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Conservation Policy

America’s hunters and anglers lead by example in the fight for conservation

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Global Connections of the Hunt Fish 30×30 Campaign

By Brent A. Rudolph, Ph.D. | RGS & AWS Chief Conservation & Legislative Officer

sunset canoeing
Photo by Brent Rudolph/RGS & AWS

Please consider signing the petition supporting the Hunting and Fishing Community Statement

In a report to the National Climate Task Force released yesterday (“Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful”), the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, and the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality laid out the plan for our nation’s involvement in the Thirty-by-Thirty Initiative (Thirty-by-Thirty). The initiative is a global effort to establish a goal of placing 30 percent of the planet’s lands and waters under “protected status” by the year 2030.

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Wisconsin members: Your voice is needed!

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The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program in Wisconsin needs to be renewed and fully funded

Ruffed Grouse by Timothy C. Flanigan

Wisconsin’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program provides valuable funding to conserve wildlife habitat and natural areas, expand opportunities for outdoor recreation, and protect water quality and fisheries.

Over the past three decades, the Knowles-Nelson program has invested more than $825 million in nearly 7,000 projects across the state. Though diverse forms of outdoor recreation are supported by these projects that involve purchasing lands or easements and sustaining infrastructure, a program review  found 94% of lands purchased with Knowles-Nelson grants since 2007 are open to hunting.

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Defining the needs of our most beloved species

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We need to take bold action for Species of Greatest Conservation Need

By: Todd Waldron, Northeast Forest Conservation Director

Ruffed grouse by Timothy C. Flanigan (For RGS & AWS use)

Have you ever heard the term “Species of Greatest Conservation Need” or “SGCN” and wondered what that means? Or maybe you’ve wondered how it applies to the future of grouse and woodcock populations. How does it drive the RGS & AWS conservation mission?

You’ve likely seen our monthly updates in The Bellwether newsletter or regularly on social media: Ruffed grouse populations are declining across much of North America. The decline is due to habitat diversity decline and grouse are now listed as an SGCN in 19 states, while American woodcock are listed similarly in 29 states.

What exactly does a SGCN designation imply and what conservation action is needed to address it? We’ll get into that in a minute, but first, let’s cover some background information.

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Action Alert for Michigan

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Deadline set for Monday, March 8 to ensure Improved Aspen Management on the Manistee National Forest

The Huron-Manistee National Forests (HMNF) have seen a decline in aspen harvest over the past few decades. This has led to an imbalance in the age structure of aspen stands that negatively affects habitat critical for ruffed grouse, American woodcock, and other forest wildlife.

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Coalition Supports Conservation on Indiana’s Hoosier National Forest

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Photo By Steve Oehlenschlager

Amicus brief filed in support of Indiana’s Hoosier National Forest habitat project by Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society, coalition of conservation groups

The ruffed grouse was listed as an endangered species in Indiana on December 16, 2020.

January 12, 2021 (New Albany, IN) – The Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society led a coalition of conservation groups that filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, related to the Houston South Vegetation Management and Restoration Project (Houston South Project) within Hoosier National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service faces a lawsuit that aims to shut down the project; RGS & AWS is not a party on the lawsuit, but the brief supports the Houston South Project and its objectives to restore habitat for ruffed grouse and other wildlife. The State of Indiana officially listed the ruffed grouse as a state endangered species on December 16, 2020.

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An Important Day for Grouse and Woodcock | Giving Tuesday

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Today is GivingTuesday and forest wildlife need your support

Thank you to the folks who have already donated early! We have $30,000 available to match donations for today. Don’t miss the opportunity to double your impact.

Two ways you can donate:

  • The Upland Store
  • Our Facebook #GivingTuesday Page: Please share our fundraiser with your friends and family! You can donate in the Upland Store AND invite your Facebook friends and share the fundraiser through Facebook. If you’d like to join us and learn more about RGS & AWS and our work, we’ll be live on CrowdCast this evening from 6 – 8 pm ET, which will be streaming on Facebook and YouTube as well.
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Introducing the Bucks to Birds Campaign

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bucks-to-birds

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.

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RGS & AWS Support 30 by 30 Initiative

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30 by 30 Initiative

RGS & AWS along with other hunting, fishing and habitat conservation groups issue support of 30 by 30 initiative.

October 19, 2020 (Washington, D.C.) – Today, the nation’s leading hunting, fishing, and habitat conservation organizations released a statement on the Thirty by Thirty Initiative (30 by 30 Initiative) to establish a goal of placing 30% of the planet’s lands and waters under protected status by the year 2030.

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Conservation is Not Cancelled – Fall Membership Promotion

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Photo By | Timothy Flanigan

Fall Membership Promotion Extended | Join/Renew Today.

Dear Conservationists,

As a grassroots member-based organization working to impact as many acres of healthy forest habitat possible, we cannot further our mission without you.

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Brent Rudolph Featured on the Project Upland Podcast – RGS

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“Achieving conservation work from capitol hill to a bird cover near you with Brent Rudolph of the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society.“

RGS & AWS Director of Conservation Policy was recently featured on an episode of the Project Upland Podcast.

To Listen | Episode #109 | Conservation and Bird Dogs with Brent Rudolph

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