Hi Yeti, Brian and others,
Yeti the Ruffed Grouse (Mountain Birds as a friend of mine refers to them) are always such a challenge to bring to hand.
I have as much luck with or without a dog, the dog makes finding them a bit eaiser when shot, and certainly more fun if the dog works close. I find much of the time they will flush with or without the dog.
I have a friens who guides and hunts very often, he had 414 flushes in 101 hours in the field and that was 3-4 weeks ago. An average of 4+ flushes per hour is pretty fine.
Jeff G.
