sproulman
I have to agree with you on those points of grouse decline. One issue I would doubt is the dog issue. I don't believe that dog hunters have put a significant dent in the grouse population, just as it's not the "Alpha" deer hunter who significantly reduced the deer herd.

Habitat is key to grouse numbers. We all agree upon that point. So why when the PGC does a major cut do they not put in a few plants, shrubs and trees that the grouse would benefit from, such as Hawthornes, Highbush Cranberry and some Chokecherry? The agency talks a lot about habitat improvement, but doesn't seem to practice it much when it comes to grouse. The forest on Game Lands appears to be managed primarily for saleable timber. To prove my point, the chief concern these days is Red Oak regeneration. Won't deer and other wildlife eat White Oak acorns?

Do you know of any, or ever seen aHawthorne thicket on PA Game Lands?
Food plots aren't the answer. The forest must be managed for Game as well as for saleable timber. Our Game Land forests need to be much more diverse rather than be managed much like a plantation for a few specific type of marketable timber as is now the case.