I live in Putnam County, and grouse, while still around are very limited to certain locations. I also still see a few in parts of Dutchess County. In Putnam, they were fairly common when I started hunting in 1982 and their numbers have dropped since then. I shot my last grouse here in 1999. In Dutchess County, I have also seen this same pattern. It is very possible to find them if you really work hard but I wouldn't really call it a grouse hunt..... My guess is that they could return with proper land management and as some areas see change from storm damage, etc. The biggest concern for the future would be that there are enough grouse around to repopulate. As one friend told me, a very good grouse hunter btw..... you need quantity of habitat as much as quality....... Deer also destroy the understory of our forests and this can also be a possible negative to grouse habitat...... I shot my last Putnam County grouse on October 13, 1999 at Nimham Mountain MUA; I was hunting with my last Brittany Kelly...a beautiful point, flush and a shot..... it was her last bird before she became ill..... a wonderful companion and a great memory!!
