Because it is commercially. 1 Sep. Hazelnut Trees. You are allowed 5 combined ruffed and spruce grouse per day. Get exclusive bonus videos, extended cuts, updates, early access, and support th. Larger #5 and #4 shot might be called for to break through more foliage, but then you’re throwing fewer pellets in a given payload weight. 14 grouse/station) (Figure 3). Up in the northern mountains of Georgia live the ruffed grouse. Dusky Grouse. It’s just too much work for the return, for most people. Fats switched from bird hunting to grouse hunting in 1947. Grouse: While both ruffed and sooty grouse are associated with conifer forests, sooty grouse occupy the higher elevations of the coast range, especially ridge tops, while ruffed grouse are most commonly seen at mid to lower elevations of forest habitats, including riparian areas. This is promising news for grouse hunters. Being humbled is a cornerstone of the enjoyment of grouse hunting. Intricately patterned plumage varies from cold gray to rich reddish-brown. While hunting, ask yourself which way flushed grouse are apt to fly. Ruffed grouse tail feathers are the same color as their body, butPatrick Durkin Apr 29, 2019. In high years, birds seem to be "everywhere", and you will find a lot of birds in marginal habitat types after the "fall shuffle". There are grouse hunters who would rather share the same strand of dental floss with you than their best grouse cover. The state bird for Pennsylvania, the Ruffed Grouse. Male ruffed grouse are very territorial and will defend an area of about 6 to10 acres. It has a diameter of just . 1 - Sept. Always dry pluck doves and pigeons. 90, while non-resident licenses cost $101. Ruffed grouse aren’t everywhere, of course, but they thrive in early successional forest lands, which are maintained by aggressive timber harvest programs. You can only shoot two a day (read the regulations before you go out). Males weigh about 19-23 ounces, and females weigh 16-19 oz. Middle and right: snow adaptations of the Grouse. Each spring, at dawn, the sagebrush country of western North America fills with a strange burbling sound and an even stranger sight. Aug. Grouse are a product of early stages of forest succession. In addition to the 12- and 20-gauge, the new Ithaca Gun Company offers a scaled-down 28-gauge that is tailor-made for grouse hunting. 31 3 9 Any blue (dusky) grouse (i) Blue (Dusky) Grouse Hunt Area Description. They are working landscapes, actively logged, and re-grown. The female lays one egg per day, until her clutch is complete. The establishment provides over 30 slot machines and Pull Tabs games, as well as other activities such as darts and pool. Displaying males. This is somewhat higher than the previous the drumming rate of 0. Reproduction. chickadees),. While ruffed grouse are capable of primitive vocalizations, such as squeals, hissing, and chirps, they are better known for a different kind of sound. The tail has a dark bar near the tip, but females lack the dark band on central tail feathers. Alberta Ruffed Grouse. Woodcock season opens October 1 and concludes November 14. Ruffed grouse are a cyclical species. I shoot a 28 gauge Dickinson Plantation side-by-side and love it. A good way to find ruffed grouse in the fall is to walk along transition areas between habitat types. Pheasants are especially good poached, whether in butter or broth. 19, 2020, through Jan. Diet: Diet consists of Buds, twigs, catkins, leaves, ferns, soft fruits, acorns, and some insects. One of North America’s spectacular dancing grouse species, the Sharp-tailed Grouse gathers at open display grounds known as leks on spring mornings. Order - Upland Game Birds - Galliformes. Ruffed Grouse Roadhouse is one of 21 properties owned by White Earth Band of Chippewa Indians. states = dict (North_Carolina = 'Northern Cardinal', Pennsylvania = 'Ruffed Grouse', Hawaii = 'Hawaiian Goose' b. Males are brown-black with neat white spots and, during displays, a searing red eyebrow comb. The best ruffed grouse habitat provides a combination of food and cover (young and old aspen stands) within a small area. Assess the feasibility of utilizing hunter-harvested ruffed grouse to obtain biological samples from harvested birds for disease screening and collecting relevant. Ruffed Grouse also played a large part in the development of the science of ecology. These chickenlike birds eat mostly the needles of fir, spruce, and pine, an aromatic diet that makes them. In Minnesota, the annual hunter harvest varies from 250,000 to more than one million ruffed grouse. Physical Description. Hike in a quarter to half-mile or more, and then begin hunting. It can come as a surprise to learn this distant sound, like an engine trying to start, comes from a bird at all. Today we head to the newest upcoming map for Way of the Hunter: Aurora Shores! As we check out the new landscape, we'll chase wood bison, barren-ground carib. In an ideal world, the pellet. Quail are delicate little birds best served whole but partially deboned. plank. How this grouse will adapt in Montana with projected changes to its montane-boreal habitat is unclear, though the wide-ranging study suggests the bird may. September 9, 2023 at 8:03 a. The numbering system for shot continues up to #1 shot (. Young grouse disperse from their natal range during early fall. ruffed grouse and woodcock have been summarized in the results section of this report. Last year, the season was changed to close on Nov. The property has one restaurant. Also, don’t overlook the importance of wearing lots of hunter orange. Ruffed Grouse have two distinct morphs, grey and brown. . Other than that, they’re all pretty much the same. They also have black ruff feathers on the side of the neck and other small feathers that stick up from the top of the head. how prey abundances affect predator. Doves and pigeons are the easiest birds to pluck. They primarily thrive in young forests, shrubby thickets, and edge habitats, but will use mature aspen/birch forests, swamps,. Using your hands, shred the meat and return to the pot. Gambling winnings in Minnesota are subject to both federal and state taxation. 00. No Limits. 7 inches, typically weigh. Dendragapus obscurus. Ruffed grouse hunting in Georgia. The restaurant’s cozy bar room does double duty, pouring both coffee and cocktails, and while the full menu is. The dappled, grayish or reddish Ruffed Grouse is hard to see, but its “drumming on air” display is a fixture of many spring forests. The ring-necked pheasant season (males only) happens within three separate zones. Ruffed Grouse occur in two color morphs, grayish or reddish, with the difference most obvious on the broad tail feathers. Joel Penkala. The female sits on the eggs, in the nest, until the eggs hatch, after 23 to 26 days. Grouse feathers are mottled with white and black which helps them blend into the forest floor and hide from predators. MN Grouse Season. Mainers know it as partridge (or pa’tridge), as do folks in northern New York State and the Adirondacks, while in most other parts of the bird’s range it’s ruffed grouse. Ruffed grouse reside in dense foliage, shrubs, young trees, and conifers near water in many forms, whether a river, stream, pond, or bog. My initial experience came through several Oregon ruffed grouse seasons of 30-plus birds using 1-oz No. g. It has since been re-classified in the sub-family Tetraoninae of the family Phasianidae (pheasants). 1337 300th Avenue, Lengby, Minnesota. The ruffed grouse has been Pennsylvania’s official state bird since 1931, and its beauty is admired by hunter and non-hunter alike. 03 Southern Zone 952 89% 3,719 90% 361 75% 0. In the mornings and evenings, especially as breeding begins in the spring, ruffed grouse can be heard “drumming. 30. A few spruce trees mixed in provide additional cover and roosting opportunities that protect ruffed grouse from raptors and other predators. Greater Prairie-chicken. Sadly, Missouri’s grouse population was almost. In North America, the ruffed grouse symbolism is about wisdom, intuition, and the female principle. Residents who want to go bird hunting in Vermont pay $26 for a license. 00. superworm. Description. Ruffed Grouse. Grouse Stock. Today, in most regions, mature timber must be cut at regular intervals (every 10 to 15 years) to provide a mosaic of forest habitats of various ages and a continuous supply of quality ruffed grouse habitat. Ruffed grouse have overall color-phases of gray, red, or brown. Grouse rely more. Since you already solved the clue Ruffed grouse which had the answer PARTRIDGE, you can simply go back at the main post to check the other daily crossword clues. North Carolina Bobwhite Quail Season November 18 – February 29, 2024. 09”. Size: The length of male ruffed grouse is between 43 and 50 cm, whereas the females are between 40 and 47. The sound of. For early season sharp-tailed grouse, Webster recommends 7s if shooting regular lead and 5s if shooting regular steel with an improved cylinder. Cylinder bore to Modified chokes,. Ruffed Grouse. Usually it is a thick mix of food and escape cover. The Ruffed Grouse Roadhouse is located in the southern part of Lengby, Minnesota, near Island Lake. Ruffed grouse are principally herbivores, feeding on a diet of buds, leaves, fruits, and insects. ” “The sage grouse story is a political circus and is among one of the most imminent impeding environmental crises. Share. The males are usually slightly larger than the females, although an occasional adult female will exceed a. The species ranges from sun-baked bitterbrush steppe to the twisted “krummholz” trees of frigid mountaintops, somehow. Oct 31, 2007. Over here grouse hunting is a very close range game, shots are between 10' and 30 yrds at the rare extreme, usually under 10yrds. The Parkland Region boasts impressively stable grouse populations, and with agriculture interspersed, the birds do very well. Higher drumming count may not mean more grouse when season opens Sept. The male sooty grouse, tipping the scales at 3 pounds, is a handsome bird, with its yellow comb standing out against the slaty blue of the head, and with its long black tail tipped with pale gray. The Ruffed Grouse is adapted to a life in hardwood bush and forest. The average clutch is about 11 eggs. Brown the grouse on all sides, remove the browned pieces from the pan, and set to the side. Ruffed grouse weigh about 1. salted grouse. I can tell you from experience that as impressive as the video is, the way the. The subspecies that inhabits Maine is the St. Recreating that high quality ruffed grouse habitat is an important part of the timber management strategy on Falcon Springs Wildlife Management Area, near Decorah. Regenerating aspen stands capture significant amounts of carbon from the atmosphere, while mature aspen is an excellent source of wood fiber used for timber and paper. You can only shoot two a day (read the regulations before you go out). 8 *Closed in Clark, Marathon and Taylor counties No season in 2023 SMALL GAME Cottontail Rabbit Northern Zone Southern ZoneAlaska is the only state that allows hunters to pursue sooty grouse during the spring hoot. Ruffed tumbed to the snowy brush below. A lot of what we focus on with grouse habitat right now is maintaining connectivity between forest patches. Current ruffed grouse range in Ohio Unfortunately, ongoing data collection was stopped in 2020 with the pandemic, so we have limited data beyond this time. We often search the local grocery store for organic foods free from additives, and pesticides. 5–19. Shooting Star Casino - Bagley find on map. The color of the band, whether it's red or gray, is not a reliable. Best prospects are in the Cascade Mountains for both blue and ruffed grouse, although there are fair numbers of blue grouse in forested habitat in eastern Klamath County. The best ruffed grouse habitat provides a combination of food and cover (young and old aspen stands) within a small area. Choose shotshells with ¾ to 1 ounce loads of low velocity 6 or 7 shot. View sold prices. 31 3 9 Any ruffed grouseThe covers surrounding Lake Superior offer world-class ruffed grouse hunting in the iconic Northwoods. Much of the best is found in the 3. George Bird Evans said in The Upland Shooting Life , “I know of no bird shooting that offers so few hits for shells fired and, other than turkey hunting, so few chances to shoot as does grouse shooting. The female lays one egg per day, until her clutch is complete. Over time, the habitat aged, filled in and the population declined. However, the confidence intervals are wide andRuffed Grouse are a prize catch for many predators of the woods. In the early season, try hunting near streams and swamps. The post-Christmas grouse season (hereafter “late season”) is well-loved by many grouse hunters. Don’t go into a grouse cover with Nikes and gym socks. 4. I personally tend to veer away from the meats department because of sad stories about factory processed meats, the awful things the livestock are. The study, led by Penn State and Pennsylvania Game. Simply put, it’s a safe time for ruffies to be out and about. You can even visit the Ruffed Grouse Society website and watch the woodcock migration map. If you're interested in introducing your child to hunting, there are plenty of ruffed grouse in the North Maine. Saturday permits are required of any hunter wishing to. Ticks are inactive and temperatures are just right for running the dogs. Photo: Roland Jordahl A brown or red phase ruffed grouse. What makes Maine so successful for ruffed grouse is the pure density of unbroken habitat. Est: $150 - $250. Sadly, Missouri’s grouse population was almost destroyed in. Optimal year-round cover includes a mosaic of forest age-classes with stands of young and older forests closely. Cut along the breast bone on both sides to removes each breast. Northern sharp-tailed grouse. Autumn Orchard - Ruffed Grouse, 1994, Limited edition to 950 prints. Pearson, 1940, USDA Forest Service 2001. A mixture of oaks, aspen, and conifers are beneficial to grouse. Photos comparing this bird species with similar or confusing species, including captions that point out specific differences to help confirm identification. Transcript: This is BirdNote. I’m simply a morning person in general, and nothing is quite as peaceful and relaxing to me as an early morning in the grouse woods with my dog. Choosing the Right Hunting Grounds (approximately 100 words): Pennsylvania boasts a diverse landscape, ranging from. J. Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan have millions of acres of prime. Curiously, these poisonings dropped off with the invention of hunting seasons, which protected grouse when they happen to pose the largest risk. . 1 Dec. Ithaca/SKB 100. Heavy waterfowling guns will wear out your arms, and they’re too slow getting on target. Pearson, 1940, USDA Forest Service 2001. One of the behaviors that defines upland hunters is that they typically carry their shotguns long distances while shooting them very. Male Spruce Grouse are slate gray and black above characteristic unfeathered red patch of skin above the eye; Female Spruce Grouse are gray and brown above and white and brown below; under certain light. There is an apparently low inclination of ruffed grouse to renest, hence there is a decreased importance of the cock in the last three weeks of May. There was no statistical difference between common routes run in 2022 and 2023. Place the grouse, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, thyme, rosemary, salt, pepper, chicken broth, and water in an 8-quart stockpot. The dappled, grayish or reddish Ruffed Grouse is hard to see, but its “drumming on air” display is a fixture of many spring forests. Grouse are gallinaceous birds and are related to quail, turkeys, pheasants and ptarmigan. Another major food source at this time of year for ruffed grouse is broken up acorns. Reserve your dates and hunt with us in Northwest Wisconsin. Alaska Bird Hunting, Ultimate Upland Ptarmigan and Grouse Hunting. Ruffed grouse are native to Missouri and, in past years, have been located as far south as northern Arkansas. young ruffed grouse can travel during natal dispersal (e. Sexes are different in coloration; males have a black breast with white spotting on the sides, white spots at the base of a black tail, and a red comb above the eye. January 13, 2017. The casino's gaming. The Ruffed Grouse is a chicken-sized bird that is cryptically colored to blend in with its forested habitat. Ruffed Grouse Roadhouse is one of 21 properties owned by White Earth Band of Chippewa Indians. Add the onion, garlic, mushroom, and carrot to the pan and saute for 3 minutes. Using the Wrong Choke. The Ruffed Grouse is a ground nesting bird. After a crust has formed I lay the breast in a glass roasting pan, lay a piece of bacon on each breast, pour some red wine in the pan but not on the breasts, cover and cook for 40 min @ 300F or so. Go with a light shotgun in 12-, 16- or 20-gauge, weighing around six or seven pounds. Ruffed grouse hunting requires putting in some miles, so quality hiking boots or lightweight hunting boots are key. 2 mins Read. As of right now the sharp-tailed MN grouse season is closed, but you can still target spruce and ruffed grouse. Minnesota's ruffed grouse spring population counts are up from last year, which was not expected during the current declining phase of the 10-year cycle — a pattern recorded for 72 years. During the 2018 season in California, Sooty or Blue Grouse and Ruffed Grouse (Not Sage Grouse) Archery Season opens on August 18, 2018 to September 7, 2018. Numbered 4/950 and signed lo. Maine is a pretty affordable state to hunt as a resident. — Despite decades of decline, a genetic analysis of ruffed grouse reveals that Pennsylvania’s state bird harbors more genetic diversity and connectivity than expected. If hunting without a dog, work creek bottoms, cutlines, tree-lined trails and forest edges. Ruffed grouse hunting is not for the faint of heart. We’ve been hunting and training on these birds for over 30 years since we live in the heart of grouse country. 09 grouse/station (95% confidence interval 0. The following ownership information is a subset of that available in the Gaming Business Directory published by Casino City Press. Timber types along the river are oak, silver maple and elm. Displaying males expose a rich black ruff of neck. and males and females are very similar in appearance with negligible size differences. These chickenlike birds eat mostly the needles of fir, spruce, and pine, an aromatic diet that makes them. American Woodcock. There is a daily bag limit of two birds with a possession limit of four. It can come as a surprise to learn this distant sound, like an engine trying to start, comes from a bird at all. This is negatively impacting a wide array of. Indiana in 2019 placed the once-common ruffed grouse on its endangered species list after populations declined by 99% in the last 40 years. Pick Your Pockets. DESCRIPTION Ruffed Grouse are one of 10 species of grouse native to North America and are one of the smaller birds in the group, ranging from 17 to 25 oz. George Bird Evans said in The Upland Shooting Life , “I know of no bird shooting that offers so few hits for shells fired and, other than turkey hunting, so few chances to shoot as does grouse shooting. Using a fast, wide-ranging bird dog. Females are intricately scaled with brown, buff, and white. Across the country in different regions, wing collection boxes or barrels are set up by various agencies and organizations (Ruffed Grouse Society) for deposits from Band-tailed pigeons, dove, grouse (blue, dusky, prairie chickens, ruffed, sage, sharp-tail), ptarmigan, snipe, and woodcock. It remained that way until 2006, when the American Ornithologist’s Union decided to once. The hours that you can hunt are ½ hour after sunrise until ½ hour to sunset. Box 395 Mahnomen, MN 56557 Phone Number: (218) 935-2148. I shot my first American woodcock and my first ruffed grouse over an Brittany back in the late 80’s. Ruffed Grouse Upland Game Bird Meat. There is habitat overlap with all three species but in general ruffed grouse tend to occupy riparian areas that have a mixture of. 1 Dec. Ruffed grouse utilize different parts of their habitat at different times of day. It is a time to be in the woods with few other people. season zone from the 2020 Ruffed Grouse Drumming Survey. Rinse and dry the breast. That is the allure of hunting ruffed grouse; the miles, the empty shells, and missed points make that moment when it does come together with the ecstasy of a New England upland hunter. Simmer, uncovered, for 4 hours. 04 to 0. The easiest way to clean a grouse is place it breast-up on the ground, step on each wing near the body, then grab the feet and pull upward. The Ruffed Grouse Roadhouse is located in the southern part of Lengby, Minnesota, near Island Lake. The Ruffed Grouse is the most widely distributed native game birds in North America. Ruffed grouse depend on young forests of seedling/sapling/pole size hardwoods. The following ownership information is a subset of that available in the Gaming Business Directory published by Casino City Press. Ruffed grouse are fairly small grayish to reddish-brown grouse with a long, fan-shaped tail—a true prize for many who hunt the bird. A prime cock bird and the first red-phase tail I’ve seen on the ranch. Ruffed grouse have overall color-phases of gray, red, or brown. 3 pounds. According to the National Geographic Society, those three counties make up the most desirable place to visit in all of America — an assessment which probably doesn’t factor in the grouse hunting opportunities to be found there. While we do occasionally hunt quail our focus is mostly on ruffed grouse. Wisconsin is known to be the ruffed grouse capital of the world and we can assure you that it is. A wide variety of species are included in the category "small game," such as upland game birds, migratory game birds, small game mammals and furbearers. Brody Henderson Mar 6, 2019. The site is also a warbler migration stopover. The medium-sized, gray, and brown patterned bird also gets referred to as the partridge, but they aren’t the same bird as the Gray Partridge. The optimum ruffed grouse habitat includes brushy areas, young aspen stands, mature aspen stands with an understory of hazel or ironwood, and dense sapling aspen stands. A displaying male ruffed grouse on his drumming log (Canon 60D homemade camera trap, no flash) In spring, the male ruffed grouse chooses a “stage” from which he displays and “drums” to attract females. We're known best for having an extensive craft beer selection, but "The Grouse" is more than just a bar, we have great food too. Updated: September 1, 2021. Photo: Roland Jordahl A brown or red phase ruffed grouse. North Carolina Ruffed Grouse Season October 16 – February 29, 2024. Management opportunities for ruffed grouse and other forest wildlife in oak forests depend, in part, on the composition and arrangement of the principal tree, shrub, and herbaceous food and cover plants. 00. Resident licenses cost $20. . This makes for some of the best days of bird hunting in. Properly. Wisconsin’s grouse season normally runs from Sept. Hit the woods at sunrise, when the birds have just flown down and are moving out and laying down some. #1. At the state park, look for mid-elevation species such as Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Least Flycatcher, Golden-winged Warbler, and Chestnut-sided Warbler. I just shot a 46 out of 50 on sporting clays. a ruffed grouse population already is established include prescribed burning or clear-cutting areas of 5 to 20 acres. A bird of early successional deciduous forests, the ruffed grouse or “partridge,” is known for its drumming in the spring and its explosive take-off when surprised. Home range size did not significantly differ by age or gender (mean = 103 ? 24. 45 0. How this grouse will adapt in Montana with projected changes to its montane-boreal habitat is unclear, though the wide-ranging study suggests the bird may. Sprinkle each breast and underside with the curing salt and massage into the meat for about 30 seconds. Know that ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse and quail skin is unusually tender, and that turkey skin is pretty damn tough. 90, but it does not include pheasant hunting. Spending a crisp morning pursuing ruffed grouse is among the highlights of the fall season for Maine bird hunters. The ruffed grouse has been Pennsylvania’s state bird since 1931. Once you get the hang of it, you can pluck a dove in about 2-3 minutes. The easiest way to clean a grouse is place it breast-up on the ground, step on each wing near the body, then grab the feet and pull. Other Names: Blue Grouse. The top solutions are determined by popularity, ratings and frequency of searches. 5 million acres of prime ruffed grouse and woodcock habitat in the working woodland of the North Maine Woods. Ruffed grouse (aka partridge) are the king of game birds, and Vermont is one of their last strongholds in the Northeast. Gray-brown back, light breast. 00. Where aspen is absent, oak,. In 1825 the Irish zoologist Nicholas Aylward Vigor (1785-1840) classified the ruffed grouse in the family Tetraonidae (tet-rah- on -ih-dye); the term is a form of the Greek noun for grouse, tetraon. Considering the basic idea of what works well for you is often. Ruffed grouse are the most widely distributed resident game bird in North America. Possible Solution: PARTRIDGE. The hours that you can hunt are ½ hour after sunrise until ½ hour to sunset. by Julie Harris October 6, 2023. The causes of these cycles are unknown. For more information about Gaming Business Directory products visit Sharp-tailed Grouse tend to live in more open grassland and woodland than Ruffed Grouse, which live in forest. Woodcock season also opens October 1 and concludes November 14. Ruffed grouse do have a small but loyal following, though, and each year the Pembina Hills, Turtle Mountains and the sandhills in McHenry County yield a respectable harvest. Chukar. But there was a new word. 8s through quite-open chokes, with No. In addition, we selected a scale at 1600 m (~804 ha) which represented an intermediate level between the 400-m and 4800-m scales. Ruffed grouse, on the other hand, are characterized by the black tail band. The rest of the year, these plump. The research aims to determine whether the commonwealth’s grouse population shows signs. American woodcock hunting is another phenomenal upland species to pursue in New Hampshire. #1 · Sep 22, 2023. To locate feathers 15-18, count down from the. Above, a male ruffed grouse attempts to attract a mate by beating his wings to create a drumming sound. There are still many who hunt its lands for birds like pheasant and crow. Typically, hunters are asked to provide one wing from. A game species, the Ruffed Grouse was assigned a Continental Concern Score of 9/20 by Partners in Flight. In New York, the ruffed grouse population is stable statewide, as surveys revealed 0. 119. Male Spruce Grouse by Mike Schroeder. Basic Ruffed Grouse Hunting. In Utah, the most common color phases for ruffed grouse tend to be gray and red (Figure 3). They were later combined into one species. Ruffed grouse thrive in the Great Lakes states and in the northeast, especially Maine. Other species of interest to small game hunters include snowshoe hare and gray. A mixture of oaks, aspen, and conifers are beneficial to grouse. Ruffed GrousePhoto Credits: Steve DuBois - Sharp tailed grouse male breeding and winter white-tailed. The thumping starts slow but quickly gains in speed, and the rapidly beating wings turn into a complete blur when the drumroll reaches its peak. Believe me, it’s not real easy. Spruce grouse are less abundant and slightly smaller than ruffed grouse. "While. Look for relatively long, squared tail with dark band near the tip, bold barring on the sides, and small pointed crest. Management opportunities for ruffed grouse and other forest wildlife in oak forests depend, in part, on the composition and arrangement of the principal tree, shrub, and herbaceous food and cover plants. Photo: Francine Ouellette / Audubon Photography Awards . Weight: The males weigh around 500 – 750 g, while the weight of the females is between 450 and 600, with an average mass of 644 g. One of North America's 12 native grouse species — a group that includes the Greater Sage-Grouse, Dusky Grouse, and Greater Prairie. ”. Ruffed grouse are a native forest grouse which rely on multiple age classes of aspen for their primary habitat.