STATE PARKS
There are seven state parks within the Laurel Highlands, most of which are strung out along Laurel Ridge. While some of these parks, such as Kooser and Laurel Summit, are too small to offer good hunting opportunities, the larger parks, such as 1,183-acre Keystone State Park or 3,935-acre Laurel Hill State Park, offer pockets of habitat that will occasionally hold a grouse or two. However, the largest park in the region at 19,052 acres and the largest state park in Pennsylvania, Ohiopyle State Park can provide hunters with a full day behind a bird dog.

Situated along state Route 381, Ohiopyle is a focal point for much of the activity in the Laurel Highlands. It has world-class white water that attracts rafters and kayakers from all over the world to brave its Class III and IV rapids. In addition, the Youghiogheny River Trail, which cuts through the middle of the park parallel to the river, is one of the most popular "Rails-to-Trails" routes in the state.

Doug Hoehn, a retired Ohiopyle park manager, recommended "the old Mitchell area" near the canoe and raft takeout spot along the river, noting that "there are some old fields in there that are growing up," and that the Ruffed Grouse Society and Pheasants Forever have been working with the park on a cooperative habitat project in this area.

The other spot that Hoehn singled out is the steep ridge adjacent to the Youghiogheny River Trail. Although much of this hillside is covered with mature timber, there are numerous locations where thick grapevine tangles hold grouse. It's not unusual for bikers to have their ride interrupted by birds flying or walking across the trail. Intrepid hunters will strap their shotguns to their bikes in order to get to these areas, which are accessible via the bike trail.

FORBES STATE FOREST
The 20-plus tracts that make up Forbes State Forest stretch from the Mason-Dixon line on the south to north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike near Jennerstown. There are a number of locations within the forest that are good bets for grouse, including some of the steep ridges between state Route 31 and the turnpike, and some gypsy moth- and ice-damaged areas surrounding Mt. Davis.

One notable hotspot for grouse is the area in and around the Quebec Run Natural Area on the southern edge of the forest west of Route 381. This is a different kind of grouse hunting from much of the rest of the Laurel Highlands. Rather than the typical stands of dense saplings and clawing briars, this section of woods has more mature trees with a dense understory of the mountain laurel that gave the region its name.

While this might seem like habitat more conducive to hunting squirrels or deer than grouse, this is the hidden secret of the Laurel Highlands.

In good mast years, there is plenty for the birds to eat because many of the mature trees along the ridges here are oaks that supply critical acorns for grouse. And the dense laurel thickets, the thickest of which are virtually impenetrable, provide the cover that grouse need to protect them from predators.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
There are a number of small sporting goods stores scattered across the Laurel Highlands, but the 50,000-square-foot Woodlands World adjacent to the Nemacolin Resort on Route 40 is a good source of supplies in the area.

For more information on Pennsylvania's grouse hunting seasons and regulations, contact the Southwest Region office of the Pennsylvania Game Commission at (877) 877-7137.

For information on food and lodging in the region, as well as maps of the state parks and state forest, call the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau at (724) 238-5661.