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RGS & AWS Welcomes Luvara as Mid-Atlantic Engagement Coordinator

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Gabe Luvara has accepted the position of engagement coordinator for RGS & AWS in the Mid-Atlantic region. Luvara brings a lifelong passion for the outdoors and conservation to his role. Growing up in West Virginia with rabbit dogs and the good fortune of an uncle who owned a large dairy farm, he developed an early love for upland hunting. He spent his youth chasing rabbits as well as the occasional ruffed grouse and bobwhite quail, and building a deep connection to wild places alongside his family. As an adult, Luvara transitioned into bird dog training and upland hunting, continuing to spend as...

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A Hunters Handbook: Ruffed Grouse

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by Kip Allardt Over time, there’ve been many books penned on the subject of ruffed grouse and woodcock, and the accoutrements we cherish while afield each fall. Most of these titles are focused more on lyrical storytelling than instructional information. The telling of a staunch dog, head high and tail taller, backlit by autumn foliage, has been told for centuries, yet never seem to become outdated. These lyrical writings becoming the grouse and woodcock hunters’ romance stories – albeit the pain of a hawthorn spine in one’s cheek or palm is certainly more painful than a broken heart and, if on...

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RGS & AWS Expands Into Iowa With First Forest Wildlife Specialist Hire

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RGS & AWS is excited to welcome Zach Nie as the new forest wildlife specialist for the Western Great Lakes region. Zach grew up in Iowa and earned a bachelor’s degree in forestry from Iowa State University. He previously worked for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources as a district forester, where he partnered with private forest landowners to promote active forest management that supports forest health and wildlife habitat. An avid outdoorsman, Zach enjoys hunting, hiking, sports and spending time with his family. He will be based at Volga River State Recreation Area near Fayette, Iowa, and will work closely with...

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Planting a Conservation Legacy: Start Leading Today by Justin Morrissey, NSSF – The Firearm Industry Trade Association What good is planting a tree if the next person comes along and cuts it down? It’s a frustrating thought to know your efforts may be for naught after you put in the work. The thought crosses my mind every year as I work to manage, restore and maintain habitat. At the moment, the main threat to my 3,100 hand-planted trees comes from deer, mice and rabbits – as the critters might nip, girdle or rub the trees – however, in the long run, humans are...

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https://ruffedgrousesociety.org/planting-a-conservation-legacy-start-leading-today/

SUNY ESF and NWTF Lead Demonstration Forest Project With Conservation Partners

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Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society is included as a partner in a collaborative forest management project led by the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry at the Pack Demonstration Forest in New York. The project centers on active timber harvesting designed to improve forest structure, increase biodiversity and create young forest conditions that benefit wildlife species that rely on early successional habitat. Photo courtesy of Allison Brusa from NWTF The work includes a 15-acre timber harvest that is part of a larger 128-acre demonstration area dominated by eastern hemlock, sugar maple, birch and...

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Ruffed Grouse in Appalachia: Insights from Dr. Ben Jones on PBS

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Dr. Ben Jones, CEO of the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society, recently appeared in a PBS feature exploring long-term ruffed grouse population declines across Appalachia. The segment highlights the bird’s diminishing presence in many Pennsylvania forests and examines the ecological changes that have shaped current habitat conditions. Dr. Jones provides insight into why these trends matter and how forest composition, management practices and landscape scale decisions influence grouse populations over time. Drawing on decades of research and on-the-ground experience, Dr. Jones discusses how science continues to inform habitat-focused solutions aimed at rebuilding resilient forest ecosystems. The PBS feature underscores...

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