Although the New York Department of Environmental Conservation does not conduct systematic studies or surveys to monitor grouse populations, several surveys, including the Breeding Bird Survey conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey and the New York Breeding Bird Survey, a statewide survey designed to reveal the distribution of breeding birds in New York, support what grouse hunters have known for quite some time.

Since the 1960s, there has been a decline in grouse numbers by as much as 75 percent or 4.7 percent each year, according to these surveys! There seems to be several factors for the decline, but the primary factor is diminishing suitable habitat.

Back in the 1960s and '70s, abandoned farm and agricultural lands were reverting to young forests. Emerging forests offer a diversity of habitat types and are therefore good for grouse. Those forests have now matured past the "prime" stage for grouse.

The greatest densities of grouse have always been where farms and agricultural lands were abandoned, where active timber harvesting creates clear-cuts and where new habitat is created naturally by fires, storms or disease. That is also true today. Unfortunately, these habitats have dwindled in recent years and consequently, grouse numbers have declined.

Despite all this, grouse hunting in New York is not lost. Far from it. Although numbers may be down, grouse are still common throughout the state and about 75,000 hunters take 150,000 birds annually, making grouse the second most hunted game bird behind wild turkeys.

This is especially true along the St. Lawrence Valley in the north down through the Otsego-Delaware county hills and parts of the Adirondacks into the East Appalachian Plateau. And in the Catskills, studies have shown flush rates slightly above the statewide average. These areas in particular have some of the best grouse habitat in New York, but pockets of prime habitat may be found throughout the state.

The DEC is taking steps to reverse the grouse decline over the past 40 years. As most experienced hunters know, if you find the habitat you will find birds! On a number of state forests and wildlife management areas programs involving timber harvesting, mowing, controlled burns, planting of wildlife shrubs and food plots are underway to improve habitat conditions and hunting opportunities for grouse. Chapters of the Ruffed Grouse Society are also doing their part by funding habitat improvements on several public land areas.

"Nature" is contributing as well. In several other areas of the state severe wind, ice and snowstorms in recent years have devastated hundreds of acres of mature forests creating better grouse habitat.

Along with these efforts, the DEC currently has two hunter participation programs underway that will provide vital data on grouse abundance and distribution. In 2005, the Cooperative Ruffed Grouse Hunting Log was initiated. Hunters log the number of birds flushed, the number of birds bagged, total days hunted and whether a dog was used. Flush rates are important because they indicate population trends when viewed over a long time.

Hunters interested in participating may request forms and a postage-paid return envelope by telephoning (518) 402-8883.