Ruffed grouse were historically found throughout Indiana where sufficiently large tracts of forest existed. Young-forest and other early successional habitats were sustained through time by Native American agricultural practices, windstorms and fires of both “natural” and native American origin.

The onset and expansion of post-European settlement agriculture in the state drastically reduced suitable forest habitats and, today, ruffed grouse are largely restricted to a small portion of south-central Indiana. American woodcock breed at relatively low densities throughout Indiana where suitable habitats exist.

Populations of ruffed grouse and woodcock in Indiana have declined by 73 percent and 81 percent respectively over the past several decades. These continuing declines are concurrent with and largely a result of significant declines in seedling-sapling deciduous forest. Indiana has lost 56 percent of its young deciduous forests since the mid 1980s. These young-forest habitats are essential to ruffed grouse, woodcock and numerous other species, including the seriously imperiled golden-winged warbler, which is listed as state-endangered in both Indiana and Ohio.

The loss of young-forest habitats is due to significant reductions in the use of even-aged habitat management practices. Breeding Bird Survey data for Bird Conservation Region 24 (Central Hardwoods) show that since 1980, 41 percent of the bird species that nest in shrub-dominated or young-forest habitats have decreased. ON the other hand, only 10 percent of the bird species that nest in mature forests have decreased during this period. Conversely, 36 percent of the species that nest in mature forests have increased, while only 18 percent of the species that nest in young forests have increased. These data do not suggest that we ignore the demonstrated conservation needs of species characteristic of mature forest habitats. But the data clearly document the need to address the ongoing declines of young forest habitats and dependent wildlife.

Loss of young-forest habitats in or adjacent to riparian areas is especially problematic for ruffed grouse and woodcock. Woodcock feed primarily in soils where moisture is sufficient to keep earthworms available near the surface. Ruffed grouse commonly use riparian area habitats as these sites support abundant succulent herbaceous vegetation, an important food source for grouse throughout the year. In addition, riparian areas are often characterized by a relatively cool microclimate, which benefit ruffed grouse, particularly in the southern portions of their range. Although riparian areas unquestionably warrant special protections, broad-brush policies that preclude habitat management activities from these sites are ecologically unjustifiable and merely exacerbate decline of ruffed grouse, woodcock and other wildlife of young forests.

Hunter participation drops as populations of game wildlife decline. Deer hunter numbers are relatively stable across the United States as a result of abundant white-tailed deer. Turkey hunter numbers are increasing as turkeys become more widespread and more numerous. Small game hunter numbers, however, have declined by 50 percent since the mid 1980s as populations of quail, ruffed grouse, woodcock and other small game wildlife have, likewise, declined.

Hunter days increased by 19 percent in the 1990s on National Forests in Region 9. Similar increases occurred in five of the other nine Forest Service regions. Hunting is the primary form of dispersed recreation on many tracts of public land and will remain so as access to private lands becomes increasingly restricted. Resource professionals responsible for the management of public lands must recognize the unique role these lands play in protecting our hunting heritage.