Sage Questions about Sage Grouse

On March 5^th, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the greater sage grouse will be "designated a candidate species for listing under the Endangered Species Act."

What does that mean, I wondered? Well, it doesn't mean sage grouse are automatically on the Endangered Species List. It doesn't even automatically mean that sage grouse hunting seasons will be closed in western states this fall. It means that sage grouse habitat losses along with disease - the West Nile Virus has been devastating to these birds - have dropped population numbers to such a bleak point that the sage grouse is ready to be listed as an Endangered Species. But again, the bird HAS NOT been listed as "endangered" yet. Yes, it's as clear as mud to me too . . . Checking the Sage Grouse off your Bird Hunting Life List - Western bird hunters and wildlife officials have been anticipating the sage grouse's listing as an Endangered Species for the last couple of years. In fact, I know a number of bird hunters that have made specific pilgrimages to Montana the last few years with the express purpose of bagging a sage grouse for their bird hunter's life list before it hit the Endangered Species List. Lesser prairie chickens have sent hunters toward Kansas with the same intent. My questions to you are: 1) Will the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's indication that sage grouse are headed for the Endangered Species List push you to hunt them this fall if they are still legal? 2) Would you purchase a stamp, apply for a lottery tag, or other form of special permit to hunt sage grouse knowing that those dollars would be used to help create sage grouse habitat? 3) As hunters, our community has always been the leaders in conservation. We belong and volunteer to conservation groups to create habitat, but our motivations have always been about the hunt. Can our passion for hunting this classic game bird help turn the tide of its population slide? What are you willing to do to help sage grouse before it is too late? Join the North American Grouse Partnership at a discounted rate of $25 through this special link for Pheasants Forever supporters.