NRA member Roy F. Heilman of Shoreview, Minn., decided to take advantage of a last-chance opportunity to hunt sage grouse with his trusted gundog, Johann. This is his story.
Thanks to the largest land conservation effort in American history, the United Sates Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) made the decision in September not to add the greater sage grouse to the endangered species list.
Sage grouse, prairie chickens and sharptails have disappeared from parts of our country where they were once common. But proper management can restore these tall-grass species, if hunter-conservationists do their part. Here’s how to hunt the strongholds where they remain—and become inspired about the revival of our native gamebirds.