Photo by Ron Sinfelt

The leaves are falling rapidly and hunters can feel the crisp chill in the autumn morning air. Upland hunters know it is finally time to chase ruffed grouse in New England.

Some parts of New England are blessed with good populations of grouse. States lacking suitable cover have undergone thinning of mature hardwood stands and new seedlings have been planted. Some hunters and biologists believe this fall could be one of the better grouse-hunting seasons in recent years.

Here is a look at a few places to go for good grouse gunning in New England this October.

MAINE
Dickwood WMA
Maine traditionally offers some of the best grouse hunting in New England. One noteworthy hunting spot is the 4,300-acre Dickwood Wildlife Management Area, which sits close to the Canadian border. This region has a well-balanced mix of hardwood and evergreen forests. It also contains many small ponds and brooks to keep the birds supplied with water. Nearby timbered forest plots are also worth hunting.

Access to the area is a few miles north of Eagle Lake. From southern Maine, follow Interstate Route 95 to Houlton. Travel north on Route 1 to Presque Isle and then head west on Route 163 to Route 11. Drive north on Route 11 into the town of Eagle Lake.

Hunters may access Dickwood WMA by turning left onto Devoe Brook Road in Eagle Lake Center. That road leads into the southern portion of the forest.

Another option is to drive through Eagle Lake on Route 11 for about seven miles to Wallagrass Lake Road. Turn left toward the northern end of the forest.

Both the north and south access roads are passable with two-wheel-drive vehicles. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, you can drive into the center of the forest on Gilmore Brook Road about three miles north of Eagle Lake on Route 11.

North Woods
The area north of Moosehead Lake in Piscataquis and Somerset counties is often referred to as the North Woods. It is the most lightly populated area of the state and is marked by large tracts of spruce and fir forest. Generally, this area provides excellent hunting opportunities for ruffed grouse.

Access to the southern portion of the region around the lake often requires landowner permission. However, in the northern forest, most of the land is owned or managed by commercial timber companies. Hunting is readily permitted. Here you will find hundreds of gravel roads, which can be traversed by both four- and two-wheel-drive vehicles. Walking is an option on gated roadways.

Over the past 30 years, large tracts of mature forest have been harvested for pulp, lumber and other timber products. Today, hunters will find an abundance of young, regenerating stands in the region. This re-forestation has created a healthy and thriving grouse population.

To get to the big woods, take I-95 to Exit 39 in Newport. Travel east on Route 7 to Route 6 in Dover-Foxcroft and then follow Route 6 northward to Moosehead Lake in Greenville. From here, you can travel along either side of the lake to access hunting grounds.

The east side of the lake leads hunters to Piscataquis County and forests along Prong Pond Mountain, Number Four Mountain and the Penobscot River valley. The west side of the lake leads into Somerset County near Ironbound Mountain and the Green Mountain complex.

This is a remote area of Maine with few facilities. Come prepared with all the necessities for a day's hunt (spare gas, food, water, etc).

VERMONT
Arthur Davis WMA
This 7,788-acre parcel is owned and managed by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. It is in south-central Vermont, in the towns of Reading and Plymouth. The forest also shares a boundary with the Plymsbury Wildlife Management Area. In combination, these parcels make up one of the largest blocks of undeveloped state-owned land in southern Vermont.