I could find more than one Grouse in Pa in 15 years by walking backward thru the woods with my ears plugged.
In all honesty...........we can't.
I've been putting a bear gang together since 2003 or 2004. We average 10-18 guys depending on the year. We pound the very same types of habitats you'd walk if you had a dog and a shotgun for grouse. At the end of the day, EVERY YEAR......... I specifically ask the entire group if anyone saw a grouse. In all those 18 or 19 years, we are at a grand total of ZERO grouse seen. That's a WHOLE LOT of man hours in good habitat to have never flushed a single grouse.
In the mid-80's three of us would take a few hour walk with an American Cocker and have 20-30 flushes or more...........
