attn: north eastern grouse grouse hunters

[grousegunner]

just wondering if anyone's seeing that the ice storm helped out grouse populations in the heavily hit area's, or if this is something that may actually hurt it ?

[grouseguy]

Good News and Bad News:

The ice storm definately created cover. In places, its almost too thick to get through, because not only do you have large tree tops laying everywhere, but the absence of canopy this summer, let in a lot of light and underbrush and briars flourished.

However, the extremely wet spring/summer seems to have really slammed chick production this year. So, while the cover is there, populations are down, but the next good nesting season should be GREAT!

[grousegunner]

I've only killed three birds this year & 2 of them were mature roosters while the other one was a yearling rooster. most of my buddies have been killin older birds & were not having the # of flushes that I had last year. hope we get to benefit from the years ahead.

[GrouseHunter22]

went out yesterday and flushed two very young grouse together

If Hunters could fly, this would be a freaking airport