I don't know much of anything about the status of knowledge on Spruce Grouse in Idaho. I just got back from the Appaloosa Horse Club's annual Chief Joseph Trail Ride and was reviewing pictures I had taken when I realized the grouse hen with 3 young that were in my camp site at "Howard's Camp" near Horseshoe Lake was a Spruce Grouse. You can view a couple of pictures on my photobucket site:

http://s165.photobucket.com/albums/u75/junewild/?action=view&current=Ptarmigan_female2.jpg

I was along the 500 road which follows the Nee-mee-poo trail and is known as the Lolo motorway. It's the route the Nez Perce took while fleeing the U.S. Army in the epic flight that ended in surrender at Bear Paw, Montana. As their reputation holds, this bird was very tame and allowed me to approach to within a few feet without any indication of being frightened.

Kelly McAllister
Olympia, Washington