Archives for October 2015

10/29/15

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RGS in the News

The original article “Ruffed grouse hunting: Habitat needs pines, old growth” by Dave Orrick was published by TwinCities.com and Pioneer Press Outdoors October 19, 2015 at 12:01 AM CDT: http://www.twincities.com/outdoors/ci_28991713/ruffed-grouse-hunting-habitat-needs-pines-old-growth and features an interview with Meadow Kouffeld-Hansen, RGS Minnesota regional biologist.

Meadow Kouffeld-Hansen doesn’t just hunt ruffed grouse with her husband and three Deutsch-Drahthaar pointing dogs; she studies the birds in Minnesota’s core range, the forest in the northern reaches of the state.

While working on her master’s degree in wildlife ecology at the University of Minnesota, Kouffeld-Hansen studied under prominent grouse researcher Rocky Gutierrez. Her thesis was titled “Landscape Scale Site Selection and Management for Ruffed Grouse in Minnesota.”

Read the entire article…

10/16/15

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RGS PRESS RELEASE

451 McCormick Rd

Coraopolis PA  15108

412-262-4044
www.ruffedgrousesociety.org

October 16, 2015

For Immediate Release

RGS staff takes to the road to document habitat programs, sporting traditions and the grouse camp experience online and on social media.

Coraopolis, PA – The Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) and American Woodcock Society (AWS) is taking to the road this October to document habitat programs, sporting traditions and the grouse camp experience online and on social media during the 2015 Grouse Camp Tour starting Monday, October 19, 2015. This year’s Tour starts in Minnesota and heads east through Wisconsin, ending at the AWS Woodcock Celebration and Challenge in Gaylord, Michigan on Saturday, October 24.

RGS and AWS staff will visit grouse camps and interview biologists and members throughout the Western Great Lakes region sharing experiences in real-time on the RGS website, www.ruffedgrousesociety.org/Grouse_Camp_Tour_2015, and on social media through Facebook (www.facebook.com/RuffedGrouseSociety), Twitter (@RGS_AWS), Instagram (@ruffedgrousesociety) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/user/RuffedGrouseSociety).

“Few things epitomize the importance of our sporting traditions as well as a grouse camp experience in October. This Grouse Camp Tour provides RGS and AWS a unique opportunity to celebrate habitat initiatives on public lands, sporting traditions and membership by spreading the experiences in real-time through social media. Through video and photos, viewers will witness everything we love about grouse and woodcock hunting and everything that makes RGS and AWS the leaders in forest conservation,” said RGS Editor & Director of Communications Matt Soberg.

Become a member and win a SportDOG 1875 trainer/beeper collar!  RGS and AWS is proud to partner with SportDOG to offer the Grouse Camp Tour membership promotion – participants who become new members for $35 between October 19 through December 15, 2015 using the Premium Code GROUSECAMP15 will receive a 1-year membership, 4 issues of the Ruffed Grouse Society magazine, a hard-covered Best of Paul Carson book, an RGS or AWS bumper sticker and a chance to win a SportDOG 1875 trainer/beeper collar. To participate, go to www.ruffedgrousesociety.org and click Join & Renew, or call 1-888-JOIN-RGS (1-888-5646-747).

To follow the Tour, go to: www.ruffedgrousesociety.org/Grouse_Camp_Tour_2015.

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Established in 1961, the Ruffed Grouse Society is North America’s foremost conservation organization dedicated to preserving our sporting traditions by creating healthy forest habitat for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and other wildlife. RGS works with landowners and government agencies to develop critical habitat utilizing scientific management practices.

Information on RGS, its mission, management projects and membership can be found on the web at: www.ruffedgrousesociety.org.

Media Contact:

Matt Soberg

(218) 232-6227
editor@ruffedgrousesociety.org

10/10/15

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RGS PRESS RELEASE

451 McCormick Rd

Coraopolis PA  15108

412-262-4044
www.ruffedgrousesociety.org

October 10, 2015

For Immediate Release

Results obtained by RGS wildlife biologists show reproductive success lower than the long-term average for both ruffed grouse and American woodcock.

Coraopolis, PA – The Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) held its 34th annual National Grouse and Woodcock Hunt (NGWH) on October 8 and 9, 2015 in and around Grand Rapids, Minnesota with harvest results, obtained by RGS wildlife biologists, showing reproductive success lower than the long-term average for both ruffed grouse and American woodcock. The NGWH is conducted in the Grand Rapids area during the second week in October each year. This world-class event is sponsored and coordinated by the Grand Rapids Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society whose volunteers contribute literally thousands of hours of their time to make the event happen.

Participating hunters (102) harvested 149 ruffed grouse during the two-day hunt, with each hunter harvesting an average of 0.73 grouse per hunter, per day, which is the second lowest total on record. Based upon calculated results, the index to reproductive success was 40 percent below the long-term mean, which means there are few young birds in the current population. “The low proportion of young-of-the-year grouse is a double whammy for hunters. Not only are there fewer birds to pursue, but many of the birds in the woods are adults who have previously encountered hunters and dogs before; they know how to play the game,” said RGS Director of Conservation Policy Dan Dessecker.

Participating hunters harvested 357 American woodcock, with each hunter harvesting an average of 1.7 woodcock per day, which is similar to the long-term average. However based upon the calculated results, the index to reproductive success was 20 percent below the long-term average.

The leaf cover was heavier than normal and may have affected hunting conditions in the southern hunt areas for this year’s hunt, however much needed rain the evening before the first hunt day provided excellent scenting conditions for bird dogs.

The NGWH provides an unparalleled opportunity to study the population ecology of ruffed grouse and woodcock. The manner in which it is structured is what makes it so unique in the field of wildlife research and so valuable to wildlife conservation. The late Gordon W. Gullion, universally acknowledged as the world’s expert on ruffed grouse, immediately recognized the scientific potential of the NGWH when the event was first held in 1982. Gullion understood that because it is conducted in the same locale, at the same time each year and using the same methods, it provides an outstanding opportunity to study the annual variation of the local ruffed grouse population and how that variation relates to the 10-year cycle.

Ruffed grouse populations in northern Minnesota, and elsewhere throughout the northern portions of the grouse range, exhibit this cycle of approximately 10 years. Cyclic lows typically occur in years ending in “4” or “5”. These lows are followed by four to five years of increasing populations toward the cyclic high, which typically occurs in years ending in “9” or “0”. Four to five years of subsequent population declines lead to another low, and the cycle again begins.

These population cycles have been documented in Minnesota for over 60 years. Not surprisingly, the ruffed grouse harvest at the NGWH shows a strong correlation with the ruffed grouse population cycle in northern Minnesota. During cyclic highs, each hunter at the NGWH will harvest 2.0 to 2.5 ruffed grouse each day during the two-day event. Daily harvest-per-hunter during cyclic lows is only 0.6 to 1.0 grouse.

Like ruffed grouse, the harvest of American woodcock at the NGWH is related to trends in Minnesota’s woodcock population. Since 1997 when the woodcock daily bag limit was reduced from five birds to three, NGWH participants have harvested on average one to two woodcock per day.

In total, the 50 teams at the NGWH (two hunters per team) will harvest approximately 200 to 400 ruffed grouse and 300 to 400 woodcock. Although these totals may seem quite large, this harvest is in reality merely a drop in the bucket as it is distributed over almost 8,000 square miles of public and private land.

For over 30 years, the NGWH has provided invaluable insight into the ecology of these two premier game birds. RGS will continue to ask questions and, hopefully, find answers through the NGWH that will help secure the future for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and the sportsmen and women who hold them so dear.

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Established in 1961, the Ruffed Grouse Society is North America’s foremost conservation organization dedicated to preserving our sporting traditions by creating healthy forest habitat for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and other wildlife. RGS works with landowners and government agencies to develop critical habitat utilizing scientific management practices.

Information on RGS, its mission, management projects and membership can be found on the web at: www.ruffedgrousesociety.org.

Media Contact:

Matt Soberg

(218) 232-6227
editor@ruffedgrousesociety.org
 

10/09/15

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RGS PRESS RELEASE

451 McCormick Rd

Coraopolis PA  15108

412-262-4044
www.ruffedgrousesociety.org

October 9, 2015

For Immediate Release

RGS presents researchers with $70,000 to support preservation of Gordon Gullion ruffed grouse research data.

     Ruffed Grouse Society members raised $70,000 to support the Gullion Data Recovery Project, an effort to preserve Gordon W. Gullion’s ruffed grouse research data, essential information for the future study of ruffed grouse ecology and forest management. RGS President & CEO John Eichinger presented the check to researchers Kent Montgomery, natural resources instructor from Central Lakes College in Brainerd, Minnesota, Frank Svoboda, from Svoboda Ecological Resources of Hutchinson, Minnesota and Gullion’s daughters Rebecca Gullion Lindquist and Anne Gullion at the 34th Annual RGS National Grouse and Woodcock Hunt on Thursday October 8, 2015.

     Prior to his untimely death in 1991, Gullion was universally recognized as the world’s foremost authority on ruffed grouse. Gullion began his landmark study of ruffed grouse ecology and habitat management in 1958 through the University of Minnesota at the Cloquet Forestry Center.

     Throughout his tenure, Gullion amassed over 69,000 individual records on hard-copy data forms, irreplaceable records documenting ruffed grouse habitat use, food habits, reproductive success and mortality factors, that when used in concert provide an assessment of ruffed grouse ecology that is the very foundation of ruffed grouse habitat and population management. Unfortunately, the hard-copy data forms have deteriorated to the point that if not soon converted through permanent digital preservation, the information could be lost forever.

     “RGS appreciates the opportunity to support this recovery effort, to help preserve an important chapter in the history of upland wildlife conservation,” said RGS President & CEO John Eichinger. “A sincere thanks is necessary for the RGS members who understood and contributed to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as the loss of this data would seriously compromise efforts of today’s resource management professionals to gain new insight into ruffed grouse ecology and management.”

     Gullion’s daughter, Rebecca Gullion Lindquist added her appreciation to the efforts, “It’s hard to express how much this truly means . . . that after all these years an effort is finally underway to preserve his work which in turn honors his memory. I clearly recall a conversation I had with my dad shortly after he came to accept his illness was terminal . . . he told me he had been looking forward to the opportunity to ‘retire’ to his basement office and put time into summarizing his research and hopefully getting it published. He expressed sadness that it now looked like he was not going to be able to do that. This is the next best thing, so thank you!”

     The data recovery will be coordinated by Kent Montgomery, as project leader, and Frank Svoboda, as project manager, at Central Lakes College in Brainerd, Minnesota. Montgomery will serve as the primary academic contact, leading student interns on data entry and analysis tasks. Svoboda’s prior experience working directly with Gullion, from 1963 through 1973, will be invaluable to the success of the project. A Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) grant was submitted by Central Lakes College and Svoboda and approved for $76,000 to begin this project. In addition to digital preservation, the grant will enable the development of software designed to allow the retrieval and analysis of the data. Frank Svoboda said, “Eventually with this data, we hope to complete Gordy’s book-length manuscript on ruffed grouse as well as nearly 60 unpublished papers. The data will also be available electronically on the web for anyone interested in ruffed grouse to do their own research.”

     The $70,000 from RGS will act as a match to the LCCMR grant and will provide the funding necessary to complete the project, which is scheduled to continue through 2017.

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Established in 1961, the Ruffed Grouse Society is North America’s foremost conservation organization dedicated to preserving our sporting traditions by creating healthy forest habitat for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and other wildlife. RGS works with landowners and government agencies to develop critical habitat utilizing scientific management practices.

Information on RGS, its mission, management projects and membership can be found on the web at: www.ruffedgrousesociety.org.

Media Contact:

Matt Soberg

(218) 232-6227
editor@ruffedgrousesociety.org