Could've been a partridge (ruffed grouse), Charlie. They will often sleep snuggled under the snow where it's warm and wake up and explode upwards on the wing out of it if something comes near (like a little mouse walking over top..)

Happened once when I was a teenager that I stepped on one and it shot up from almost right under my snowshoe. Scared the living shit outta me, it being such a quiet morning in the bush that day, after a thick light snowfall overnight. Ended up on my back in the snow wondering what the hell happened till i saw the partrige in the cedar tree above me.