- General Info
- Licenses, Permits & Fees
- Hunting Regulations
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Seasons & Limits
- Deer Hunting Season Dates
- Big Game Season Dates
- Turkey Hunting Seasons
- Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons & Bag Limits
- Furbearer Trapping Season Dates & Bag Limits
- Small Game Season Dates & Limits
- Waterfowl Hunting Zone Descriptions
- Special Seasons Designated for Young Hunters
- Bear Hunting Season Dates
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Features
- 2020 Why I Hunt/Trap
- Chronic Wasting Disease
- The 10 Commandments of Firearm Safety
- DEC Adopts New Deer Management Plan
- Doe or Fawn?
- Tree Stand Safety
- Fisher Management in New York
- Working Together to Protect Wildlife and People
- Attention Rabbit Hunters
- Spruce Grouse vs. Ruffed Grouse
- Changes in Atlantic Population Canada Goose Seasons
- Moose in New York
- Junior Hunter/Trapper Opportunities
- PDF Downloads
Spruce Grouse vs. Ruffed Grouse
Male spruce grouse are very distinctive (mostly black with white markings and a red comb over each eye), but female spruce grouse are similar in color to ruffed grouse. By knowing the differences, hunters can avoid accidentally shooting spruce grouse. Loss of a female spruce grouse could be a significant setback for a small local population.
In New York State, the spruce grouse is an endangered species and not legal to hunt. Spruce grouse exist in lowland conifer forests in the Adirondacks. Although ruffed grouse occur in upland hardwoods statewide, during the fall and winter ruffed grouse may be found in spruce grouse habitat. Small game hunters in the Adirondack region must learn to distinguish between these species so that spruce grouse are not shot by mistake.

