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Healthy Forests, Abundant Wildlife, Conservation Ethic

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Covers Magazine

Chapter Spotlight: Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Throughout the Eastern Great Lakes region, RGS & AWS chapters and volunteers bring the message and mission of conservation in the state of Michigan. One of the most vibrant is the committee and members of the Grand Rapids, Michigan, chapter. The chapter’s committee is a blend of business professionals, both working and retired. Folks from the realms of finance, investments, insurance, engineering, construction, sales, technology and more, bring a wealth of experience and out-of-the-box thinking to not only committee meetings, but events as well. The cornerstone of this committee’s success is that they gather monthly year-round (except October) for breakfast. Their 7...

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The Beaver Brook Integrated Restoration Project: RGS & AWS plus partners host training for natural resource professionals

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by Luke McNally, RGS & AWS Champlain Region Forester  The name woodcock – wood bird – almost limits its many personalities. Those of us in the know have observed woodcock in a multitude of environments. We work to establish young forests to provide a variety of cover for woodcock and ruffed grouse through careful successional planning and management. However, we often still ask the question: How can we make our cover even more different? We don’t know nearly as much about the “Ws” as we know about the ruffed grouse. The “Ws” are a suite of conservation priorities that include American woodcock,...

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Investing in the Future of the Francis Marion National Forest

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The Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS) is proud to announce the execution of the Francis Marion Restoration and Wildlife Enhancement Stewardship Agreement with the U.S. Forest Service. The five-year partnership represents a significant investment in active forest management and wildlife habitat restoration across the Francis Marion National Forest in coastal South Carolina.  The project will improve approximately 3,000 acres of overstocked loblolly and longleaf pine stands through commercial timber harvests, creating healthier and more resilient forests while generating important conservation benefits for a wide range of wildlife species. Under the stewardship agreement, revenue generated through the timber harvests will be reinvested directly back into the forest to support additional restoration work and...

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Know Your Cover – Greenbrier

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Article by Ryan Adkins, RGS & AWS Forest Wildlife Specialist – Southwest Virginia Photo courtesy of VTree Virginia Tech Dendrology As a forester and habitat manager, I tend to have a love/hate relationship with common greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia). Unfortunately, greenbrier makes for a dense obstacle when navigating across eastern hardwood forests in Southern Appalachia. As a common resource for many wildlife species, greenbrier is resilient and a constant staple cover of mixed oak forests in the region. Although these annoyances may extort a groan and sigh as I’m marching between the ridges of southwest Virginia, for other critters, this isn’t the case. Tangled Up in...

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Member Spotlight: Tom Mcpherson

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Upland Bird Hunt Chapter | Pennslyvania by Emily Sliski, RGS & AWS Engagement Coordinator – Mid-Atlantic Region Tom Mcpherson doesn’t simply dabble in grouse hunting and bird dogs – he throws himself into it wholeheartedly. For Tom, the uplands aren’t a pastime; they define his seasons, shapes who he is and serve as the foundation for his connections to the conservation community he’s helping to build. So how does an obsession with all things grouse hunting start? For Tom, it started with a fly-tying vice and the need for feathers. Born and raised in Butler, Pennsylvania, about an hour north of Pittsburgh, Tom...

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Featured Artist: Andy McRae

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“In Search of – Spring Grouse” Graphite pencil on Strathmore 300 Series paper stock (Inspiration taken from a photograph kindly provided by Cameron Rognan)“Last Flight Departing 17:42 – American Woodcock” Graphite pencil on Fabriano 1264 sketch paper Andy McRae’s passion for the outdoors began like many: during his early childhood, camping with his parents, the Boy Scouts, high school trips and exploring on his own. Even then, he brought along paper and pencils, drawing during those early years, honing his skill to get  where he is today. An artist at heart, McRae’s been drawing and painting since the late1960s. Being self-taught has...

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