Fall and winter food habits of ruffed grouse in northern Utah

The crops of 41 ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) were collected during the fall hunting seasons of 1962-64 in northern Utah. An additional five crops were collected from birds shot during the winter months. Rose (Rosa woodsei) hips were the most important item in the fall diet, followed by aspen (Populus tremuloides) leaves and the fruit of meadow rue (Thalictrum fendleri). Grouse sign observed on the snow during the winter months showed grouse highly preferred the buds and twig tips of aspen and chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)