Hunters converge on Ninepipe for bird opener

On a crisp Saturday morning every fall, pickup trucks fill parking lots leading to amber fields where hunters, dogs and pheasants mix it up.

This Saturday is that day, opening day for pheasant hunting in the Mission Valley - hands down the most popular destination for upland bird hunters in Western Montana.

"That's the big news this week" for hunters, said Jim Williams, regional wildlife manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

"A lot of hunters from Missoula and a lot of hunters from Kalispell go down there."

Most of the hunting is concentrated at the state's Ninepipe Wildlife Management Area, which now encompasses 4,000 acres. But the hunting terrain also includes another 2,500 acres in a federal waterfowl production area and more than 5,000 acres of tribal lands that are open to hunters.

"This is great habitat and it is wide open," said John Grant, manager of the state wildlife management area.

Grant has been doing vehicle counts in the area's parking lots since 1990 and can say without hesitation that opening day is the busiest of the fall season.

"Typically, 60 to 70 percent of the harvest occurs on opening day," he said.

"There are more birds and more hunters. That, by far, is when you have the best chance of getting birds."

Vehicle counts hit a high of 234 in 1990 and dropped to a low of 107 in 1991. For the last seven years, Grant said, the counts have consistently been around 140 vehicles.

This year's outlook for birds, which include Hungarian partridge, seems "average" to Grant, who expects a typical hunter turnout. Because of the expansive hunting terrain, hunters tend to disperse and find room to roam alone.

"There's a lot of shuffling around because there are a lot of roads and parking lots," Grant said. "People want to go out there and have some space to let their dogs run."

Shooting time is at 7:51 a.m. Saturday.

Hunters must have a Confederated Salish-Kootenai conservation permit, $15, plus a $16 bird hunting stamp, which is good for upland birds as well as waterfowl.

Waterfowl hunters also must purchase a federal waterfowl stamp for $15. Permits and stamps are available at all off-reservation license vending locations.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks also distributes free maps that clearly define areas in the Mission Valley that are open to bird hunters.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com