In the northern reaches of Canada, the ptarmigan is the most common upland game bird. These birds can be found in flocks numbering in the hundreds, an incredible sight for those used to searching the sky or ground for solitary birds. Ptarmigans can be found in the northern parts of all provinces from BC to Quebec, and in all three territories. Hunting for these birds is best around the Hudson’s Bay area of the Canadian shield.

When it comes to grouse, British Columbia boasts the highest numbers both in terms of diversity and population. Blue, ruffed, spruce, and sharp tail grouse are found throughout the province in ever increasing numbers. Grouse chicks are susceptible to pneumonia, so hunting these birds will have greater success in drier regions of the country. They also tend to prefer lower elevations, so hunting is not as good around mountain ranges.

Turkeys are not too common in Canada, although they are beginning to have a presence in many areas just north of the American border. Like other northern species, individual turkeys in Canada tend to be quite large. Pheasants are also found in many places across Canada as an introduced species. It is important to remember when pheasant hunting that these birds cannot survive in areas with deep snow cover in winter, so they will be found mostly in southern areas.