Introduction

Greater Prairie-Chickens once thrived widely in native prairie intermixed with oak (Quercus spp.) woodland in central North America, their populations extending to both the northeast and south-central coasts. The distribution of this species changed as prairie and woodland habitats were converted to cropland. Remaining populations are restricted to prairie intermixed with cropland, primarily in the mid-western states.

The three recognized subspecies of Greater Prairie-Chickens vary slightly in appearance but dramatically in status. One, the Heath Hen (T. c. cupido), is extinct. Another, Attwater’s Prairie-Chicken (T. c. attwateri), is endangered. The Greater Prairie-Chicken (T. c. pinnatus) is extinct, or in danger of extinction, in 15 states and provinces, but numerous enough to be legally hunted in 4 states. Some of the earliest efforts to manage wildlife populations in North America were initiated in 1791 when legislation was passed to protect the Heath Hen from market hunting. Declining populations, status as a game bird, and spectacular breeding displays have made the Greater Prairie-Chicken a popular subject of study.