Report Nr. 3234 Review of the 1994 Grouse and Woodcock Season With Prospects for 1995

In 1994, Michigan had 193 cooperators that filled out special hunter report cards to gather additional information about ruffed grouse and woodcock hunting. Cooperators spent an average of 40 hours hunting last fall which was five hours more than in 1993. The average grouse hunter spends 18 hours afield each fall. Flush rat 35 per hour of hunting for ruffed grouse were up 37 percent statewide, and up 42 percent and 22 percent in Regions I (Upper Peninsula) and II (Northern Lower Peninsula) respectively. For woodcock, the flush rate statewide was down 8 percent (1.30 birds per hour) - down 15 percent in Regions I and II.