A Faxel Outdoors series · American Grouse Hunters

The Grouse Quest

A lifetime pursuit across wild North America. Hunt the Core 9 on public land, document each fair-chase bird, and give back to the habitat that makes it possible.

Visit American Grouse Hunters →

The Core 9

Nine species, from alder runs and boreal bogs to sagebrush and alpine ridges.

  • 01 · Ruffed Grouse
  • 02 · Spruce Grouse
  • 03 · Dusky Grouse
  • 04 · Sooty Grouse
  • 05 · Sharp-tailed Grouse
  • 06 · Greater Sage-Grouse
  • 07 · Greater Prairie-Chicken
  • 08 · Willow Ptarmigan
  • 09 · Rock Ptarmigan
CORE 9 THE GROUSE QUEST

From the field

Sharptails over the dogs

Dave with two dogs and a shotgun beside a walk-in conservation area sign, sharp-tailed grouse hanging from the sign
Sharptails over the dogs
Dave kneeling in tall grass with his brown dog and sharp-tailed grouse
Sharptail with the dog

Four levels

Level 1

Grouse Hunter

Three wild, legally harvested species.

Level 2

Grouse Quest 5

Five species. A traveler's achievement.

Level 3

Grouse Quest 7

Seven species and a numbered place in the registry.

Level 4

Grouse Quest 9

The full Core 9 and the club's highest honor.

When paid enrollment opens, at least 10% of membership fees will go to grouse habitat and conservation partners. Full details, membership info, and the founding interest list are on americangrousehunters.com.

Follow the Quest here

I'll share trip planning, public-land research, and hunt reports for each species in the newsletter and on YouTube. Start with my North Dakota grouse and Hun opener.

Free. One email a week during the season. Unsubscribe anytime.