Report Nr. 3024 Michigan Ruffed Grouse Hunter's Survey, 1983

A random sample of names was selected from the 1982 list of small game licensees. Even though these hunters were selected from the 1982 license file, they were asked about their hunting experiences during the 1983 ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) season. In 1983, grouse kill appeared to be somewhat proportional to the hunting effort. Examination of the Regional figures revealed much the same pattern. In Region II, the two December hunt periods accounted for 10 percent of the grouse bagged and 8 percent of the hunting effort. Corresponding figures for Region III were 24 percent of the bag and 22 percent of the hunter days. Examination of grouse kill per day hunted by season by Region revealed some interesting results. Upper Peninsula hunters bagged .43 grouse per day in the field compared with .50 in the Northern Lower Peninsula and .52 in the Southern lower Peninsula. Regions II and III success rates varied somewhat throughout the season. Region I grouse hunters appeared to be more successful as the season progressed.