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Healthy Forests, Abundant Wildlife, Conservation Ethic

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Early Successional Habitat Creation Project in Vermont

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early-successional-habitat

Featured in Fall 2020 issue of Covers Magazine.

Authored by: Brent Rudolph, PH.D and Anthony Giattino

People born east of the Hudson River extend this prayer of John Winthrop’s when hunting grouse in the west: “May the Lord make it like that of New England.” Writers like Burton Spiller and William Harnden Foster helped enshrine New England as a “City Upon a Hill” for grouse hunters. Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society members in New England recognize that much work needs to be done if the revered heritage memorialized by Spiller and Foster are to endure. Fortunately, other partners also understand the serious conservation needs that demand commitment to this work.

[Read more…] about Early Successional Habitat Creation Project in Vermont

RGS & AWS Proudly Partner on Pyke Gear Original Film “Get Busy Living”

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RGS & AWS are among a list partners including Backridge Ammunition, Limb Lab, Wilderness Athlete and K9 Athlete in collaboration with Pyke Gear to present their original film, “Get Busy Living”.

About the film: “Randy Herlein never expected his life to change the way it did. He was an active upland hunter and outdoorsman that hit a bump in the road, but it didn’t stop him. In fact, he found a renewed longing to conquer each new challenge in the road ahead . Randy wasn’t about to let the cancer that took his leg keep him from a Get Busy Living state of mind. We hope Randy’s story inspires you.”

Oswayo Valley Student Artist Featured at Upland Bird Hunt in the PA Wilds

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Zane Malogrino and Jed Hamberger, Superintendent of Oswayo Valley School District show samples of Zane’s custom made wood pieces.

St. Marys, Pa.:  Zane Malogrino of Shinglehouse, Pa., and a student at the Oswayo Valley School District in Potter and eastern McKean Counties, was the featured artist at the 12th Annual Upland Bird Hunt in the PA Wilds on 11/6.  Zane’s fine artwork specializes in laser engraving of wooden “home use” pieces, such as serving trays, hat racks, key racks, coasters, clocks, and bottle openers.

[Read more…] about Oswayo Valley Student Artist Featured at Upland Bird Hunt in the PA Wilds

Tackling Ruffed Grouse Habitat in Southern Appalachia

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Checking in on Southern Appalachia’s Grouse Habitat Projects

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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

RGS & AWS Seeking to Fill Three New Forest Conservation Director Positions

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Forest conservation director position description and application process.

Despite COVID disruptions, we are moving forward with our plans to increase wildlife-focused forest management at scale. 

We have buckled down and worked hard over the past 8 months to ensure we can deliver and expand on our mission. Our ability to fill these positions reflects the incredible support of our members and donors and our confidence that such support will continue into the future. 

[Read more…] about RGS & AWS Seeking to Fill Three New Forest Conservation Director Positions

Introducing the Bucks to Birds Campaign

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Share the Bucks to Birds campaign and featured video and podcast with your deer hunting friends.

Many grouse hunters understand that what’s good for grouse is good for deer. But how often do we highlight the symbiotic relationship between these two iconic wildlife species with our deer hunting friends? The Bucks To Birds campaign is here to help.

Thanks to our partners in conservation at The Dear Hunter Project, they’ve developed a new video to help us start the conversation. Last week they launched a conservation campaign which includes the featured video and associated podcast. We encourage you to check out both and share them with your deer hunting friends.

[Read more…] about Introducing the Bucks to Birds Campaign

RGS & AWS: A nonpartisan nonprofit

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Ruffed grouse hunting and conservation was recently featured as the focus of a political campaign video. As a result of this, and in light of the upcoming election, we feel compelled to remind our members that we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

RGS & AWS is a nonpartisan organization and did not sponsor the production, creation, or launch of this video. Our nonprofit status dictates that we are prohibited from participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. We work with a wide range of vendors and contractors with varying political affiliations. We are assessing our agreements with vendors/contractors to ensure we are within the bounds of our 501(c)(3) status.

The management of ruffed grouse and their forest habitats has risen in prominence as we face tough challenges. It should be no surprise that our cause is gaining national attention. Despite hardships of the past eight months and discord within our nation, we remain laser-focused on uniting conservationists.

Regardless of this election’s results, RGS & AWS will continue to engage partners from across the political spectrum on urgent issues. Above all else, our mission is: healthy forests, abundant wildlife, and conservation ethics.

Gordon Gullion: Sage of the Ruffed Grouse

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Gordon Gullion played an integral role in the study of ruffed grouse as well as the history of the Ruffed Grouse Society.

People tend to take scientific discoveries for granted. There are laws of gravity, for example, that govern our world, but we don’t often think about Isaac Newton when we go about our day. When hunting ruffed grouse and scanning for the aspen trees they use as cover and sources of food in portions of their range, we’re probably not thinking of Gordon Gullion, the conservation scientist whose studies and observations enhanced our understanding of ruffed grouse and formally linked the bird’s welfare to aspen trees. Gullion’s research still has a major influence on the forest management practices the Ruffed Grouse Society promotes to benefit the bird and other species.  His untimely death at age 67 denied us the authoritative synthesis of his research, but his findings are immortal.

[Read more…] about Gordon Gullion: Sage of the Ruffed Grouse

RGS & AWS Mourn the Loss of Member and Conservationist, John Ruthven

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RGS & AWS are deeply saddened by the loss of member, donor and conservationist John Ruthven who passed away earlier this month. Over the years, the Ruthvens made countless contributions to RGS & AWS through the Gilbert Symons Chapter based in Ohio.

An acclaimed wildlife artist, he regularly donated prints and original artwork along with his willingness to sign prints, hunt with other members and make personal appearances at RGS & AWS events.

[Read more…] about RGS & AWS Mourn the Loss of Member and Conservationist, John Ruthven