Ruffed grouse and American woodcock are widely distributed across New York State. These species prefer habitats in an early stage of succession such as young forests, shrublands, and old orchards and fields. As New York's forests grow older, these preferred habitats are declining, resulting in a decline in grouse and woodcock numbers since the 1960s.
Participate in the Hunting Log
This program asks hunters to record their daily grouse and woodcock hunting activities in a "hunting log", including the number of birds flushed and the number of hours hunted. The primary purpose of the log is to monitor the number of birds flushed per hour. Grouse and woodcock share many of the same habitats, so the information you provide will help monitor populations of these magnificent great game birds as habitats and environmental conditions change.
If you would like to join our mailing list to receive survey materials prior to the season, contact us by phone (518-402-8883) or e-mail Grouse Log (please leave the words "Grouse Log" in the subject line). Completed survey forms and other correspondence can be sent to: Grouse Log, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754. Please contact DEC at the address above for a postage-paid envelope if you don't already have one.
If you would prefer to record your grouse and woodcock hunts digitally, an online Grouse & Woodcock Hunting Log is now available. Remember to record all of your hunts because zero-flush days still provide crucial data. Visit our digital Grouse and Woodcock Hunting Log to record your hunts.
All personal information you provide (e.g., name, address) will be kept confidential.
2. Pluck 2-5 rump feathers (just above the tail coverts).
Grouse and Woodcock Hunting Log and Grouse Parts Collection
DEC encourages ruffed grouse hunters to participate in both the Grouse and Woodcock Hunting Log and Grouse Parts Collection survey. These two annual efforts provide DEC with essential information on how often hunters encounter grouse and woodcock, how often hunters flush birds, and the age and sex of their harvested birds. Together, these data allow biologists to track long-term population trends (via flush rates), productivity (how many young per adult are in the harvest), and guide management decisions that support healthy grouse populations across the state. Specifically, for woodcock, DEC uses flush rates to evaluate the timing of the season to ensure season dates capture the peak abundance of woodcock as they migrate through the state.
Anyone who hunts grouse in New York can participate in the grouse and woodcock hunting log and we ask that hunters who successfully harvest grouse also submit parts.
What hunters receive:
Hunters who submit a usable grouse parts sample and a completed hunting log will be entered for a chance to win a YETI® cooler donated by Ruffed Grouse Society or a subscription to the Conservationist (10 available). In addition, parts collection participants will receive a summary showing the age and sex of the grouse they submitted.
Thank you to the Ruffed Grouse Society for their donation of the cooler.
Grouse parts collection participants are asked to submit rump, outer wings, and tail feathers. Samples of grouse parts provide data on the age and sex composition of the harvest each season and help DEC monitor grouse productivity trends (number of young produced per adult female grouse).
Prepaid envelopes are provided to participants to ensure hunting logs and grouse parts are easily returned.
Collecting grouse parts for this effort involves three easy steps:
- Pluck 1 central tail feather
- Pluck 2-5 rump feathers – just above the tail coverts
- Collect the wing at the outermost joint
Keep the collected parts of each grouse in its own distinct bag or container and record details including the harvest date and location (Wildlife Management Unit) for every bird.
To learn more about these efforts or to sign-up to receive materials for submitting hunting logs and grouse parts, please contact us via e-mail or call (518)-402-8883.
