In my personnel observation an opinion here in Ohio, the strip mining and clear cutting has completely stopped. This method made great habitat and over the next 25 30 years the habitat changed. I also believe west Nile or some other plight has played a role in the decline of ruff grouse. Lastly Grouse hunters along with turkey hunter here in Ohio, have contacted DNR which falls on death ears due to the sales of hunting licenses. Heaven forbid licensing sales decline. The reality is licenses sales are declining, which has caused price to go out of sight for resident hunters.
Grouse hunting got me obsessed with SxS shotguns! I prey they bounce back but I have not heard a grouse drum in Ohio for more years than I can remember