"The corridors along streams and rivers have moist soils that promote the kind of transitional cover that grouse thrive in," said Smith. "Water is the key."

Look for good grouse coverts along major rivers like the Muskegon, Manistee, Au Sable and Tittabawassee and their tributaries in the northern L.P. An abundance of shrubs and bushes like nannyberry, dogwood, wild grape and others that produce soft mast crops attract grouse. The brushy habitat also produces ideal brood cover and an abundance of insects critical to grouse chick survival. As grouse disperse in early fall, look for them in the second-growth aspen stands nearby.

Smith said he had fairly decent hunting last season considering the low grouse numbers in Osceola, Lake, Missaukee and Wexford counties. Grouse can be spotty in Wexford County, except along the watersheds. Expect good grouse hunting in the northeast and southeast portions of Missaukee County and in the northeast portion of Lake County. Osceola County doesn't have much in the way of public lands, but you'll find some good grouse coverts along the Muskegon River on private lands. A courteous request may get you permission to hunt.

For more information on hunting opportunities in western Michigan, contact the Baldwin field office of the DNR at (231) 745-4651 or the Cadillac District office at (231) 775-9727.

Many grouse hunters head to the northern part of the L.P. to do their grousing. That's a good idea.

"We have some excellent habitat for grouse," said wildlife biologist Mark Boersen. "There's a good diversity of age-classes in the aspen cuts, and there's a lot of it. Unfortunately, we have a lot of hunting pressure, too."

Boersen said he largely oversees Roscommon and Ogemaw counties. Of the two, Roscommon has the most aspen. "You'll find a lot of aspen in Roscommon County west of Higgins Lake and south of Houghton Lake," offered Boersen. You can find some good grouse hunting in the Ogemaw State Forest along the Rifle River. Much of Ogemaw County, though, is jackpine habitat. Good for Kirkland's warblers, but not grouse.

After enduring a pretty slow 2004 season, Boersen expects improved hunting in 2005. "The winter wasn't very severe, the snow depths weren't outrageous and the temperatures were bearable, so I'd expect that winter mortality was minimal. With a good spring, I think we'll see more birds."

For more information on grouse hunting opportunities in northern Michigan, contact the Roscommon field office at (989) 275-5151 or the Gaylord District office at (989) 732-3541.

One place where even an ideal spring isn't likely to help grouse numbers is in Michigan's Thumb. The Thumb's grouse numbers have been in a tailspin for nearly a decade and don't seem likely to recover. When I asked wildlife biologist Arnie Karr if he had noticed any changes in grouse abundance last season, his quick reply was, "No improvement. The cover seems to be there. Winters have not been a problem. The weather last spring had a major affect on ground-nesting birds like pheasants and grouse, but it normally doesn't affect grouse as much because of the type of habitat they live in." Still, a rebound in grouse numbers in Michigan's Thumb doesn't seem likely anytime in the near future.

For information on public-hunting opportunities in The Thumb, contact the Cass City field office at (989) 872-5300.

An avid grouse hunter once told me, "If God made a more delicious bird, he kept it for himself." If we have a normal spring this year, grouse hunters should have more opportunities to fry, roast and bake their favorite game bird this fall.