doug, the reason for decline in grouse is many reasons . 1 is a lot more hunters with dogs now hunting grouse. back when we had lots of grouse, there was very few grouse dogs.most of hunters hunted from their cars ,road hunting. thats how grouse was hunted then.next, ton more predators. they are doing job on grouse peeps.you had bountys on the fox and raccoons i used to get 12 dollars a pelt for racoon.not anymore.hawks are here now in great numbers. 40 years ago i very seldom ever saw a hawk. now, lots of hawks.coyotes all over. PREDATORS.next, habitat is not great in most areas for grouse. if DCNR would cut down maples and let sun in, berries would grow. we just had some big fires here this month in pa. those areas will be great hunting for grouse in few years. why, berries will grow.FEED/COVER.last but not least. when grouse numbers declined over last 15 years this is when PGC should have done their job. they should have reduced the number of grouse harvestedor closed season so numbers would grow. or as i say for deer hunting. 1 deer and your done or 1 grouse and your done. sadly, its to bad we cant tell if grouse is male or female.if females were left go, grouse would improve.so, to sum it up. its , hunting ,low numbers,predators, habitat.lets all get our our politicians to get DCNR to cut down the maples and turn state into a hunting state not a tree for money state. its this simple, its trees or hunting. you WILL not have both if you expect hunting to get better.right now, dcnr tree group is winning and hunting may get a lot worst than it is now.