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Healthy Forests, Abundant Wildlife, Conservation Ethic

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Southern Appalachian Media

New Hires Strengthen Habitat Work Across Southern Appalachians Region

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RGS & AWS is expanding its team in the Southern Appalachians with the addition of two Forest Wildlife Specialists: Justin Ireland in Tennessee and Pan Tankersley in South Carolina. Justin Ireland Ireland is a Tennessee native and life-long hunter with a bachelor’s in wildlife from Tennessee Tech and master’s of science in forestry from the University of Tennessee. After serving five years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Ireland worked as a field forester and consultant in Tennessee, and a wildlife research technician in Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi. Ireland’s role spans both private and public lands. On private lands, preparing Natural Resources...

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RGS & AWS Foresters Respond to Hurricane Helene – Grassroots action and federal and local partners bring relief to Southern Appalachia

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by Kristen A. Schmitt On Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, hours after making landfall at peak intensity along the Big Bend region of Florida, Hurricane Helene roared across the southeastern U.S., triggering catastrophic flooding in western North Carolina, East Tennessee and southwestern Virginia. The Category 4 storm took the area by surprise, coupling the onslaught of rain with gale force winds that snapped oaks and hickories like twigs, leaving a decimated landscape in its wake. For Sean Barry, a resident of Marshall, North Carolina, no one believed it would be as bad as it was. “It caught us off guard,” said Barry, RGS &...

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A Collaboration for a Healthier Appalachian Forest

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by Matthew L. Miller Working together, forest restoration in the Appalachians carries so many benefits. Yes, a healthy and resilient forest benefits grouse and woodcock. It also benefits a wide variety of other species from cerulean warblers to ovenbirds to bats. It benefits outdoor recreation and local communities. A common purpose in restoring healthy forest is why The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and RGS & AWS have partnered in the southern Appalachians, recently formalized with a strategic document outlining how the groups will work together. This partnership is particularly inspiring for me. I’ve worked as a writer and communicator for TNC for 23 years,...

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Celebrating 10 Years of The Hunting Dog Podcast, with RGS

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To listen to the full episode, visit The Hunting Dog Podcast’s website In the latest episode of The Hunting Dog Podcast, titled “Ten Years in the Books,” host Ron Boehme reflects on a decade of commitment to upland hunting, dog training, and habitat conservation. This milestone coincides with the 10th anniversary of the American Woodcock Society (AWS), a partner organization of the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS). Established to focus on woodcock habitats, AWS has expanded RGS’s conservation efforts across 38 states, emphasizing the importance of sustainable forest management for both ruffed grouse and American woodcock. Throughout the episode, Boehme highlights the collaborative efforts...

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RGS & AWS Hires Spencer Marshall as Forest Wildlife Specialist

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RGS & AWS welcomes Spencer Marshall as a forest wildlife specialist for state lands in western Virginia. Marshall is originally from Galax, Virginia, and earned his bachelor’s degree in wildlife conservation with a minor in forestry from Virginia Tech. He continued his education at the University of Tennessee where his graduate research was focused on white-tailed deer response to prescribed fire. Marshall’s professional interests include applied management to enhance habitat quality for various game species. In his free time, he enjoys fly fishing, hiking, camping and hunting. Marshall is excited to return to southwest Virginia to work on the state lands...

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Take action in support of sustainable national forests management!

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At RGS & AWS, we’re proud to work with the U.S. Forest Service on sound forest management that promotes abundant wildlife, healthy forests, and opportunities for people to enjoy the outdoors. As the USFS considers a proposal that would guide stewardship of old growth and mature forests, we commend the Service for staying true to its mission – and relying on sound science as a guide. This despite a steady drumbeat of falsehoods and faux research from anti-forest management groups. The Forest Service wants your input on its plan, which could impact the entire National Forest System! Suggested comments are below. Take 5 minutes right now...

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