As publishedOct 17-Nov 30, 2026
Native wild population (not stocked).Hunters asked to voluntarily report harvests via the Ruffed Grouse Hunter Log. CT Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp required.
Confirmed absence of a pre-season population survey: DEEP runs no drumming-count-route program for ruffed grouse, Connecticut's one native huntable upland species with a real wild population — only a passive public sighting-report channel and a post-season voluntary Ruffed Grouse Hunter Log (harvest/effort data, not a spring population index). Re-checked 2026-08-19 via fresh search; nothing beyond DEEP's existing fact-sheet infrastructure found.