We have he same problem in PA with grouse numbers down. You got it made in that open coiuntry MD. Our grouse hang out in the thick woods/mountain laurel thickets. You may occasionally get one flushing down an old logging road or strip mine but not often.
Cayugad - I had a big chocolate male lab (110 lbs) that had that grouse thing figured out. We had a favorite spot with a long grassy road with briars on both sides. Grouse loved to hang out in the briars. After walking ahead of me and scenting one in the briars he would dive in after it and it would flush out the other side without me even seeing it. After a couple of times he got wise to them and when he smelled them he doubled back behind me, went on the other side of the briars and flushed them out so they flew right down the road giving me an easy going straight away shot. But alas, that big brute of a dog has passed on along with all my other labs. I have a black female now that's smart as a whip but for some reason she is gun shy and I have to try and break her of it. She's getting better but not quite there yet.