Upland Birds
Ruffed Grouse hunting regulations.
Huntable in 33 states · 33 with a general season.
Hunting regulations change. The information on this page reflects what we know about species presence and hunt availability based on state agency listings. For current season dates, bag limits, weapon restrictions, tag requirements, and reporting obligations, verify directly with your state wildlife agency. You are responsible for confirming current regulations before hunting.
State by state
Where ruffed grouse is huntable.
Tap a state for ruffed grouse-specific regulations and a link to the agency. Bield does not yet ship specific season dates or bag limits — verify with the agency before hunting.
- AlaskaAlaska Department of Fish and GameYGeneral seasonVerify →
- ColoradoColorado Parks and WildlifeYGeneral seasonVerify →
- ConnecticutCT DEEP Wildlife DivisionYGeneral seasonVerify →
- GeorgiaGeorgia DNR Wildlife Resources DivisionYGeneral seasonVerify →
- IdahoIdaho Department of Fish and GameYGeneral seasonVerify →
- IndianaIndiana DNR Fish and WildlifeYGeneral seasonVerify →
- IowaIowa DNRYGeneral seasonVerify →
- KentuckyKentucky Department of Fish and WildlifeYGeneral seasonVerify →
- MaineMaine Department of Inland Fisheries and WildlifeYGeneral seasonVerify →
- MarylandMaryland DNR Wildlife and Heritage ServiceYGeneral seasonVerify →
- MassachusettsMassWildlifeYGeneral seasonVerify →
- MichiganMichigan DNRYGeneral seasonVerify →
- MinnesotaMinnesota DNRYGeneral seasonVerify →
- MissouriMissouri Department of ConservationYGeneral seasonVerify →
- MontanaMontana Fish, Wildlife & ParksYGeneral seasonVerify →
- New HampshireNew Hampshire Fish and GameYGeneral seasonVerify →
- New JerseyNJ Division of Fish and WildlifeYGeneral seasonVerify →
- New YorkNY DECYGeneral seasonVerify →
- North CarolinaNC Wildlife Resources CommissionYGeneral seasonVerify →
- North DakotaND Game and Fish DepartmentYGeneral seasonVerify →
- OhioOhio Division of WildlifeYGeneral seasonVerify →
- OregonOregon Department of Fish and WildlifeYGeneral seasonVerify →
- PennsylvaniaPennsylvania Game CommissionYGeneral seasonVerify →
- Rhode IslandRI DEM Division of Fish and WildlifeYGeneral seasonVerify →
- South DakotaSD Game, Fish and ParksYGeneral seasonVerify →
- TennesseeTennessee Wildlife Resources AgencyYGeneral seasonVerify →
- UtahUtah Division of Wildlife ResourcesYGeneral seasonVerify →
- VermontVermont Fish and WildlifeYGeneral seasonVerify →
- VirginiaVirginia Department of Wildlife ResourcesYGeneral seasonVerify →
- WashingtonWashington Department of Fish and WildlifeYGeneral seasonVerify →
- West VirginiaWV Division of Natural ResourcesYGeneral seasonVerify →
- WisconsinWisconsin DNRYGeneral seasonVerify →
- WyomingWyoming Game and Fish DepartmentYGeneral seasonVerify →
About the species
Ruffed grouse are forest-floor gamebirds occupying the boreal and temperate hardwood-conifer transition zones from the Great Lakes through New England and across Canada plus mountain ranges in the East and West. Mature birds weigh 17-21 ounces. Population follows roughly ten-year cycles tied to predator-prey dynamics and habitat regeneration.
Most range states run general seasons running fall into winter with bag limits typically 2-3 birds daily. Pointing dogs are productive but flushing dogs work as well — the country is thick and the birds hold close before flushing. The Northern hardwoods of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Maine are the strongholds of grouse-hunting tradition.
Pattern ruffed grouse on your land.
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