DNR News Release Header Image [ [link removed] ]




*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: *Jan. 8, 2026
*Contact: *Nancy Christel, DNR Wildlife Biologist
[email protected] or 715-645-0072

Sharp-Tailed Grouse Viewing Blind Reservations
Opening Soon

 

A The male sharp-tailed grouse engages in its unique mating dance upon the dried grasses of a barren.

Friends groups partner with the Wisconsin DNR to make blinds available for up-close viewing of the remarkable and entertaining mating dance of the sharp-tailed grouse. / Photo Credit: Michael Huebsch

*
MADISON, Wis.* – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will begin accepting reservations for sharp-tailed grouse viewing blinds at Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area [ [link removed] ] on Saturday, Jan. 10. Additional viewing blinds at Crex Meadows Wildlife Area [ [link removed] ] will become available for reservations on Sunday, Feb. 1. 

Sharp-tailed grouse viewing blinds are available from April 1 through May and Namekagon Barrens and from March 21 through May at Crex Meadows.

Friends groups partner with the Wisconsin DNR to make blinds available for up-close viewing of the remarkable and entertaining mating dance of the sharp-tailed grouse.

Reservations fill up quickly, but dates do become available as cancellations occur, so check back often. The early morning wake-up is well worth it to watch from just a few feet away as males show off, competing for the chance to mate.

In addition to sharp-tailed grouse, visitors may see or hear many other species during the viewing, including northern harriers, sandhill cranes, trumpeter swans, Canada geese and numerous songbird species.

Learn more about viewing blinds at the Friends Of The Namekagon Barrens webpage [ [link removed] ] or the Friends Of Crex webpage [ [link removed] ].

*Unique Habitats*

The habitats of Namekagon Barrens and Crex Meadows are globally rare, pine and oak barrens that are home to a host of exceptional wildlife. These barrens were once widespread in Wisconsin but are now considered globally threatened.

Due to land use changes and fire suppression, the barrens of northwest Wisconsin currently exist in scattered fragments, surrounded by a forested landscape. Habitat fragmentation can threaten the long-term viability of species that depend on this ecosystem, like the sharp-tailed grouse.

For more information about Sharp-tailed grouse, please visit the DNR’s Sharp-tailed Grouse Management Plan webpage [ [link removed] ].







________________________________________________________________________

[ [link removed] ]

[ [link removed] ]

[ [link removed] ]    [ [link removed] ]     [ [link removed] ]  [ [link removed] ]

[ [link removed] ] Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ [link removed] ].


________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources · 101 S. Webster Street · Madison, WI 53707-7921 · 608-266-2621 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]
body .abe-column-block { min-height: 5px; } table.gd_combo_table img {margin-left:10px; margin-right:10px;} table.gd_combo_table div.govd_image_display img, table.gd_combo_table td.gd_combo_image_cell img {margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px;} table.govd_hr {min-width: 100%;} p, li, h1, h2, h3 { overflow-wrap: normal; word-wrap: normal; word-break: keep-all; -moz-hyphens: none; -ms-hyphens: none; -webkit-hyphens: none; hyphens: none; mso-hyphenate: none; }