It may be a shorter list of what ruffed grouse don't eat than eat, it is known that dogwood berries are a favored food of ruffed grouse. A large patch of dogwood will be a consistent draw for grouse (and robins) until the berries are gone though birds will still use it for cover. It is a "pioneer" plant which is one of the first to grow back in clearcuts. Iveshot many a grouse with a 22 either spot and stalking birds like deer or elk hunting out west or sitting in wait as if squirrel hunting.
Dogwoods are also one of the most important winter food sources of whitetail deer and are heavily browsed over a winter. One can be quite successful watching over said patches come November.
George, I've always thought that area was a biological desert rather than dessert though I have seen it mostly from the MN side.😀 That area is said to be the most likely to still hold wild bobwhites in MN though I don't see how. I believe it is wishful thinking based on the rare covey found in South Dakota.
