The ruffed grouse is nature's best at the art of camouflage.  The bird walks briskly throughout the forest and is nearly undetectable.  I have spent a lot of fall days walking through the woods in my pursuit of this bird, but really mostly just getting out enjoying the woods. It always seems to me that the most I ever get to see of him is the sound of thunder as he explodes out of the underbrush and just disappears.  Oh well, it was fun, and then again there is always another day to try and track him down.