MADISON, Wis. – The state Department of Natural Resources canceled Wisconsin’s sharp-tailed grouse season for the third year in a row to protect the population. The bird was once found throughout Wisconsin, Michigan and eastern Minnesota but its numbers have diminished as farming has replaced its habitat. The DNR said its spring population survey this spring coupled with historical data trends and scientific modeling indicate hunting could cause a further and marked decrease in the population.
Prairie chicken cousin. Typically 1-1/2 pounds. Its name derives from a short tail with two square-tipped feathers.