Where to go to watch sage grouse? (Gillette, Riverton: live, airport)

[Elder18]

Where is a good area to go to in order to watch sage grouse in May and June? They seem to be really neat birds and I'd like to observe them, but I'm not sure the best place to go to do so. Thanks.

[WyoNewk]

Where do you live? I think they're in most parts of the state, but I understand the Riverton-Lander area is one of the best spots. A check with your local G&F warden would likely get you some specifics. I've often thought about going out to watch them too, but never made a special trip to do it yet. I think the early, early morning hours are your best bet -- be at the site an hour before sunrise and just sit and wait. (And that's why I've yet to go looking.) You probably shouldn't wait until May/June. I think April is your best bet. Call your G&F office now.

Here's an article that was published in yesterday's Gillette newspaper, complete with a short (non-professional) video. sage grouse (http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/articles/2009/04/06/video/video79.txt - broken link)

A couple other sites: sage grouse2 (http://www.wyomingtourism.org/overview/Sage-Grouse-Country/64402 - broken link) sage grouse3 (http://www.ourpubliclands.org/about/wyoming/sagegrouse - broken link)

[Dinowy]

Yep, go talk to your to your local game and fish, they should know as they collect data on all the leks. Most of the time the game and fish has a few different leks people can go and observe. I wouldn't wait until May though.

[MRVphotog]

If your in the Jackson area the WG&F leads groups early in the morning to observe and photograph Sage Grouse for years.

From the paper "What makes the Jackson Hole Airport lek unique is that the birds actually court each other partially on the runway. While ordinary human disturbance can disrupt mating, males at the airport seem to regard planes as rivals not threats, puffing out their chest to establish their dominance".