Access Layers
By toggling on the Walk-In Access layer, you’ve just opened up thousands of acres of possible land to hunt. Many states offer walk-in programs—private land opened to the public for hunting. Additionally, with the Landowner layer toggled on, you are provided with information to contact landowners to ask for possible access. Some western states even have laws that allow hunters to hunt private land that is not posted. It’s important to research your state laws before accessing private land without permission.
