The cattails and bulrushes around the wetlands of Bowdoin NWR provide nesting and cover for waterfowl, and in the fall they also provide perfect cover for pheasant. In years following mild winters, hunters can find excellent hunting for pheasant on the refuge that attracts both resident and nonresident hunters. Avid pheasant hunters know that the thicker the cover, the better the hunting. A good hunting dog can help flush birds. The refuge also has native prairie areas that can be a good bet for hunting sharp-tailed grouse, and occasionally gray partridge are also encountered. With healthy populations of these popular game birds, many hunters overlook the waterfowl hunting opportunities. However, good numbers of ducks use the wetlands in the fall, and hunting pressure is usually light.
Public hunting of migratory gamebirds (ducks, geese, coot, swan, sandhill crane, and mourning dove), and upland gamebirds (pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, greater sage grouse, gray partridge) is permitted in the designated portions of the refuge (about 40%). See the public use regulations for more specific information about our hunt program.