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Healthy Forests, Abundant Wildlife, Conservation Ethic

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New York and Vermont Forest Block Initiative

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Primary Funder: NFWF New England Forests & Rivers Fund  Funding Amount: $180,000 Project Title: New York and Vermont Forest Block Initiative  Location: St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Lewis, Clinton, Franklin Counties New York and Franklin, Chittenden, Addison, and Rutland Counties Vermont.  Innovation: The project will create and expand dynamic forest block restoration projects to increase diversity through structural forest mosaics across the St. Lawrence valley of New York, and the Champlain valley of Vermont. The Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS) will build upon existing opportunities available through the NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) Program to (1) increase capacity for work...

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Downeast Lakes Land Trust Woodcock Habitat Restoration Project (Maine)

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Primary Funder: Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund  Funding Amount: $18,150 Project Title: Downeast Lakes Land Trust Woodcock Habitat Restoration Project. Location: Downeast Lakes Community Forest, Grand Lake Stream, ME Innovation: The Downeast Lakes Land Trust Woodcock Habitat Restoration Project connects two nationally recognized conservation partners with a demonstrated commitment to sustainable forests, local communities, outdoor recreation, and wildlife habitat diversity. RGS & AWS unite conservationists to improve wildlife habitat and forest health for ruffed grouse, American woodcock, and all forest wildlife. Impact: 31 acres of young forest habitat restoration completed. 2-4 interpretative signs on site explaining the project and its positive habitat impacts. 1-2 public outreach events – in...

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Take Action: Support Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA)

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RGS and dozens of conservation organizations and supporters have been working to pass landmark legislation known as RAWA that would dedicate almost $1.4B annually for state and Tribal wildlife agencies to improve habitat for at-risk wildlife, including ruffed grouse and American woodcock. 

RAWA has been a top priority of the conservation community for decades because it would create a dedicated funding source for improving habitat for at-risk game and non-game wildlife. 

With bipartisan support, RAWA was passed by the full House and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in 2022. This year, the House and Senate need to pass it and…

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Minnesota Spring ’23 Update

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2023 has been off to a great start. Thank you to everyone who has stopped out to Birds and Brews and banquets in your area! Our events are primarily put on by volunteers from local chapters, and some of these chapters are looking for the next group of passionate RGS & AWS members to come on board to help out. If you’ve ever thought about becoming more involved, please reach out to me at SamT@ruffedgrousesociety.org  Upcoming Events North Central Minnesota Chapter Annual Conservation Banquet April 20, 2023 Grand Rapids Chapter (MN) Annual Banquet May 11, 2023 Minnesota Forest Conservation Updates Winter 2022 to Spring 2023 Scheff Logging’s Forwarder…

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Knowing When to Retire and Acquire

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by Keith Schopp Claira was 12 when I knew. We were grouse hunting in thick cover on a snowy Minnesota morning, and my normally biddable shorthair who always checked back, always came to the whistle, always hunted with me and for me was out of sorts and out of touch. She was confused and I had to go find her, time after time. Even when we reunited and tried to regroup, she would range for 20 yards or so, then stop. I’d whistle or call her, and she’d go the other way. Finally, I had enough and resorted to the leash…

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Tips for Creating a Complex Forest

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by Mark Herwig Forests and forest creatures, no matter what part of the country they’re in, benefit from more complexity. If you want more grouse, woodcock and other game and non-game wildlife, don’t treat your forest like your backyard: a few species, mowed to the ground. A forest with downed trees, fallen branches, tipped trees, stumps, depressions, a mix of tree ages, deciduous and coniferous trees, fruit shrubs and the like offers the complexity grouse and woodcock need to fill all their life cycle needs. This complexity gives wildlife more options for nesting and protecting chicks and adults from predators and harsh weather…

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