Management of tlie Ruffed Grouse 343 



by the removal of large-crowned "wolf" trees leave scattered small 

 clearings which quickly develop into thickets of brambles, shrubs, 

 and sprouts. Where two or three such trees are removed close to- 

 getlier, an opening results that will be particularly valuable to 

 grouse as a feeding area. When removing large, badly formed trees, 

 caution should be used not to take good den trees, i.e., those with 

 well-developed hollows in the trunk or major branches. The squir- 

 rels, owls, and raccoons that a good den tree may support are worth 

 far more than its wood value. At least two per acre should be left 

 if they are available. 



The group selection system of woodland harvest is conducive to 

 the improvement of food conditions in the woodland. Instead of 

 choosing crop trees singly, they are taken in small groups of three to 

 eight or ten (see Plate 45). When the group of trees removed is 

 small— up to about a quarter of an acre— the result is a woods with 

 many small glades. When the groups are larger— up to an acre or 

 more in size— the woodland is broken up with numerous small clear- 

 cuttings or slashings. These provide good grouse food conditions. 



The two conditions most to be avoided are extensive clear-cuttings 

 and the opposite extreme of no cutting at all. 



So far emphasis has been placed on the use of woodland-manage- 

 ment metliods for wood product harvest that will provide the best 

 distribution of openings and brushy cover. This is tlie most economi- 

 cal and practical method of improving and maintaining grouse cover, 

 and little or nothing need be charged to grouse management. If 

 more idealized grouse cover is desired, a deliberate system of cut- 

 tings for game management may be undertaken. Such cuttings will 

 seldom return their cost, for the added increment of grouse and 

 other game to the woodland income will not suffice. In circumstances 

 where the economics of cuttings for game management do warrant 

 it, a system of game clearings may be made. 



CLEARINGS FOR FOOD AND COVER IMPROVEMENT 



Studies have shown that grouse seldom penetrate a uniform wood- 

 land cover more than three hundred feet from an edge having some 

 brushy or open cover ( Edminster, 1935 ) . A plan for proper distribu- 

 tion of edges and clear-cuttings should thus provide that such units 

 be within six hundred feet apart to provide for full use by grouse of 



