Quick Answer
It is illegal to hunt or purchase greater prairie chickens in most states where they live. Greater prairie chickens are a protected species due to significant population declines over the past century. There are limited exceptions that allow regulated hunting in Kansas and Nebraska. Outside of sanctioned hunting in those states, it is not possible to legally buy or sell greater prairie chickens.
An Overview of Greater Prairie Chickens
The greater prairie chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) is a medium-sized grouse species native to the grasslands of central North America. They were once abundant across the prairies from Canada to Texas, but their populations have plummeted due to habitat loss. Greater prairie chickens are now restricted to isolated pockets of grasslands in the Great Plains.
There are two main subspecies:
Attwater’s Prairie Chicken
Found along the Gulf Coast in Texas, this subspecies is critically endangered with only a few hundred individuals left. They are protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Greater Prairie Chicken
The nominate subspecies is found in the Great Plains. Populations have rebounded somewhat through conservation actions, though still a fraction of historical numbers. Most states protect them as a game species with regulated hunting.
Why Greater Prairie Chickens Are Protected
Greater prairie chickens have experienced catastrophic population declines over the past 200 years. Habitat loss from agriculture and development is the primary cause. Their native prairie habitat has been reduced by over 90%. As grasslands disappeared, so did the prairie chickens.
By the early 20th century, greater prairie chickens had vanished from Canada and were vanishingly rare across much of their U.S. range. Hunting pressure exacerbated habitat loss. Unregulated hunting for food and feathers devastated already dwindling populations.
Conservationists raised alarms about the declines. States began passing laws restricting hunting in the early 1900s. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 implemented federal protections. But the declines continued through most of the 20th century.
By the 1970s, the total population hit a low of about 30,000 birds scattered in isolated pockets of prairie. The Attwater’s subspecies nearly went extinct with fewer than 50 individuals in Texas.
Greater prairie chickens were then protected under state endangered species laws and included on the first federal endangered species list in 1967. Populations have since rebounded somewhat through habitat restoration and management. But they remain vulnerable and require ongoing conservation efforts.
Current Legal Status and Protection
The legal status and level of protection for greater prairie chickens depends on the state and subspecies:
Attwater’s Prairie Chicken
- Listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act since 1967
- Fully protected from harm or harassment under federal law
- It is illegal to hunt or possess Attwater’s prairie chickens
Greater Prairie Chicken
- Not listed under the Endangered Species Act
- Managed as game species by most states where they occur
- Regulated hunting allowed in Kansas and Nebraska within strict limits
- Fully protected from hunting and harassment in other states including Minnesota, Missouri, Colorado, Oklahoma, and the Dakotas
| State | Legal Status | Regulated Hunting? |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | Endangered | No |
| Kansas | Game species | Yes |
| Nebraska | Game species | Yes |
| Missouri | Endangered | No |
| Colorado | Endangered | No |
| Oklahoma | Endangered | No |
| Minnesota | Endangered | No |
| South Dakota | Threatened | No |
| North Dakota | Nongame species | No |
Purchasing Greater Prairie Chickens
Because greater prairie chickens are protected across most of their range, it is generally illegal to buy or sell them. There are a few exceptions:
Kansas and Nebraska
These two states designate greater prairie chickens as a game species and issue a limited number of hunting permits. Individuals who legally harvest a prairie chicken during hunting season may sell the carcass to licensed processors or taxidermists. However, the sale of live birds is prohibited even in these states.
Captive-bred birds
There are a few authorized captive-breeding programs associated with conservation efforts for Attwater’s prairie chickens. These facilities do not sell birds to the public – all birds remain in the program. But on very rare occasions, a handful of institutions may be able to legally obtain captive-bred greater prairie chickens for scientific or educational purposes through special state and federal permits.
Aside from these narrow exceptions, it is illegal to commercially trade in greater prairie chickens. Buying or selling live birds, meat, feathers, or eggs would violate both state and federal laws. Doing so could result in:
- Up to 1 year in prison and $100,000 in fines under the Endangered Species Act
- Additional penalties under state laws such as license revocation and bans from future hunting
Attempts to purchase greater prairie chickens or products made from them would also create demand and encourage illegal poaching of remaining vulnerable populations. For this reason, it is best to avoid seeking out prairie chickens unless participating in legal, regulated hunting based on sustainability. Conservation breeding programs do not provide birds for public sale.
Purchasing Lookalike Species
Instead of greater prairie chickens, consider purchasing legally and sustainably harvested lookalike species:
Lesser Prairie Chicken
Lesser prairie chickens have also experienced declines but remain more common than greater prairie chickens in parts of the southern Great Plains. Regulated hunting is allowed in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Check state regulations.
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Sharp-tailed grouse are more widely distributed and can be legally hunted in many western and midwestern states. Purchase from licensed sellers within harvest regulations and limits.
Domestic Chicken Breeds
Heritage chicken breeds like the Transylvanian Naked Neck offer a domesticated alternative for table fare or backyard flocks. Always source from certified disease-free hatcheries or breeders.
Raised for Release Upland Birds
Game bird farms raise pheasants, quail, chukars, and sometimes prairie grouse specifically for release on preserves open to fee hunting. This offers a legally harvested alternative.
Avoid sellers offering wild-caught greater prairie chickens. When in doubt, check your state hunting regulations and wildlife agency for the legal status. Consider legally harvested alternative species or domestic breeds instead of endangered prairie chickens.
Conclusion
In summary, it is illegal to purchase greater prairie chickens across nearly all of their current range. Limited regulated hunting is allowed in Kansas and Nebraska, where legally taken birds can only be sold to processors or taxidermists. Attwater’s prairie chickens are fully protected under the Endangered Species Act with no exceptions.
Attempting to buy greater prairie chickens or their products would fuel illegal commercialization and harm already decimated populations. Instead, consider legally and sustainably hunted lookalike species, domestic chicken breeds, or birds raised specifically for licensed hunting. When in doubt, check your state’s hunting regulations to ensure compliance with all state and federal wildlife protection laws.
