PHEASANT HUNTING FORECAST 2025: MONTANA

A LITTLE WORK SHOULD PUT SOME BIG SKY ROOSTERS IN THE BAG

By Jack Hutson

In most of Montana's three highest pheasant-producing regions, early nesting conditions looked good, but dry conditions lingered well into summer. After that relatively dry spring, Montana's Big Sky opened up with summer rain events that greened up the eastern prairie as time crept toward fall.

How these conditions affected broods of young pheasants was on my mind when I began requesting interviews for this report.

Regional Reports

Region 7 - Southeastern Montana

The northern portion of Region 7 produced slightly better than the state average for uplanders last season. After a good start this spring, it seems that weather around the region is making things difficult for our experts to pin things down.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Park (FWP) Game Bird Specialist Justin Hughes is doing a little head scratching. "Conditions have been conducive for good crops of upland birds the last few years. This one is hard to tell due to the severity and scattered nature of the weather we have received this summer."

Henry Hastig, President of the Baker chapter of PF in Region 7 shares his concern for making an accurate pheasant count. He says, "It may prove difficult to predict pheasant production due to the amount of cover this year. I will say there is currently plenty of suitable habitat and enough grasshoppers to have kept broods safe and fed."

Hastig suggested that some locations may have required a second nesting attempt. He notes, "There are some first-nesting-attempt, early spring roosters that are about colored in, and smaller young still clad only in earthy beige and brown."

Regional Summary

Hastig offers this prediction: "Pheasants are looking okay; the broods I have seen are averaging strong numbers of young birds. I think last year will be hard to beat for hunting, but this year is looking solid."

Hughes remains confident, and says: "Where conditions remained decent, odds are all our upland birds should pull off decent fall numbers."

Good Advice

Hughes advises, "Hunters should remain mobile and observant of habitat conditions. Seek out areas of best-looking habitat to find bag limits of birds."

Region 6 - Northeastern Montana

Last season, Region 6 hovered around the 2024 state average daily pheasant harvest per hunter. Experiencing a relatively mild winter and accommodating spring conditions, perhaps the region is due for a rooster rebound?

"Summer started out hot and dry. Daniels County in particular spent 8 weeks in D2 (severe drought) status," says Stephanie Berry, long-time PF employee and new Farm Bill Manager for the state of Montana.

Based in Scobie where she enjoys the uplands with her Brittany, Berry has plenty of knowledge about upland bird trends in the eastern end of the region.

She remarks: "Looking around the area, some grain and hay fields were slow to grow initially. In July, we had a number of large storms roll through and with them — rain. Things greened-up and, based on MT FWP reports and my own field observations, I expect there should be plenty of birds on the landscape."

Biologists conducted brood surveys to gauge regional brood survival. "Looks like about average production up in the region's far east corner," reports Scott Thompson, Regional Wildlife Manager for MT FWP based in Glasgow.

Thompson continues: "However, the central portion of the region was not quite as good; likely due to high chick mortality during early brood rearing, (June). We are seeing some very small chicks in August, due to second nesting attempts."

On the very western end of the region, MT FWP Wildlife Management Biologist Scott Hemmer reports: "After some drier conditions early this spring, we have had above average rain this summer so, habitat conditions are good. The observations and reports I have heard for both pheasants and partridge have been positive as well."

Regional Summary

According to MT FWP sources, the far eastern portion of Region 6 should offer pheasant hunters nearer to average bird numbers, but slightly lower than previous years. Meanwhile, in the central (Glasgow and Malta) and far-west (Havre) portions of the region, hunters should expect pheasant populations to have improved to average or slightly above, where good habitat is found.

Good Advice

Berry offers some thoughtful advice: "Hunters may need to be patient this season. Taking the conditions into account, patience and backup options would be my main suggestions for those making the trip out this fall."

Region 4 - North-Central Montana

The winter experience along the Rocky Mountain Front and western Hi-Line was below average snowfall and average winter temps. Spring brought average temperatures and precipitation, which was great for habitat conditions. Drier conditions continued into spring, which generally offers favorable nesting opportunities.

As for pheasants, spring surveys in north-central Region 4 showed pheasant crow counts above last year's counts with good habitat availability and slightly below average in areas with poor habitat. Spring counts for pheasants in the eastern part of the region (Great Falls to Lewistown) were up from 2024 — even in areas with marginal habitat.

Portions of the eastern rangeland in Region 6 enjoyed better than average summer rainfall. Matthew Strauch, the region's Upland Game Bird Specialist, relays this late summer report:

"Midsummer rainfall events should have been of some benefit to habitat conditions and brood survival. Things dried out quickly in mid to late August, and grasshopper numbers have increased since things started drying out. Some early summer hailstorms in the central portion of the region could have had some negative effects on young broods."

Further north, Ali Marschner, PF Farm Bill Biologist based in Conrad, shared Strauch's concern about localized hailstorm mortality but remains hopeful. She days, "Based on the number of birds I'm seeing along roads and on our (trail) cameras, I feel like there are as many or more pheasants than last year."

Regional Summary

Strauch's region-wide final word on pheasants: "Similar to prairie grouse, overall pheasant numbers are looking good to very good in the areas with quality habitat and seem to be fair to good in areas with marginal habitat."

Good Advice

Strauch advises using summer weather data to determine areas hardest hit by severe hail. Both regional experts remind hunters that parts of Region 6 are grizzly bear country, and uplanders have had run-ins with bruins in the past.

So remain vigilant. Watch for bear sign, and keep an eye open for clues your dog is sending. Having bear spray handy is a pretty good idea in some areas.

Final Word

As always, let's be courteous to ranchers and other hunters this fall. Leave room at gates for farm equipment access, be aware of fire danger — tires on gravel and shoe leather in the field — and keep parking areas free from litter. Pick up litter that disrespectful, unappreciative people leave behind.

Season Details

Montana's pheasant season runs from October 11 to January 1, 2026. The bag limit is 3 cocks, with 9 in possession.

A special youth season runs September 27 and 28. It is open to legally licensed youth ages 15 and under when accompanied by a nonhunting adult at least 18 years of age.