Years ago while logging I cut a pine and while watching it fall I saw a grouse flush. Walked over and it had a nest at the base of another pine. I sprinkled a few pine needles on the nest to see if she came back. She hadn't moved any of the needles the next morning and so I wrapped 11 eggs up in a sweatshirt and hauled em out on the skidder. Took em to my dads that evening and 3 days later 1 hatched. We kept it 11 years inside the house. What an experience. I learned alot of grouse language; fun in the fall while bow hunting talking to young birds. This was a Ruffed Grouse! Not many round here at all now. I worked with the NCWRC during that time and I remember telling the small game biologist about "Ruff" and he didn't believe me till I took him pictures. It was fearless. Would fight anything and eat anything.
God Bless, Louis
