Photo by T.C. FLANIGAN

Avid grouse hunters are like enthusiastic bird dogs in that both always have ruffs on their minds. So even though right now it is late summer/early autumn in this region, here are some activities we can engage in toward having a more productive grouse season -- not only this year but also in the future.

The past four years during this time, I have engaged in some habitat development projects on hunting land that I own. Obviously, many hunters don't possess rural properties, but from my experience, landowners are quite willing to entertain the notion of folks coming by their holdings and volunteering to conduct habitat enhancement activities. What's not to like about free labor?

Before beginning any project that will benefit grouse, contact your local fish and game department, a state forester or a local extension office. Individuals there will be glad to proffer information on what hard- and soft-mast producers will do best for your area, as well as what native plants would most benefit ruffs.

A number of native warm-season grasses are indigenous to this region, including switch grass, Indian grass and big and little bluestem. These are so-called "bunch grasses," which means that each seed will with luck create a plant that features many stems.

These native grasses will often grow between 4 to 6 feet high, which make excellent places for young grouse to forage for insects in the spring and summer and to hide. Land can be prepared now (such as spraying weeds and spreading lime) and the seed planted after the first hard frost in the spring. Native grasses can be planted in tiny openings next to dense cover.

Deer and turkey hunters often conduct thinning operations where less desirable trees, such as poplars and ashes, are removed to give oaks more room to spread their crowns and produce more nuts. Grouse hunters might want to adapt this tactic as well and eradicate undesirable plants from around grape arbors and dogwood and cherry trees -- three preferred soft-mast menu items of grouse in this region. (Continued)

CREATE WINTER COVER
Another activity I have undertaken of late is the creation of winter shelter for grouse and songbirds. Last September, for example, I cut a number of evergreens so that they would fall into each other, thus developing dense thickets where grouse could escape from the snow, wind and inclement weather. I also hinge-cut some cedars so that they lay parallel to the ground, often touching each other -- more excellent cover for birds to hide in.

White pines are native to this region and provide excellent winter cover. Although they should not be planted until later in the fall, now is a good time to identify and prepare potential planting sites.

Additionally, while you have out your chainsaw and are cutting cedars, consider felling some drumming logs. This past fall, for example, while a friend and I were in the midst of a thinning operation, he asked me if I had been downing any potential drumming logs for fool hen males. Embarrassed, I replied no. My buddy then proceeded to cut down several large poplars for that purpose.