Lack of recruitment has been noted in some sage grouse populations, and predation of juvenile sage grouse has been cited as a factor in sage grouse population decline. A decline in preferred prey may also result in increased predation on sage grouse. Sage grouse are a popular game bird. Sage grouse once occurred virtually everywhere there was sagebrush. In the 50's and 60's, land agencies adopted a policy of aggressive sagebrush control in order to convert sagebrush types to grassland.
Sage grouse have one of the lowest recruitment rates of any upland game bird in North America.