This state's classification carries no date range for the species.
WI DNR's ruffed grouse page explicitly warns hunters to know the difference between ruffed grouse and spruce grouse 'to avoid the accidental harvest of spruce grouse' because it is a state-threatened species. Present in Wisconsin but not legally huntable.
Higher confidence than a prior-pass "research gap" framing: a direct search on 2026-08-19 confirms "there are currently no standardized, range-wide protocols that monitor Spruce Grouse populations" in Wisconsin, despite the species' state-threatened status (listed 1997) and DNR's own ruffed-grouse ID guidance warning hunters against accidental spruce-grouse harvest (implying presence-awareness, not active survey infrastructure). Closed to hunting statewide.