That for some people a ruffed grouse is just another bird of the forest, or perhaps dinner on a plate, while for others it is an object of mystery and adoration, is never more evident than during the hunting season for these fan-tailed fowl, which opened Saturday.
This disconnect between factions that pursue Ol' Ruff — which generally can be divided into foot walkers and scabbard-toting ATV riders — might go a long way toward explaining why so few wing shooters are pursuing these birds today.
In 2020, 63,428 grouse hunters went afield in the state, a fraction over the 2019 record low of 61,608.
