Photo by Ron Sinfelt

Grouse hunters and surfers have a lot in common. Both are happy to settle for modest swells while waiting for the next big wave. Wisconsin's ruffed grouse hunters should have a better season this fall than last, but that might not be saying much. Last year, hunters endured one of the least memorable seasons ever, according to reports from across the north. A cold, wet spring in 2004 hampered recruitment, so hunters encountered mostly adult birds -- when they found birds at all. The 10-year population cycle probably hit bottom last fall, so things can only get better.

It may take awhile for improvement to make much difference in the coverts, however. When grouse numbers are low, a population increase begins slowly for a year or two, then snowballs to reach a new peak before plummeting again. For now, grouse hunters will have to ride the swell for what it's worth and wait for the next wave.

Unfortunately, that next wave is not likely to be a tsunami. While grouse are still the state's most abundant forest game-bird species, their numbers have gradually declined over the past several decades as their habitat has diminished. Each of the last four population peaks has been lower than the one before it, and it does not look like that trend will reverse itself any time soon.

LAST HUNTING SEASON
Results from questionnaires sent to hunters after last season were still being tabulated as of this writing, but anecdotal reports suggest that hunters encountered fewer birds last fall than biologists had hoped for. Cool, rainy weather in May and June of 2004 took its toll on young birds, and brood observations were well below expected levels. With young birds scarce, hunters found mostly adults in the coverts, which made for some tough hunting, according to Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) western Great Lakes regional biologist Gary Zimmer.

"Hunting success was spotty at best last fall," said Zimmer. "Most birds in the woods last year were adults, which run ahead of dogs and often flush wild. I did see pockets of birds and heard reports that other hunters had the same experience. I expect that 2004 was the bottom of the cycle here in Wisconsin."

Andrea Mezera, acting Department of Natural Resources upland wildlife ecologist, echoed Zimmer's report.

"Hunting was mediocre last year," Mezera said. "Hunters saw birds in smaller pockets of good habitat. The last population peak was in 1999, and we've been on a decline ever since. We expected a rebound last year, but the cold, wet spring had an impact that might carry over to this year as well."

DNR wildlife biologist Ron Eckstein of Rhinelander had the most positive report.

"Hunting around here was surprisingly good last fall," Eckstein said. "I heard more positive reports than negative ones. The season turned out better than I thought it would, based on my own hunts and the people I talked to."

Hunter survey results from 2003 show a decline in hunter numbers from the year before, perhaps because hunters knew the cycle was near its low ebb. Those hunters bagged more birds than the year before, however. An estimated 103,466 hunters bagged 320,130 grouse in 2003, while 106,847 hunters bagged 259,163 ruffs in 2002. Hunters pursuing grouse outnumbered those who hunted other small-game species, as is traditionally the case. Those hunters reported bagging .45 grouse per day afield in 2003. The top counties were Price, Oneida and Marinette.

IMPACT OF WINTER
Grouse losses over the winter depend on a number of factors. Grouse are well adapted to cold weather, but they do best when there is deep, fluffy snow for roosting. They actually dive or burrow into snowbanks where the snow and their feathers insulate them from the cold. If you look for them, you will occasionally find grouse-sized holes in the snow with tracks and wing prints leading away from them. A pile of worm-like droppings in the hole means a grouse spent the night there. You may even flush a grouse from a snow bank, which is one of the most startling experiences you'll ever have.