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You are here: Home / Archives for Ryan Lisson

Ryan Lisson

Tackling Ruffed Grouse Habitat in Southern Appalachia

November 17, 2020 by Ryan Lisson

grouse-habitat

Checking in on Southern Appalachia’s Grouse Habitat Projects

Steeped in history and rich with grouse hunting culture, the Southern Appalachian Mountains have long been associated with ruffed grouse habitat. Landowners and hunters in this area may fondly recall hunting ruffed grouse in the area many years ago, but have noticed their growing absence and watched prime grouse habitat disappear. This has spurred a real sense of urgency for Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS) and its members in this region. In this article, we caught up with Nick Biemiller, Forest Conservation Director for the Southern Appalachian region (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, and VA) to discuss what’s going on in this neck of the grouse woods.

[Read more…] about Tackling Ruffed Grouse Habitat in Southern Appalachia

Filed Under: Habitat, Read Tagged With: appalachia, conservation, forest management, working forests

COVID-19 Impacts on Timber Markets and Forest Wildlife

September 8, 2020 by Ryan Lisson

forest-markets

How COVID-19 Could Affect Grouse Habitat

It’s safe to say that 2020 has been a bit of a whirlwind and things haven’t gone as planned. With all the stay-at-home orders, shutdowns, and disruptions, you’re likely looking forward to the fall hunting season more than ever and getting back into the grouse woods to unwind a bit. Unfortunately, coronavirus and COVID-19 still have some potentially nasty consequences in store for timber markets and subsequently ruffed grouse, in the form of habitat impacts. Here’s how the two are surprisingly connected, and some potential ways that the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS) could help.

[Read more…] about COVID-19 Impacts on Timber Markets and Forest Wildlife

Filed Under: Habitat, Read Tagged With: american woodcock, conservation, forest habitat, forest management, forest markets, ruffed grouse, timber harvests, working forests

Forest Management is Not Deforestation

August 19, 2020 by Ryan Lisson

deforestation-is-not-forest-management

Debunking the Myths of Deforestation

When an average person today sees images of a recent timber harvest, it’s quite possible they may have a negative reaction to it. Fueled by stories of “greedy timber companies” destroying vast swaths of rain-forests, many people start to associate any tree cutting with ruining the environment. But there are some very big differences between deforestation and scientifically-based forest management. Given the decline of young forest stands in North America and the effect that it is having on many wildlife species, we hope to clear up some of those misconceptions below.

[Read more…] about Forest Management is Not Deforestation

Filed Under: Habitat, Read Tagged With: conservation, deforestation, forest management, timber harvests

Comparing Habitat: Ruffed Grouse, Woodcock, Cottontail Rabbits and Snowshoe Hare

June 4, 2020 by Ryan Lisson

cottontail-rabbits-habitat

Exploring habitat for ruffed grouse and woodcock as it relates to cottontail rabbits and snowshoe hare.

There’s a lot of information online about the different habitat types that wild game species like ruffed grouse and cottontail rabbits use, which is definitely important to know for hunting or wildlife watching opportunities. But we don’t often talk about the similarities between them. Truth be told, there’s a lot of overlap between many wild game species, and that means effects to one habitat type can impact (for the better or worse) other species too. 

[Read more…] about Comparing Habitat: Ruffed Grouse, Woodcock, Cottontail Rabbits and Snowshoe Hare

Filed Under: Habitat, Read Tagged With: american woodcock, habitat, ruffed grouse, upland birds, upland game, upland hunting

Minnesota Forests | Success in Conservation and Habitat – RGS

March 5, 2020 by Ryan Lisson

woodcock-in-minnesota-forest

Take a look at the successful creation of habitat and conservation in Minnesota forests with the Ruffed Grouse Society and American woodcock Society

If you’re reading this post in the great state of Minnesota, it’s likely that you may have spent time grouse hunting in Minnesota forests. And if it also feels like Minnesota has it pretty good when it comes to grouse habitat and populations, you wouldn’t be wrong. In part, that’s due to your continued support of Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society (RGS/AWS). Our staff are involved in several important conservation programs to increase and improve habitat across Minnesota – not just for grouse and woodcock, but many other wildlife species too.

[Read more…] about Minnesota Forests | Success in Conservation and Habitat – RGS

Filed Under: Habitat, Hunting, Read Tagged With: American Woodcock Society, conservation, forest management, habitat, Minnesota, ruffed grouse society

The Special Relationship Between Grouse and Aspen – RGS

December 27, 2019 by Ryan Lisson

aspen-forest

Why Well-Managed Aspen is the Best Grouse Habitat

If you hunt ruffed grouse on the southern fringe of its range, aspen forest may not be all that relevant to you. But if you’re an upland hunter in the Great Lakes states or Northeast, it’s almost guaranteed that one of your favorite hunting spots includes an aspen stand. Throughout its lifecycle, it provides everything a grouse needs: dense cover and food.

Managed properly, aspen stands are excellent habitat for ruffed grouse. If you’re unfamiliar, here’s some more information about aspen and its importance for upland birds and other early successional species alike.

[Read more…] about The Special Relationship Between Grouse and Aspen – RGS

Filed Under: Grouse Ecology, Habitat, Read Tagged With: aspen, forest management, Grouse, grouse habitat

Reversing Ruffed Grouse Declines in Indiana

December 17, 2019 by Ryan Lisson

ruffed-grouse-endangered
Photo Credit | Steve Oehlenschlager

Up against an endangered listing, how can we help ruffed grouse in Indiana?

Ruffed grouse used to be present across the Indiana landscape, but now they could be joining the ranks of endangered species listed under the Indiana Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act. In October 2018, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Division of Fish & Wildlife sought input from Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) to add ruffed grouse to the list of endangered species of birds in Indiana. After reviewing the evidence, biologists at RGS agreed with the proposal and submitted a petition to adopt the Administrative Rule Change. Here’s how this issue all started, how we could reverse its course, and how you could play an important part in that process.

[Read more…] about Reversing Ruffed Grouse Declines in Indiana

Filed Under: Grouse Ecology, Habitat, Read Tagged With: conservation, forest management, Grouse, grouse habitat, Indiana

The Importance of Alders for Grouse and Woodcock

December 5, 2019 by Ryan Lisson

Exploring Our Love (and Hatred) of Alder Thickets

Maybe in your grouse hunting career, you’ve explored the edges of a tangled alder swamp while looking for birds. You’ve quite possibly shot at a grouse that flew into one, requiring you to trudge in after it. Perhaps you have even willingly adventured into one to see what secrets it keeps. No matter which of these is true, if you’ve ever had to navigate through an alder swamp or thicket, you know the misery that they can be. 

[Read more…] about The Importance of Alders for Grouse and Woodcock

Filed Under: Grouse Ecology, Habitat, Hunting, Read, Wildlife Ecology, Woodcock Ecology Tagged With: alder, american woodcock, conservation, forest management, Grouse, grouse habitat

What is Highbush Cranberry (and Why Should You Care)? – RGS

October 24, 2019 by Ryan Lisson

Photo Credit | Wiki Commons

How Highbush Cranberry Could Help Your Grouse Hunting

Growing up in northern Minnesota, I was strictly warned as a child about which wild berries I could and could not eat in the forest. The only “edible” ones were the ones my parents told me I could eat. Without their approval, I was not to sample them. But how is a kid supposed to learn if they don’t at least attempt something stupid? After trying and quickly spitting out several different wild berries, I distinctly remember finding a cluster of bright red berries that looked beautiful but smelled horrible. I figured from the smell alone that it was rotten or poisonous, so I never did sample them. Looking back now, I recognize that was likely a highbush cranberry shrub.

Many people don’t recognize highbush cranberry and even fewer utilize it themselves or for hunting purposes. But it can be an important survival food for ruffed grouse and other wildlife. And it makes a really interesting jelly or syrup to pair with a ruffed grouse dinner. Here’s how you can identify it and maybe even use it to your advantage this fall.

[Read more…] about What is Highbush Cranberry (and Why Should You Care)? – RGS

Filed Under: Habitat, Read Tagged With: forest management, Grouse, grouse habitat, highbush cranberry

Ruffed Grouse Habitat | Cost Share Planting for Private Landowners

September 13, 2019 by Ryan Lisson

How You Can Improve Grouse Habitat on Your Property

I’ve always loved the idea of leaving a legacy. Not for fame or glory, by any means, but for something simpler. Being a biologist and a hunter, I fell in love with the idea of bringing my in-law’s property to its maximum wildlife potential. Over the years, we’ve cleared some wildlife openings, built brush piles, planted trails and food plots, and pruned dozens of apple trees. But I wanted to take it further by shaping it into a carefully planned grouse paradise, with the hope that my kids would someday enjoy it. 

[Read more…] about Ruffed Grouse Habitat | Cost Share Planting for Private Landowners

Filed Under: Habitat, Read Tagged With: conservation, cost share, forest management, grouse habitat, habitat, private lands, ruffed grouse, ruffed grouse society, upland bird

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