Don't expect to get a shot every 15 minutes, but hunters who target the best cover will find birds.

For more information about the 28,000-acre Zaleski State Forest, contact the ODOW's District Four office, or the forest headquarters at Zaleski State Forest, P.O. Box 330, State Route 278, Zaleski, Ohio 45698; or call (740-596-5781).

The ingredients for a successful grouse hunt include knowing where the birds are and a willingness to work to get to them.

For more information regarding 16,120-acre Tar Hollow State Forest, contact the ODOW's District Four office, or the forest headquarters at Tar Hollow State Forest, 2731 Stoney Creek Road, Chillicothe, OH 45601: or call 1-877-247-8733.

Timbering also occurs on the lands commonly known as the Mead Paper Company Lands. These private company holdings in Vinton and Jackson counties have been opened to public hunting through agreements with the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

However, ownership of these lands has changed several times in the last few years, and so access to these lands and hunting regulations are constantly changing. Some of the lands are leased, closed or owned by another company.

Reynolds suggests calling the ODOW's District Four office for the most current updates. You will then get an accurate update on specific tracts open to public hunting.

These lands are definitely worth an outing. Recent timbering activity has created some solid grouse habitat.

DISTRICT THREE
Southeastern Ohio is the focal point of grouse hunting in Ohio, but there is some equally good grouse hunting in northeastern Ohio's District Three.

Biologist Reynolds and Jeff Janosik, a District Three area manager, agree that Brush Creek Wildlife Area is the best place to be for great grouse gunning this fall.

Janosik conducts annual drumming surveys each spring. During the latest survey at Brush Creek, he heard grouse at three out of 10 stops. He has also heard drumming birds while turkey hunting on the property.

Brush Creek contains 4,131 acres of primarily wooded rolling landscape in Columbiana County. Brush Creek runs through the center of the property, but the key for grouse hunters are the area's 18 forest management sites -- 4- to 10-acre plots that have been cut to create younger, thicker stands. These sites are now about six years old, so the cover is nearly perfect for grouse.

These sites include cut poplar stands where the landscape has filled in with raspberries and blackberries. The oak stands that have been cut are now full of sapling oaks. All of the forest management sites are conveniently marked with white signs and are scattered throughout the property.

Janosik welcomes calls from hunters interested in visiting this area. He is willing to mark maps of the forest management areas so they can get in on the action this fall.

He noted out that as it turns colder, the southeastern slopes seem to hold the most birds. As always, the slopes covered with blowdowns and grapevine thickets should be prime cold-weather targets. Also, most grouse seem to hold in the mid-slope areas.

Access to Brush Creek Wildlife Area is provided by state Route 164, which skirts the northwestern edge of the area. Follow township roads 293 or 298 southeast to reach the heart of the property.

For a map or more information, contact the ODOW's District Three office at 912 Portages Lakes Drive, Akron, OH 44319; or call (330) 644-2293. Hunters may also call Janosik at the Highlandtown Wildlife Area office at (330) 679-2201.