Montana Outdoors

01/15/2026

Friends of Montana Outdoors,

In the coming weeks, we’ll be closing down this page. But fear not! The magazine itself is not going anywhere. we’ll continue publishing new issues filled with stunning photography and in-depth reporting on the people, places, fish, and wildlife that make Montana special.

You can still find sneak peeks, new stories, and magazine highlights on the official Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks page.

You can find everything Montana Outdoors on our website, including current and past issues, features, recipes, and more. fwp.mt.gov/montana-outdoors

Thanks to everyone who’s followed along here over the years. We appreciate you taking the time to read, share, and subscribe to the magazine.

Cheers,

Paul & Amanda,
Montana Outdoors

Photo by Paul Queneau

01/13/2026

10/05/2025

Climbing for Dusky Grouse
By Noah Davis

In mid-September, when I climb to hunt dusky grouse, it’s back through time.

The line between months blurs in the heat shimmers of the valley. Irrigated fields blink green below brittle, brown hills. Whitetails graze in their summer-red coats and muleys bed in the sage.
But as I travel from the river up a creek and follow the tumbling course higher, I ascend from cheatgrass and medusahead into bunchgrass and kinnikinnick. Up from brookies and browns into cutthroat. Up to where moose and elk spend hot days in the cool of elevation and north-facing slopes. Up to the dusky grouse— previously called blue grouse—where at 6,000 feet, I’m back in July. There are still ripe huckleberries.

Read more of this Montana Outdoors story here:https://fwp.mt.gov/binaries/content/assets/fwp/montana-outdoors/2025/so25/so25-dusky-grouse.pdf

🖌by Gary Palmer