Sounds like Spruce Grouse don't "eat" as good as Ruffed. Do they feed on evergreen buds or something like that which imparts an undesirable flavor to the meat?
They don’t.
They’ll keep you alive, are relatively abundant in their range, and are not particularly wary.
When they’ve been on spruce needles for a bit they become “infused” with a turpentine -like smell. Not a “pleasant” pineyness like a mango, a more “robust” emanation.
That said, early season “cheepers” (young of year) are dark, but edible.
Depending on my mood, I like a hen Blue grouse or a Sharptail more than Ruffed grouse. Mostly because a Blue is 2x as big, and a Sharpie will eat like tender steak.
I’d have to be plenty hungry to start shooting Spruce grouse off limbs.
