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A chicken-like bird of open prairies and parklands, the Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse, also known as the pin-tailed grouse is native to the Western United States, and British Columbia.
Males gather on established "dancing grounds" or "leks" in early spring for courtship displays. Females visit these grounds where mating takes place. Over the past few years the DWR has captured and trans-located dozens of these unique birds in Box Elder County to Antelope Island, in hopes of establishing a viable brooding population.
Due to excessive habitat loss, the Columbian Sharp-tailed grouse is no longer present in the majority of its range, and exists only in isolated remnant populations that comprise less than ten percent of its original habitat.
It is currently considered a Species of Concern in several U.S. States, but is still hunted in parts of Utah and Idaho. For more information on the Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse or any other critter found in Utah, check out our Utah Field Guide on our Outdoors page at KSLTV.com. Now lets turn it over to Kevin for tonights recreational forecast.
