Wisconsin Statewide Ruffed Grouse Drumming Activity Decreased 11.6% From 2025

Wisconsin 2026 Statewide Ruffed Grouse Drumming Activity Decreased 11.6% From 2025.

Ruffed Grouse Drumming Survey
2026
 

By Alaina Roth, Taylor Finger, Chris Pollentier, Jes Rees Lohr, and Paul Frater
 

Abstract
 

The 10-year management plan for ruffed grouse prioritized habitat management into three areas in the state. Data from spring drumming surveys was categorized by these new habitat management areas to better reflect habitat and priorities for ruffed grouse management.

 
Statewide ruffed grouse drumming activity decreased 11.6% from 2025 levels based on the roadside survey to monitor breeding grouse activity. The northern foresthhabitat management area had a 10.9% decrease in mean number of drums per stop. The central management area had a 21.8% decrease, and the driftless management areas had a 35.7% decrease in mean number of drums per stop in 2025 compared to the previous year.  

Methods
Statewide
A 10-year management plan for ruffed grouse was developed by the Wisconsin DNR, cooperating agencies, and partner organizations and was accepted by the Natural Resources Board at their 2019 December meeting. The plan is a comprehensive document outlining the objectives for ruffed grouse management in Wisconsin. The plan outlined three priority management areas, which are areas of the state that still have ruffed grouse populations and sections of suitable habitat where enhancing the young forest component could influence grouse populations. These areas have forests as a major component of their landscape with opportunities to promote early successional forest habitat on both public and private land.
 

These areas are the Northern, Central, and Driftless Priority Areas (Figure 1). The southeastern part of the state will no longer be a focus of ruffed grouse management or monitoring and will no longer be surveyed for ruffed grouse using a road-side survey
technique. While scattered populations of grouse do exist in this part of the state, abundance is very low as habitat availability is quite limited; thus, grouse would need to be monitored by another method to be detected.

 
Counts of grouse drumming activity heard along roadsides were conducted on 75 transects throughout these three priority areas in 2026. Sixteen transects in these areas had not detected ruffed grouse for the past three years and were not surveyed in 2026. Transects that do not detect ruffed grouse for three years in a row are placed on a rotation and not surveyed for another three years. A roadside survey for ruffed grouse has been conducted annually since 1964 by DNR wildlife managers, wildlife technicians, foresters, law enforcement personnel, tribal biologists, USFS staff, and Ruffed Grouse Society volunteers to determine grouse population trends throughout Wisconsin. A new 10-stop survey on 117 randomly located transects was initiated in 1994 and continued through 2019. This year marked the seventh year where the southeastern part of the state was not surveyed for ruffed grouse. As per the change-over plan, no "old" drumming routes were run since 1996.  Also, "new" routes which had counts of zero for the first three years were not to be run for three years. After that three-year period, they are to be run again every three years to confirm that they indeed are still zero.

Procedures for the “new” routes were similar to the earlier survey protocols except for one count instead of two and 10 stops instead of 15. All analysis of ruffed grouse drumming data, “old” and “new”, was redone to reflect the changes in surveying strategy and priority areas.

 
Due to this fact some of the data that was published in previous reports will not match with results published here.

 
Research Census Areas

 
Ruffed Grouse drumming data collected on these areas will no longer be collected and/or be a part of the analysis of statewide ruffed grouse abundance data in the state. Any data
collected at these sites will only be used for research purposes.

 
Results

 
Roadside survey responses were received from wildlife managers, wildlife technicians, and other cooperators that helped conduct the survey on 75 transects in 2026. There were 16 transects that were considered zero and not run in 2026. The total number of routes used in estimating a statewide ruffed grouse drumming index in 2026 was 91.
Statewide, ruffed grouse population indices decreased between 2025 and 2026 (Table 1, Figure 2). The Central priority management area had a 21.8% decrease in drumming activity compared to 2025 (Figure 3). The Driftless priority management area had a 35.7% decrease (Figure 4), and the Northern priority management area had a 10.9% decrease (Figure 5) compared to 2025 survey results. Recent research has indicated that 10-year population cycles are less pronounced at the periphery of the ruffed grouse’s range, which we have certainly observed in the driftless area in the last few decades.

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A Guide to Ruffed Grouse Hunting in Wisconsin | Top Places To Hunt and Tips For Successful Hunting

by RuffedGrouse.com staff

A Guide to Ruffed Grouse Hunting in Wisconsin

Wisconsin's vast forests and diverse terrain make it a premier destination for Ruffed Grouse hunting. Whether you're a seasoned hunter or new to the sport, understanding where to hunt and how to approach it can significantly improve your success in the field.

Prime Hunting Locations

The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest stands out as the crown jewel of Wisconsin grouse hunting, offering over 1.5 million acres of prime habitat. Its extensive stands of young aspen, birch, and alder provide ideal conditions for grouse populations to thrive.

Several other regions offer exceptional hunting opportunities. The Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, spanning Vilas, Oneida, and Iron counties, consistently produces excellent results due to its mixed hardwood and conifer landscape. Florence County has earned its reputation as a top grouse hunting destination, while Bayfield and Ashland counties offer a compelling mix of public and private lands, particularly in areas with recent logging activity.

For hunters seeking additional options, Wisconsin maintains numerous public hunting grounds and Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), all of which are detailed on the Wisconsin DNR website.

Essential Hunting Strategies

Success in grouse hunting begins with understanding habitat preferences. These birds show a strong affinity for young forests, particularly aspen stands between 5 and 20 years old. Areas with recent logging activity or prescribed burns often attract grouse due to the resulting new growth and dense cover.

Timing plays a crucial role in hunting success. Grouse are most active during dawn and dusk when they feed, making these ideal times to hunt. The season typically runs from mid-September through early January, with October offering optimal conditions as falling leaves improve visibility.

A well-trained bird dog can dramatically enhance your hunting experience. Breeds such as English Setters, Brittanys, and German Shorthaired Pointers excel at locating grouse, which often hold tight in dense cover. Their keen sense of smell and pointing instincts help hunters locate birds that might otherwise go undetected.

Field Tactics and Equipment

Movement technique significantly impacts hunting success. Adopt a slow, deliberate pace with frequent pauses to listen for the distinctive sound of flushing grouse or male drumming. Given the birds' tendency to flush suddenly and fly rapidly through dense cover, hunters should be prepared for quick shots. An open choke (Improved Cylinder or Modified) typically works best for these challenging conditions.

Proper attire is essential for both safety and comfort. Always wear blaze orange for visibility, especially in areas with other hunters. Layer your clothing appropriately and invest in sturdy boots suitable for navigating rough terrain and thick undergrowth.

Pre-season scouting can dramatically improve your chances of success. Look for telltale signs of grouse activity, including droppings, dusting areas, and feeding sites where birds might seek clover, berries, or buds.

Additional Information

For current regulations, maps, and population reports, consult the Wisconsin DNR Grouse Hunting Guide. The Ruffed Grouse Society also provides valuable resources on habitat conservation and hunting techniques.

Remember that successful grouse hunting often requires patience and persistence. While challenging, the experience of pursuing these remarkable game birds through Wisconsin's beautiful forests makes every outing worthwhile, regardless of the day's harvest.

These are the best Wisconsin late season Ruffed Grouse hunting areas

Here are the best late-season ruffed grouse spots in Wisconsin:

1. Northern Forest Region:

• Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, particularly:
  • Around Park Falls
  • Hayward area
  • Florence County sections
• Brule River State Forest

2. Central Wisconsin:

• Black River State Forest
• Jackson County Forest
• Clark County Forest These areas have excellent mixed hardwood/conifer habitat that holds birds late

3. Northwest Wisconsin:

• Douglas County Forest
• Bayfield County Forest
• Washburn County Forest Especially good in areas with young aspen and alder thickets

Late season tips for Wisconsin:

• Focus on spruce/balsam fir edges near aspen
• Look for grape vines and ironwood trees
• South-facing slopes are prime after first snow
• Areas with tag alder near creek bottoms
• Forest roads and trails in county forests often hold birds

The northern third of Wisconsin generally offers the best late-season hunting, but birds can be found in good numbers in central counties too.

Wisconsin Ruffed Grouse Survey Shows An Increase of 57% In Drumming Grouse From 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released the results of its annual Roadside Ruffed Grouse Drumming Survey. The survey measured ruffed grouse drumming activity heard along roadsides throughout Wisconsin this spring and showed a 57% increase in statewide drumming activity compared to 2023.

Several agencies and groups, including the DNR, U.S. Forest Service, tribal partners and volunteers, collected the data via roadside surveys of breeding grouse.

"The late spring and summer of 2023 were abnormally dry, which resulted in prime nesting and brooding conditions for ruffed grouse. This is likely the most influential factor explaining the increase in the number of drumming grouse this year,” said Alaina Roth, DNR ruffed grouse specialist. “We are also likely entering the ‘up’ phase of our 10-year population cycle, which may be an influencing factor, too.”

Ruffed grouse typically follow a 10-year population cycle, with peaks occurring in years that end in 0, 1 or 9. The surveys indicate ruffed grouse in Wisconsin are starting to enter the more populous phase of the abundance cycle. The next peak is anticipated to occur in 2029, 2030 or 2031.

 

Ruffed grouse drumming survey results show an increase in drumming abundance this year.Wisconsin DNR

Data is not available for 2020, so it is unknown whether 2019 or 2020 was the high point in the cycle, but drumming numbers appeared to wane in the years immediately following 2020.

Since 2021, survey data has been organized and analyzed by ruffed grouse priority areas to help monitor key populations across the state, as defined in the Wisconsin Ruffed Grouse Management Plan 2020-2030.

The 2024 survey results for priority areas compared to 2023 showed:

• A 41% increase in drumming in the Central priority area.
• A 60% increase in drumming in the Northern priority area.
• A 56% decrease in drumming in the Driftless priority area.

For complete survey results, visit the DNR’s Wisconsin Wildlife Reports webpage.

For more information regarding grouse hunting or managing habitat for ruffed grouse in Wisconsin, visit the DNR’s Ruffed Grouse Hunting webpage.

 

Bird Hunting in Wisconsin for Ruffed Grouse, Woodcock, Pheasant, and Dove

Gabriela Zaldumbide Gabby Zaldumbide is Project Upland's managing editor. 

Wisconsin’s natural beauty caught my eye as a young child. Images of Devil’s Lake State Park and Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area are still vivid in my mind, even though I haven’t been to either of those places in over a decade.

I continued to admire southern Wisconsin’s humble beauty while at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During my junior year, I helped a PhD student named Amy with her ruffed grouse research project. We took a trip up to the Sandhill State Wildlife Area to collect grouse scat one weekend, and while hiking around, Amy pointed out several drumming logs she’d found while working on her research project. Although I didn’t lay eyes on the king of the uplands while helping her with data collection, just being in its presence was enough to excite me.

I volunteered with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in my senior year of undergrad. I stocked pheasants for them in Dane County’s public lands, something I will never forget. I know planted birds are a completely different deal than wild ones; however, watching roosters explode out of my truck and coast all the way to the treeline is a glorious sight for any bird nerd to behold.

As a future bird hunter, I aspire to return to my home state to hunt ruffed grouse, American woodcock, and pheasant someday. I’d love to take another look at the natural areas that were important to me as a kid through the lens of a bird hunter. It’ll be an honor to join the ranks of other midwestern bird hunters who see Wisconsin’s incredible value.

Ruffed Grouse

Ruffed grouse are one of the most popular species to hunt in Wisconsin. They fill the state’s northern forests. One of the best areas to hunt for ruffed grouse is Price County. Price County and its 300,000 acres of hunting land is known to many as the “Ruffed Grouse Capital of the World.” There are other places to hunt ruffed grouse in Wisconsin, of course. However, it’s worth making it up to Price County if you’re hunting birds in Wisconsin.

The ruffed grouse season is broken up into two zones. Zone A, which is west of U.S. Highway 151, is open from September 16 through January 7, 2024. The daily bag limit is five birds, and the possession limit is 15 birds. Zone B is in the southeastern corner of the state. It is open from October 14 through December 8 with a daily bag limit of two birds and a possession limit of six birds. 

Read the full Project Upland article for more info on Wisconsin Bird Hunting

 

 

WI 2023 11% decrease statewide in ruffed grouse drumming activity from 2022

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that data is now available from annual spring surveys of Wisconsin ruffed grouse, pheasant and waterfowl.

The spring surveys showed ruffed grouse and pheasant counts below the 5-year average, including an 11% decrease statewide in ruffed grouse drumming activity from 2022.

The decreases observed in the ruffed grouse and pheasant populations in this year's surveys were not unexpected.

“We are entering the down phase of the 10-year abundance cycle,” said Brian Dhuey, DNR Wildlife Surveys Specialist. “It is likely we will continue to see some declines in abundance in the coming years before we start to see increases, with the peak of the next cycle likely coming around 2029, 2030 or 2031. While the number of birds detected is down overall, there will still be pockets of good ruffed grouse abundance, although these areas will be fewer and harder to find this fall.”

Read the WI DNR report   

 

RGS Hiring Integrated Forest Habitat Biologist – 2 Positions WI

Job Type: Integrated Forest Habitat Biologist – 2 Positions
Locations: Hayward, WI and Rhinelander, WI
Supervisors: Jon Steigerwaldt – Forest Conservation Director
Region: Great Lakes/Upper Midwest
Starting Date: March 20, 2023
Term of Position: March 2023 to July 2024, likely to be extended with additional funding
Background and Primary Duties:
Established in 1961, the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) is North America’s foremost conservation
organization dedicated to creating healthy forests, abundant wildlife, and promoting a conservation
ethic. Together with the American Woodcock Society (AWS), established in 2014, RGS & AWS work
with private landowners and government agencies to develop critical wildlife habitat utilizing
scientific management practices.
The Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS) in partnership with the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), are looking to hire 2 motivated individuals to
work effectively with private landowners, industrial land owners, multiple state property managers,
multiple county forests, and the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest on forest habitat
improvement initiatives. The Integrated Forest Habitat Biologist will function as a biologist,
technical service provider, and forest habitat manager across multiple forest ownerships in
Northern Wisconsin. The position will work with and under existing conservation staff to provide
habitat/timber treatment planning, habitat project administration, contract development and
oversight support, on-the-ground field assessments, stand evaluations, project prescriptions and
layout for improving habitat, biological surveys, and conduct public outreach.
These term positions will implement vegetation management project planning, design, and
monitoring on a diversity of forest lands. Active forest management efforts will be implemented to
achieve wildlife, silviculture and timber objectives. In particular, the position will focus on restoring
forest structure, composition, and age-class diversity to assist the recovery of Eastern forest birds
and other forest wildlife that are dependent on specific forest types such as early successional, open,
or fire dependent ecosystems within the northern forest types of Wisconsin.
Qualifications:
• A passion for wildlife conservation and forestry.
• Knowledge in the field of Wildlife Management, including: habitat management, young forest
habitat management, deer management, vegetation surveys, and wildlife surveys. Experience
in conservation biology and/or plan writing are a plus.
• Knowledge in the field of Forest Management, including: forest inventory, timber marking,
GPS data collection, forest operations, and silviculture. Ability to assess wildlife habitat and
make connections between forest management and wildlife habitat needs. Experience in
environmental regulations and/or project management are a plus.
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills, well organized, and ability to engage a
diversity of stakeholders, private land owners, and public lands managers.
• Knowledge of project planning prerequisites such as NEPA, National Heritage Inventory,
and cultural resources reviews as they pertain to public and private lands.
• Ability to track accomplishments and produce reports with guidance from other team
members.

Read the full job post including how to apply