I'm headed back to Michigan U.P. in October. Does anyone have a real on the ground report of how the population is doing?

good in west part an north central lots of [gem] trail put in by dnr check them out

I've been on a few of the GEM trails they are doing a good job with those. I'm just hoping this West nile virus isn't to hard on them.

West Nile is doing the grouse in. I wish I knew how to upload videos better. Look online or YouTube on Pennsylvania grouse west Nile study, not good.

I read all that info. It’s sad. I’m hoping that they can build an immunity to it. I don’t think it will get them all but it is another problem and if they have a bad nesting year it really hurts. I hope it’s not a repeat of last year.

We flushed some birds last fall north of Escanaba.

Lots of predators out there killing grouse, are we sure its west nile?

West Nile probably hardest on the grouse. It kills a lot of grouse and kills them fast. Add more predators and lack of cutting timber and the grouse really struggle. You wouldn't believe the other species of birds it devastates.

Go to YouTube and search "Ruffed Grouse Short Version". About a ten minute informative video.