This is just my opinon folks but I feel until the state does something about the predator problem in WI we will continue to have low populations of grouse and rabbits. Now I do not know about down south but up north here rabbits have been down for years. Oh there are some cotton tails but mostly where you cannot hunt them in the towns and citys ect. Snowshoe hares are almost nonexistant. Yea a pocket of them here and there but not even close to what they used to be cycle or no cycle they just are not there. Same with the grouse even on a high cycle the birds are not like they used to be. This year they should be on a upswing and are not. Not hard to figure when there were thousands of owls here this winter. :x Mix in the Wolves and Yotes and fox and Fishers ect ect along with all the owls, hawks and eagles we have in the state it is a real problem.