RGS

Healthy Forests, Abundant Wildlife, Conservation Ethic

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Archives for August 2016

RGS Holds Driftless Young Forest Symposium

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08/29/16

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RGS PRESS RELEASE

451 McCormick Rd

Coraopolis PA 15108

412-262-4044

For Immediate Release

August 29, 2016

The Ruffed Grouse Society brought together agency professionals from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa to focus on landscape-scale goals to enhance future young forest habitat in the Driftless Region.

Coraopolis, PA – The Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) held the Driftless Young Forest Symposium in La Crosse, Wisconsin on August 16 and 17, 2016 bringing together agency professionals from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa to focus on landscape-scale goals to enhance future young forest habitat in the Driftless Region. The RGS thanks partners who provided additional support and resources for the Symposium including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, National Wild Turkey Federation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

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Why We Hunt, with Member A.J. DeRosa

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We are living in a golden age of the grouse woods. I no longer see the ruffed grouse of the past, but a culture of today – young and old, dedicated and committed to their calling and never so focused on saving the species.

RGS (1 of 45) (1024x579)

I grew up in a long line of casual “partridge” hunters that never really considered the use of a dog. Grouse hunting was something you did when you scouted for whitetails. Swap the slug barrel off the old Remington 870 pump for a bird barrel, and those New Hampshire “chickens” were prime dinner. The older I became, the less ruffed grouse existed on the southern border of New Hampshire, and as my years went on as a suburban bowhunter, the ruffed grouse became a distant memory.

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RGS Awarded Cabela’s Outdoor Fund Grant

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08/23/16

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RGS PRESS RELEASE

451 McCormick Rd

Coraopolis PA 15108

412-262-4044

For Immediate Release

August 23, 2016

Coraopolis, PA – The Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society (RGS/AWS) are pleased to announce a grant of $46,431 from the Cabela’s Outdoor Fund to assist a diverse set of projects designed to benefit young forest habitat and wildlife. These projects will be paired with RGS/AWS and partner funds of $31,600 and will take place primarily in the Upper Midwest.  Activities will support habitat improvement, regional planning efforts, education, developing the next generation of upland hunters and mentoring activities while supporting a variety of wildlife species dependent on young forest habitat including ruffed grouse, rabbits, American woodcock, white-tailed deer and elk.  

[Read more…] about RGS Awarded Cabela’s Outdoor Fund Grant

Why We Hunt, with Member Tom Keer

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Our hats look like oil pans, our favorite vests have more patches and thread than original cloth, and while we may be late to supper, we are never late for opening day. Anything done in moderation shows a lack of interest, and we are among the obsessed. Go hard or go home.

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I don’t think we grouse and woodcock hunters are very smart.  At least I know I’m not. For what kind of hunter volunteers to get shredded by cover only to get a glimmer of a snap shot at cagey birds that dart behind aspen swales and pine boughs? And what kind of hunter shrugs off a bark dusting so easily that it’s considered normal? We do it again and again so much so that we are reminded of Albert Einstein’s ‘Definition of Insanity’: “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.” Even though I know your answer, it’s not right for me to answer for you. But for me? By Einstein’s definition, I am insane.

[Read more…] about Why We Hunt, with Member Tom Keer

Driftless Young Forest Symposium

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Today, the Ruffed Grouse Society brought together agency professionals from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois to focus on landscape-scale goals to enhance future young forest habitat in the Driftless Region.

IMG_3144 (1024x507)

Today (August 16, 2016) the Ruffed Grouse Society launched the Driftless Young Forest Symposium in La Crosse, Wisconsin to bring together agency professionals from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois to focus on landscape-scale goals to enhance young forest habitat in the Driftless Region. Symposium goals include providing a clear understanding of the area forest use trends and wildlife impacts, to recognize challenges of forest management in this region and to identify and embrace opportunities for potential landscape-scale benefits to young forest habitat in the future.

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Charity Navigator Rates RGS a 4-Star Charity

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08/12/16

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RGS PRESS RELEASE

Ruffed Grouse Society

451 McCormick Rd

Coraopolis PA 15108

412-262-4044

For Immediate Release

August 11, 2016

Coraopolis, PA – The Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) recently earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. The 4-star rating is a result of RGS maintaining sound fiscal management practices and a commitment to accountability and transparency in its efforts to preserve our sporting traditions by creating healthy forest habitat for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and many other forest wildlife species.

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Clenzoil Becomes Ruffed Grouse Society Corporate Sponsor

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03/27/17
Matt Soberg
(218) 232-6227
editor@ruffedgrousesociety.org

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Clenzoil, the original one-step cleaner, lubricant and rust preventative for lock, stock and barrel since 1948, became a corporate sponsor of the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS), North America’s foremost forest conservation organization, to benefit grouse and woodcock hunters nationwide and to preserve our sporting traditions for future generations. The corporate sponsorship enhances the RGS ability to preserve our sporting traditions by creating healthy forest habitat for the benefit of ruffed grouse and American woodcock and offers Clenzoil premier advertising and marketing opportunities to RGS members and the upland hunting, shotgunner and forest conservation audience.

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The Effect of Drought on Woodcock

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By Andrew P. Weik – RGS & AWS Regional Wildlife Biologist – New York, New England

After a spring seemingly favorable to ground nesting birds such as grouse and woodcock, summer thus far, into late July, has been drier than usual in my region. In fact, the lack of rainfall across many areas of the Northeast has resulted in drought conditions (see map below). The colors on the map show yellow as “abnormally dry”, beige as “moderate drought” and orange as “severe drought”.

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Why We Hunt, with Member Britney Starr

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A single moment. One split second, combined with millions of sights, sounds, smells and thoughts that make a lifetime of memories.

Brit and Dad

A running Ruff, finally pinned by a relentless shorthair. Anticipation. Holding your breath as the world switches to slow motion. The flush. The smell of gunpowder. Feathers and a leaf floating to the ground, backlit by the sun. Proud smiles.

[Read more…] about Why We Hunt, with Member Britney Starr