I have no idea how many Ruffed Grouse and Dusky Grouse (“fool hens”) I’ve snipped the heads off of with loaded down 357 and 44 revolvers. For that matter, I’ve snipped the heads off a good many forest grouse (both Ruffed and Dusky) with big game rifles as well - which makes a lot more noise, but works.
It’s not that hard to snip the heads off forest grouse with a handgun or rifle. You just walk up to within 10 or 15 feet of them, aim where their head connects to their neck, and squeeze the trigger. And don’t worry - even if you miss, they usually won’t fly away. So you’ll get a second, or sometimes even a third shot. Ruffed Grouse are usually a little more wary than Dusky Grouse, but not much.
Both Ruffed Grouse and Dusky Grouse are species’ of forest grouse, and in Idaho, it’s perfectly legal to shoot them with handguns or rifles - during the season of course. And the season coincides with deer season. There’s no better dinner than “fool hen” fried on a Coleman stove in a tent, or even on a propane range in a camp trailer in deer camp.
The only thing is, you have to be careful to not shoot low when you’re shooting mountain grouse with a big game rifle or large bore handgun. A 270 Winchester bullet to the chest of a “fool hen” doesn’t leave much for the old iron skillet back at camp. I suspect a bullet from a +P 38 Special load wouldn’t either.