A RUFFED GROUSE PAYDAY FOR YOUR PATIENCE

By: Noel Vick (Editor)
with Tom Wilson (Field Editor & Guide)
For the past few seasons woodland hunters have spent long hours busting through heavy brush and treading down endless logging roads with limited success. 1989 was the most recent banner year for grouse hunters, but it was quickly followed by four consecutive autumns of dwindling grouse numbers that hit rock bottom in 1993. Then came 1994, when dedicated ruffed grouse hunters noticed a slight increase in bird sightings. The following season revealed a more noticeable population spurt. And if 1996 continues in the time proven ten year cycle, good times lie ahead. Minnesota's ruffed grouse population is subject to the aforementioned ten year cycle. D.N.R. officials have tracked this phenomenon for decades. Typically, Minnesota's bird numbers gradually increase over a six year period; then area populations tumble dramatically during the next four seasons. Numerous factors account for the cycle. But the primary factor is a complicated evolutionary cycle which adversely transforms ground vegetation. Without getting too technical, clover, a grouse's primary food source has its own way of reducing bird counts. D.N.R. biologists documented this unbelievable cycle through years of intense study. And the long standing belief that the grouse cycle was based solely on a predator/prey relationship was dispelled. Excessive numbers of fox and birds of prey will affect grouse populations, but not as dramatically and consistently as the food base theory. But enough about numbers, rest assured that there are birds for harvest. It is time to figure out where to go and what to look for. Ruffed grouse populations exist in basically five zones: Northeast, northwest, north-central, central hardwoods, and the southeast. Productive areas exist in all five zones. And a significant benefit of being a ruffed grouse hunter, versus other popular game birds, is the availability of public land. Hundreds and thousands of acres of wooded land reside in every county supporting viable grouse populations. Any chamber of commerce, regional D.N.R. office, or local sporting goods dealer can point you in the right direction. Some mapping companies even produce literature specifically marking state forests, wildlife management areas, and logging zones. Once you have chosen a location, the dissection begins. Look for characteristic grouse terrain. Or "grousey spots", as my regular hunting group refers to them as. In central and northern Minnesota locate the tallest, darkest stand of coniferous trees and work away from there. Grouse love clearings. And odds are that somewhere nearby an aged stand of healthy pines lies a logged-out swath of land. When pines are logged they typically vanquish their soil to a new generation of deciduous timbers. The new inhabitants, aspen, poplar, and maple, grow quickly in the rich earth. A number of bushes, grasses, and clover also make their home in clearings. Ruffed grouse have a fetish for poplar and aspen. They cherish the shade and cover. But more importantly, grouse absolutely love nibbling on the leaves and chomping on the buds. And to even further qualify the presence of aspen and poplar, search for trees sporting trunks of two to four inches in diameter. Areas logged 10 to 15 years ago meet this requirement. These young and healthy hardwood specimens offer nutritious leaves and buds emerging low to the ground. Often rooting in the same clear-cuts are Dogwood trees, with their succulent white berries, and the spinney leafed Hazelnut. Both bushy forest growths offer a food source and protective cover. But no grouse infested clearing is complete without a full compliment of ground clover. Preferred ruffed grouse habitat always sprouts with clover. Clover grows along trails, dirt roads, and on forest edges. Grouse enjoy a diverse diet, but more often than not, rich green clover is their staple. Clover is also the last plant to wither away in winter. Grouse often tunnel through several inches of fresh snow to reach it. Locating luscious clover is paramount to successful ruffed grouse hunting. Now that you know a little about their preferred cover and forage base, let's turn to specific situations. Early season grouse, those birds hunted from mid-September to mid-October, spend quite a bit of time in the trees. Autumn's chilling winds have yet to cease the production of chlorophyll in trees, meaning heavy foliage persists. While hunting, it is wise to watch the trees and scan the forest floor. Grouse typically roost from 6 to 12 feet in the air. Moisture also forces grouse into high places. Rain, dew, or frost conditions encourage birds to leave the ground. And if not in the trees, look for grouse on ridges and wooded hill tops. Wind is another factor. It has the opposite effect of moisture, grouse keep a low profile when the air is moving. Windy autumn days are generally dry. This is a great time to hunt ridge bottoms and meadow edges. When poor weather conditions combine with limited landscape contour, grouse will hang-out under jack pines, cedars, and spruce trees. And two other prospective ruffed grouse haunts are windfalls and fern beds. Fallen trees, and better yet clusters of downed timber, offer both protective cover and nesting habitat. Thick groves of woodland ferns produce a thick canopy for grouse to travel under. The living roof allows grouse to outrun danger without the vulnerability of flight. Grouse are a lot like fish. We have all daydreamed about draining our favorite lake to see where the fish are. And if your wishes were answered you would likely find most of the fish on breaks, structure changes, and wherever the food source hangs-out. Well a wooded stretch of grouse cover is a lot like a permanently drained lake. Grouse need structure and a square meal. Edges, ground cover and tree type changes, elevation breaks, and a healthy food source join to produce rich ruffed grouse habitat. The next several seasons promise to offer upland grouse hunters fantastic shooting opportunities. Take time this fall to enjoy a long walk, with shotgun in hand, through our state's bountiful forests. The grouse are waiting.

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