PODCAST EP. 189: Big Game Migration Corridors Create Coveys in Montana

This is the first episode from Rooster Road Trip XIII. True to the Rooster Road Trip’s ethos, this year’s event takes place all on publicly-accessible lands in search of an upland mixed bag of pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse, and Hungarian partridge in Montana. To kick off this year’s trip, host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever’s Director of Marketing Andrew Vavra, Montana State Coordinator Hunter VanDonsel, and the organization’s new Social Media Strategist Nate Akey for a conversation about the intersection between upland birds, pronghorns, water quality, and public access in Montana. Episode Highlights: • VanDonsel explains Montana’s “Hydration for Migration” initiative to help address inadequate water for livestock, which also produces critical grassland habitat for pronghorns, sharp-tailed grouse, and a wide array of other upland wildlife species. Thanks to participating landowners, this approach has resulted in 29,681 acres of grasslands enrolled in long-term protection agreements with thousands of these acres also enrolled in Montana’s Block Management program providing public access to hunters. • The crew recount the first day’s hunt producing fast and furious sharp-tailed grouse action; including, St.Pierre’s own two-mile sharpie retrieve. Check out the companion video accompanying this podcast episode at www.RoosterRoadTrip.org. While there, enter to win a Browning Citori 725 shotgun and join/renew/extend your Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever membership featuring an attractive new field knife made by Browning. And special thanks to our Rooster Road Trip 2022 sponsors: • Browning • SoundGear • Ruff Land Kennels • Federal Ammunition • Garmin • Apple Auto