Public tool collects flush rates, hunter effort data



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Grouse/woodcock dashboard improves hunt for all

As grouse and woodcock hunting ramp up in Michigan, hunters are encouraged to submit their field experiences to an online dashboard that aims to improve the hunt for everyone.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources launched the Michigan Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock Dashboard [ [link removed] ] in 2025, replacing a longtime paper survey. Hunters made more than 1,100 submissions about hunter effort and flush rates in the first year of the digital tool.

The publicly accessible dashboard provides near real-time data summaries allowing hunters to compare their hunting experiences and identify places to hunt grouse and woodcock. Hunting season for both upland birds opened Sept. 15.

“We a had a strong response in our first year of the program and hope for even more participation this year,” said Adam Bump, DNR upland game bird specialist. “The more hunters who participate, the better the information and the more useful the dashboard becomes.”

Michigan hunters have a long history of collaborating with the DNR to share information on their ruffed grouse and woodcock season experiences. Flush rates offer hunters a standard way to evaluate activity in different areas. By submitting observations, hunters can see how their experiences compare with others in their favorite counties for hunting and across Michigan.

Participation is voluntary, and the survey is designed to be quick and easy to use. Many grouse and woodcock hunters already keep track of flush rates, so reporting requires little extra effort.

*How to report*

* Open the Michigan Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock Dashboard [ [link removed] ].
* Select Submit a Report to begin a report.
* Enter hunt details: Add the date, county, hours hunted, information on use of dogs or accompanying hunters, and the number of flushes you observed for each species.
* Check your entries, then tap Submit.
* Use the dashboard to view totals by county and compare flushes per hour across Michigan. See grouse, woodcock or both species’ flush rates. Compare with hunters who use dogs, or with those who don’t. This standardized metric helps hunters compare their own experiences with those of others.

Open the dashboard ► [ [link removed] ]

*Season details*

In 2026, ruffed grouse hunting in Michigan is open Sept. 15 – Nov. 14 and Dec. 1 – Jan. 1. Woodcock hunting is open Sept. 15 – Oct. 29. Find bag limits, hunting regulations and more in the 2026 Michigan Small Game Hunting Regulations Summary [ [link removed] ].


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