BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 21, 2021
The law requires hunters to identify their target before pulling the trigger. That means hunters must be able to distinguish a ruffed grouse from a spruce grouse. It is illegal to shoot spruce grouse, which are considered rare in some parts of the state. Male spruce grouse are slate gray and black and feature an unfeathered patch of red skin above the eye. Female spruce grouse are gray and brown above and white and brown below. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said they may resemble the red phase of ruffed grouse in some light conditions.