When I'm in the woods, I stop and listen a lot.
Once while ginseng digging and once while mushroom hunting,
I was able to see a Ruffed Grouse up close in the wild like this.
First I had to be lucky enough to hear them rustling in the leaves before
they saw or heard me, and then be patient enough to freeze
and see if they would come my way. This painting is in Hoot's Woods,
the only virgin woodland in Owen County.

The large Beech tree in the background had recently died,
creating an opening in the canopy and allowing new growth,
the grouse's preferred habitat.