Three blocks of the Douglas County Forest are designated as Special Grouse Management Areas. Enrolled in the Ruffed Grouse Society’s Special Management Area Program, they include:

• Spruce River (18,200 Acres)
• Poplar River (1,700 Acres)
• Empire Swamp (8,200 Acres)

Management objectives for each area are to enhance habitat for ruffed grouse and woodcock by:

• Maintaining and expanding aspen and oak acreage
• Establishing harvest areas of varying sizes and with irregular boundaries to maximize the creation of forest edge
• Discouraging encroachment by coniferous species in to the aspen and oak types
• Creating and maintaining structural and age class diversity in the aspen and oak types
• Managing motorized access