Chronicle of the Ruffed Grouse in Eastern United States 



During Indian times the papahcogh was an important item in the 

 economic life of the Amerindians of the Northeast. How long this 

 relationship had existed before the advent of the white man is not 

 recorded, but it probably went back to an era when the aborigines 

 were far more primitive than when first observed by the Pilgrims in 

 1620. It may have begun when the people first moved in from the 

 West to settle what is now the northeastern United States. The 

 grouse, or at least a bird very closely related to our modem species, 

 has been recorded in remains from the Pleistocene period (circa 

 25,000 years ago ) from areas in both the eastern and western parts 

 of the country. 



It is highly probable that the native birds and mammals were 

 fairly stable elements in the environment of those times. At least we 

 find no evidence that the Indians either exterminated or seriously 

 threatened any species. Even though the giouse was a staple item 

 of food, the proportion of game to the sparse population of humans 

 was such that hunting was not a serious threat to it. The grouse and 

 its natural enemies, including man, lived in a rather harmonious 

 balance. There is evidence, however, that there were years when 

 game was scarce, and presumably grouse were included. Indian lore 

 tells of winters of famine, and Longfellow refers to them in his "Hia- 

 watha." It should be stated again, though, that such temporary 

 periods of scarcity were not likely due to overhunting. 



The White Men Come. When the Pilgrims came to Massachusetts 

 they found a land abounding in game. Of course there were not 

 many of them at that time, but still the hunting was wonderful for 

 the few that there were. Many of the old prints of the Pilgrim days 

 show the grouse, along with the deer and the turkey being brought 



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