As publishedArea 1: Aug 30, 2026 - Jan 31, 2027; Area 2: Aug 30, 2026 - Dec 31, 2026
Bag/possession limit is shared in aggregate across all 3 forest grouse species.Most common forest grouse in southern Idaho mountains, favoring high-elevation sagebrush/mountain shrub and Douglas fir. Formerly called 'blue grouse' - per the 2006 taxonomic split, Idaho's entire population is dusky grouse; sooty grouse (the coastal counterpart) does not occur in Idaho. Same Area 1 / Area 2 split and dates as ruffed grouse.
Forest grouse (dusky, ruffed, spruce) data comes from IDFG's post-season wing-barrel collection (juvenile:adult ratios), which is retrospective by design and feeds the following year's forecast narrative rather than standing alone as a pre-season 2026 report. That narrative sits inside the statewide/regional Upland Game Bird Forecast, which had not published as of 2026-08-19 (2025 edition published Sept 5, 2025); expected within the next 2-3 weeks.