As publishedSept 20–Feb 28 (Northern Zone); Oct 1–Feb 28 (Southern Zone, north of NYC/Long Island); Closed in NYC/Long Island
Closed in NYC/Long Island.Hunters in Adirondack WMUs 5C, 5F, 6F, and 6J must distinguish ruffed grouse from the similar-looking, state-endangered spruce grouse, which is illegal to take.
Governed by the citizen-science spring Drumming Survey (turkey hunters record drumming males heard afield in May) feeding the interactive NYS Ruffed Grouse Dashboard (ArcGIS Online) alongside the fall Cooperator flush-rate log -- a live, continuously-updated tool rather than a discrete annual report, so this closes not_yet_published on the “active monitoring, no dated report” basis rather than treating the dashboard's ongoing data as a publish event. The most recent complete season summary found via search is 2022 (154 hunters, 927 trips); no 2026-specific summary located. DEC's species page cites Breeding Bird Survey data showing a >75% statewide decline (-4.7%/year) since the 1960s as long-term background, not a 2026 finding.