Within the 8.5 million acres enrolled in the BMA program thousands upon thousands support pheasants. Much of the best is also enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Proof just how important CRP is to pheasant production and hunting prospects in general became startlingly apparent last season. Due to the ongoing drought, livestock grazing was allowed on some tracts. Even those without a degree in wildlife biology could predict the outcome: poor pheasant reproduction. Hunters need to cross fingers and toes that the setback is temporary, and that enough moisture falls to make grazing CRP a one-shot deal.

How good is Montana? In the best years, the best habitat often supports mind-boggling numbers of birds. For example, opening dawn a couple years ago, Katie the wirehair pointed a corner of a big BMA alfalfa field beside the Yellowstone River. Rushing to her aid, we were suddenly confronted by wave after wave of rising, cackling roosters and many more hens -- way too many to count. When the smoke cleared ... Okay, we could have done better!

According to Wildlife Management Bureau Chief Gary Hammond, prospects for the upcoming fall are looking good. "A mild, dry winter combined with good spring moisture should provide adequate nesting cover and lots of insects for brood rearing," he said. "Across the board, spring crowing counts were excellent. Bottom line, barring the unforeseen, we should be looking at pretty darn good pheasant hunting."

Ground zero is Region 6 in the state's northeast corner. The country between Sidney and Plentywood is good for starters. Within Regions 4, 5 and 7 almost any stream bottom is likely to harbor good numbers also. The best plan for those who've never been is to contact FWP and request the Block Management list for the particular region(s). With those in hand contact the various landowners who list "pheasants specifically or upland birds." It is also worthwhile to check out any WMA, WPA or NWR within the area(s) you are interested. Some of those public lands provide remarkable longtail hunting.

A non-resident upland bird license costs $110, plus $10 hunting access enhancement fee (applied to the first license purchase each year).

Pheasant season opens in mid-October and runs through Jan. 1. (Check the current regulations for exact dates.) The daily limit is three cocks, nine in possession.

IDAHO
Idaho supports a wide range of opportunities and thriving pheasant populations in spots. But access to private lands pales compared to Montana; some of the best can be difficult to downright impossible.

Idaho's top spots for pheasants are in the southwest, in the bottoms of the Bruneau and Owyhee rivers. The Snake River Canyon in the Lewiston area and ranch lands around Orofino are not far behind. There is good hunting up in the Panhandle around Coeur d'Alene as well, but access can be a problem.

Idaho's Access Yes! program provides hunters free access to private land pheasant habitat -- some of it primo. In general, the farther you get from population centers the more knocking on doors is likely to pay off.