In the 80's here is SE MN. Used to be a lot now vey few. I had a guy tell me the Wild Turkeys pushed them out. Not sure if that's true.

They have become very scarce in the area I live right now. Back in the early 70's I could go out and get 3-5 birds quite often and would see birds everywhere. I have not even seen one this year yet and last year I saw just as many bears as I did grouse. I saw one bear. I am out in the woods a lot too bow hunting and trapping and bike riding long distances on trails. I don't know where they all went but I sure do miss them. I finally quit trying to hunt for them around here about 3 years ago since all it meant was long hikes in the woods. That part was good since I also did my scouting for trapping then.

Awsume gun so does the 'fly to die" hold up with that gun.

Looks like some adult birds there JP.

I am in southern Indiana and as far as I know there ain't any here unless there is some to the west in hoosier national my dad used to kill them when he was a kid a little north here around bloomington a old farmer here herd them drumming in cliffty falls so they was around I remember reading that the last grouse seen on hardy lake property was in 1995 I think it may have been later that is about 20 minutes from me 1995 is before me any way I do kind of remember seeing one it was around monroe I was 2 or 3 maby 4 it flew across the gravel road in front of us and lit in a tree that was the only grouse I ever seen and the last my dad and mom ever seen.My dad said and I herd it else where that the lack of logging and new growth was the why the never came back during there sickles I also remember reading a study that was dune on tower ridge road during the spring drumming in 2010 and there was one drummer herd they had number counted from other year but I can't remember the number or the year. Dad want to go on a trip up north some where and and go hunting don't know what a good state would be michigan is where we have been looking.got a little long winded here sorry

sweet gun ho made it I got a stoger hammer less 410 and a remington hammered 10ga. My dad would love that gun he is huge 410 fan.

Nice sidelock. Maker?

Too bad there’s none around anymore!

Lord it's been about 36 years since I have hunted them in southeastern Ohio. Population plummeted and have not hunted ruff grouse since that time. Sharptail grouse - it's been 26 years when I was stationed at Ellsworth AFB.

Darn! I’m in the bush a lot too, and often I don’t even try looking for them they’re always around. Today after completing a 3 week long plumbing project I went hunting them. Of course scouting for deer at the same time happens! Kinda why I love grouse hunting. You can do multiple things at once!

I think 2 years ago was the last grouse. Heading up north this weekend to hang deer stands and hopefully stumble on a grouse or two though. No grouse down here in southern Michigan, no suitable habitat.

That swamp looks like my kind of deer habitat. There is a big one in there for sure!

Shot a couple closing day of grouse last year. I think Dec 15th.


Those were the last ones. Got a pair last summer that flew into a glass railing. lol.

That was funny.

Season is open now into March here Hutchy.
Not sure about your WMU'S.

20 years ago up by marinesco in the U P of Michigan

6 years ago in the Allegheny National Forest. Still a decent population up there. Used to be able to walk behind dad's and grandma's house and find a couple every year. They are gone now. Never to return I fear.

Any idea or reason the sharptails have been declining?

The last time I killed a ruffed grouse was in 1989 during a bombing range clearance at the Blair Lakes Bombing range. It was across the Tanana River where we were dropped off by helicopter with Honda Four Wheelers, a pallet of C-4, a pile of blasting caps, det cord etc. However, we weren't allowed to have firearms with us. That didn't make sense to me. They trusted us with a pallet of C-4 and blasting caps, but not a firearm. I did take my pellet gun with me and was able to have ruffed grouse a number of evenings for supper. Sure beat the MREs we had with us.

A few days ago with a .22. Paul I have flown many charter flights into Blair Lake Range. We often see wolves hanging around runway, huge flocks of cranes in fall.

Only seen one ruffed grouse since moving to Western Alaska. Lots of spruce grouse and ptarmigan though.
Fried ptarmigan breasts. Shoot them with a .410 Remington 870 I found in a village dump and fixed up years ago.

I see them now and again but we have so few compared to 20 years ago I can’t bring myself to shoot them when I was a kid we would kill them with rock while we we hunting elk
If I find a few when I’m trapping I try to put a hurtin too the nest predators in that area and it definitely seams to help the population grow

Went out yesterday afternoon for a walk in the Hiawatha National Forrest, flushed 8 birds got 3, missed 2.