Grouse

[Gunplummer]

Anybody out for grouse this year? I really did not boost to many walking around during deer season.

[God's Country]

It looks like their numbers are down. I saw only a couple throughout the entire deer seasons thus far. Maybe the hard winter we had last year or just their cyclical nature.

[W4hl]

If you see a grouse, don't kill it because it's the last one left!

I don't see many around these parts.

[A-5]

Years ago, not so long ago. There was plenty. Lately they have been down

[GrumpyBear]

Game commission is blaming numbers being down mostly on habitat,which I can believe. IMO.

Back when they clearcut areas,and when the tornadoes went through,grouse numbers went upward.

Now with the forest maturing,only saw two during deer & bear.

[Palerider]

Saw 1 archery hunting. Haven't hunted specifically for grouse in probably a decade or so.

[tollster]

Was out early season, kicked a few, but no shots.. Always heard they typically run a 7 year cycle, but like many here, never have seen their numbers like they where maybe 20-25 years ago... That's when I had two days in my life, when I attained "daily grouse" limits of 2, they where not back to back, nor during the same season.

[nater99]

I haven't seen many over the last few years. 8-10 years ago I could have told you where you were likely to find a handful on our place. One thing is for sure. They hate ATVs. Over the years I've had 2 come down from roost after me while I was riding near dusk.

[knight0334]

I'm not going this year for grouse.

This has to have been possibly the worst year I've seen for grouse. I'm "in the field" 2-3 days a week all year long for work, much of it spent in the woods and fields designing telephone lines, poles, etc. I think I counted a total of 10-15 birds all year when I'm normally in the hundreds.

And I'm talking about 75-100 mile wide swath from Forest County all the way down to the PA/MD line that I cover.

[Fragger]

I've seen a handful this year during my days afield on quest for deer.
I can say this is a few more then I've seen combined in the last 5 years though.
And yes nothing like it was 20 some odd years ago.

Two somewhat odd occurrences come quickly to mind when I think of grouse this year.
Both were during the last week of the flintlock season.

I was still hunting back to the truck during early afternoon.
As I was venturing up a short rise in my stop and go progression I had a grouse walk in front of me from my right to left at 10 short steps away. Then it stopped behind a single tree. Then continued on for another 15ft or so and took to wing. This over a course of maybe 45 seconds. When I first saw it I was on the move and we were both out in the full open with only that single tree as the closest cover. Why that grouse didn't bust sooner is beyond me.

The second out of the norm run in I had was walking in with a flashlight on a narrow meandering trail I always use. Being careful of my foot placement it was unusually quiet as far as the wind but the ground was frozen over and a little noisy. Going slow and with only a small circle of light at my feet from my handheld flashlight (never been a fan of the "head" light) I busted a grouse just to my left at 4 FEET away ON THE GROUND! As far as I can remember I have never done this before. Talk about needing a change of underwear. LoL

On the way out later that day I took this pic at the exact spot where I bumped him walking in with the flashlight.
It looks like it must have been there awhile.
Or ... I scared it as much as it did me.