▁usually ▁util izing ▁gra in ▁fields . ▁Sw enson ▁( 1 9 8 5 ) ▁observed ▁the ▁same ▁tr end ▁in ▁Mont ana . ▁H amer st rom ▁and ▁Ham mer st rom ▁( 1 9 5 1 ) ▁declared ▁that ▁use ▁of ▁for ested ▁habitat ▁by ▁sharp - ta iled ▁gr ouse ▁vary ▁by ▁location , ▁not ing ▁that ▁sharp - ta iled ▁gr ouse ▁in ▁more ▁semi - ar id ▁and ▁ar id ▁areas ▁util ize ▁br ush ▁less ▁frequently ▁in ▁winter . ▁However , ▁Ham mer st rom ▁and ▁Ham mer st rom ▁( 1 9 5 1 ) ▁did ▁report ▁that ▁sharp - ta iled ▁gr ouse ▁in ▁Washington ▁and ▁California ▁were ▁observed ▁using ▁edge ▁type ▁habit ats ▁more ▁frequently ▁during ▁winter ▁months . ▁Mans ke ▁and ▁B ark er ▁( 1 9 8 7 ) ▁noticed ▁a ▁similar ▁tr end ▁in ▁winter ▁habitat ▁usage ▁in ▁North ▁Dak ota , ▁not ing ▁that ▁sharp - ta iled ▁gr ouse ▁in ▁small ▁f lock s ▁joined ▁together ▁to ▁form ▁larger ▁pack s ▁in ▁severe ▁weather . ▁These ▁pack s ▁move ▁from ▁open ▁pra irie , ▁to ▁shelter bel ts , ▁and ▁adjacent ▁cro pl ands ▁with ▁standing ▁corn ▁and ▁sun flow ers . ▁Hab itat ▁usage ▁in ▁winter ▁var ies ▁greatly ▁as ▁a ▁function ▁of ▁snow ▁depth ▁( Sw enson ▁ 1 9 8 5 ). ▁As ▁snow ▁depth ▁increases , ▁habitat ▁selection ▁sh ifts ▁from ▁cro pl and ▁and ▁pra irie ▁to ▁shelter bel ts ▁and ▁wo ody ▁veget