MD: My guess is the forest matured. Grouse thrive in aspen 8-13 years best with mark decline at 18 years. 20,000 stems per hectare is a good density.
Early stage prime Deer and Ruffed Grouse habitat have much in common...As it matures the Deer can hang on, but the Grouse will dwindle.
There has been a good bit of clear cutting going on in the Pa ANF...5000 acres per year for a while...And the Marsellis gas boom made a lot of edge cover...the Deer started to come back in those areas...but the Grouse didn't even come close to historic numbers. And the Grouse can find a meal up higher than the Deer. In good cover there is more than enough food for both. Something else is getting the Grouse...Either that or their numbers went down below those required for abundant repopulation.
