Getting out of Michigan in early April during a late winter weather blast is always a fun time. Earlier this year, I was fortunate to not only get out of town right before a week of forecasted “wintry mix” but also to spend time with biologists from around the country at the Woodcock Wingbee being held this year in Mobile, Alabama. The Wingbee is an annual event and culmination of the Wing-collection Survey. Here is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service description of the Survey and Wingbee:
[Read more…] about The Woodcock WingbeeArchives for May 2016
Call to Action: Public Hunting Lands in MI Under Threat
Public input opportunity extended to all members:
If you hunt on state land in Michigan and feel strongly about maintaining our upland sporting traditions now is the time to let your voice be heard.
On Wednesday May 11, I testified on two Michigan Senate bills that could significantly affect wildlife conservation and hunting (read his written comments…). We appreciate the Legislature’s interest in public recreation on public lands and there is language in these bills that we agree with but overall they would negatively impact the public land we need for hunting and active forest management required to maintain habitat for ruffed grouse, American woodcock, and other young forest wildlife.
[Read more…] about Call to Action: Public Hunting Lands in MI Under ThreatGrouse Color Phases – What You Need To Know
**Excerpt from A Grouse in the Hand, Tips for Examining, Aging & Sexing Ruffed Grouse published 2014 by RGS and authored by S. DeStefano, R.L. Ruff and S.R. Craven.
Many species of wildlife show various color phases. “Red” foxes can be red, black or crossed. “Black” bears can be black, brown or blond. And, screech owls are red or gray. Ruffed grouse are rare among birds in that they can exhibit so much color variation. This color variation is genetically controlled and unlike most other birds it is independent of sex.
[Read more…] about Grouse Color Phases – What You Need To KnowTilling Between the Timber
Being born and raised in north central Pennsylvania and growing up hunting in back mountain areas, now often referred to as the Pennsylvania Wilds region, clover simply was not to be found anywhere. My introduction to using it as a food source for wildlife was planting a few old one to two-acre log landings with fellow camp members to draw whitetails. At that time, I was much more the deer hunter than grouse hunter, but I do remember beyond the deer and occasional turkey that grouse would usually be found on the edges in the summer time.
[Read more…] about Tilling Between the TimberComing soon . . . Ruffed Grouse Society Summer Magazine
Get premier content on grouse and woodcock hunting and conservation, exclusive to RGS and AWS members
Woodcock Banding Weekend At Pineridge Grouse Camp
This past weekend, RGS staff members were fortunate to attend the now annual Woodcock Banding Clinic at Pineridge Grouse Camp near Remer, Minnesota. I (RGS/AWS Regional Director Nick Larson) was joined by coworkers: Mark Fouts, director of member relations and outreach; Meadow Kouffeld-Hansen, regional wildlife biologist and Ted Dick, MN DNR forest game bird coordinator. We walked away from this weekend completely satisfied, excited about the future of woodcock banding as well as having an even greater appreciation for the unique and amazing bird that is the American woodcock.
[Read more…] about Woodcock Banding Weekend At Pineridge Grouse CampA Quick Fix for Ticks
For most of the ruffed grouse range, ticks, particularly those nasty Lyme disease carrying deer ticks, are a real concern to both hunters and dogs alike. Over the last two decades Lyme disease has gone from a partially taboo-like issue to a well-documented and commonly treated affliction in the field of medicine. Like any other health risk which can lead to irreversible damage, prevention is a far easier road traveled than treatment and recovery. Dogs are victims that often go untreated, with their Lyme symptoms being attributed to their age in combination the wear and tear of their endeavors with kidney failure tending to be their final demise.
[Read more…] about A Quick Fix for Ticks2015 RGS & AWS Annual Report
RGS & AWS are the nation’s leading voice for forest wildlife.
DOWNLOAD AND REVIEW HERE
The Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society significantly progressed in 2015, and we couldn’t have done it without our dedicated sponsors, members, chapters and volunteers. Without our members, there is no organization! Thank you for all you have done to preserve our sporting traditions by creating healthy forests for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and other forest wildlife.
[Read more…] about 2015 RGS & AWS Annual Report