REGIONAL—Hunters may need to work a little harder to reach their bag limit of ruffed grouse when the season opens Sept. 19. According to DNR wildlife officials, the ruffed grouse population is in the declining phase of their population cycle.
Even so, ruffed grouse numbers are coming off historically high numbers the past two-to-three years, so even in a period of decline, ruffed grouse numbers should still be relatively strong.
The DNR’s latest ruffed grouse counts found Minnesota’s spring 2026 population declined from its peak in 2024. Ruffed grouse drums per stop were 1.7 statewide, which is down slightly from last year. Drumming is a low sound produced by males as they beat their wings rapidly and in increased frequency to signal the location of their territory and attract females. 
Meanwhile, the drumming count in northeastern Minnesota averaged 1.9 drums per stop, which is just slightly under the two most recent statewide peaks of 2.1 drums per stop. Northwestern Minnesota had an even stronger drum count this year, with 2.4 drums per stop.
The DNR and its partners have conducted ruffed grouse surveys for 75 years to monitor the state’s breeding population. Through decades of surveys, DNR researchers have found that ruffed grouse populations tend to rise and fall in a cycle that typically ranges from 8-11 years.
“Drumming counts alone are not an accurate way to predict the birds that will be present during the fall hunting season,” said Charlotte Roy, DNR grouse project leader. “Nesting success and chick survival during the spring and summer are contributing factors that influence the number of birds present in the fall. These factors can be reduced by heavy rain during June, when nests hatch and chicks are young.” With much of the region experiencing drier-than-normal conditions so far this spring and early summer, chick survival was likely at least close to average.