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Healthy Forests, Abundant Wildlife, Conservation Ethic

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Ruffed Grouse Society | American Woodcock Society and Partners Applaud Efforts to Protect Boundary Waters Habitat

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Proposed legislation to Protect Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

January 15, 2020
For Immediate Release

Coraopolis, Pa. – The Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society (RGS|AWS) today applauded introduction of the bipartisan Boundary Waters Protection and Pollution Prevention Act (H.R. 5598), legislation that would permanently protect fish, wildlife, and the recreation industry within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area from proposed upstream copper-nickel mining development in the Superior National Forest.

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Purina Continues Commitment to Conservation – RGS

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Purina Pro Plan

CORAOPOLIS, Pa. — The Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society are honored to announce the extension of a historic commitment to conservation by a critical partner organization, Purina, a premier global manufacturer of pet products. With a renewed partnership in place between the organizations, Purina will continue to support the RGS/AWS conservation network in the improvement of wildlife habitat and forest health. In addition, RGS/AWS membership will benefit through the contributions and expertise of Purina staff on all things related to bird dog health and nutrition.

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Giving Tuesday 2019 Results

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You raised $52,855!
Thank you!

Thanks to all of our generous Giving Tuesday donors, we have SURPASSED our goal of $50,000 AND secured the a match of $50,000 for a grand total of $102,855!

Your help in making Giving Tuesday successful for ruffed grouse and American woodcock is very much appreciated; whether you’ve made a donation, shared our campaign, or both, thank you!

In 2018 & 2019, Giving Tuesday has served as a powerful springboard for Year End gifts to propel the RGS | AWS mission forward!

There is still time to make a tax-deductible donation! We are using gifts of all sizes to create healthy forest habitat across North America in 2020, thank you for your passion in creating healthy forests!

Make a Year End tax-deductible donation.

New Hunters Graduate From Mentored Hunt Training Presented by The Ruffed Grouse Society

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new hunters

New hunter mentor program allows new hunters of any age, young or old, to learn about upland bird hunting from mentors.

Kane Pa.:  The Allegheny Chapter (Kane) of the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) has completed their new hunter training for 2019.  The New Hunter Mentor Program (NHMP) allows new hunters of any age, young or old, to learn about upland bird hunting from mentors. During a day in the spring and a day in the fall, all attendees learn about shooting, habitat and GPS, bird dog care, and then graduate to an actual hunt for birds with dogs. Experienced grouse and woodcock hunters mentored the graduates for the actual hunt.

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We’re Very Thankful for our Corporate Partners

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We’ve got the best mission sponsors!

Whether it’s a purchase for your dog, your family, or yourself, we know you have plenty of choices in today’s marketplace. In the coming weeks you will be inundated with ads from companies near and far vying for your business. When it comes to your purchasing decisions, we hope you take a conscious consumer approach and spend your hard-earned dollars with those Corporate Partners supporting the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society. Their business philosophies celebrate giving back to conservation, and we ask you to strongly support the following Corporate Partners who contribute to healthy forests, abundant wildlife and promoting the conservation ethic. Thank you!

P.S. If you’re shopping through Amazon online, please don’t forget to shop through Amazon Smile and list the Ruffed Grouse Society as your nonprofit of choice! Amazon Smile will donate 0.5% of all eligible purchases back to our organization.

Minnesota DNR Reports Findings of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Ruffed Grouse

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On Monday, November 18th, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) reported results that confirmed three ruffed grouse submitted for testing were infected with Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE).

The grouse were taken in Itasca county and submitted to the DNR for testing by hunters. The hunters noted the birds seemed unable to escape or fly. They also appeared emaciated, having significant muscle and tissue loss. Like West Nile Virus, ruffed grouse become infected with EEE when bitten by mosquitoes carrying the disease.

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Shell Appalachia awards Susquehanna River Valley chapter $25,000 grant for Pennsylvania habitat project

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Shell Appalachia has awarded the Susquehanna River Valley chapter a $25,000 grant in support of habitat work in Tioga State Forest designed to benefit wildlife and healthy forest regeneration.

The funding will cover the cost of fencing material to protect a 146-acre prescribed fire treatment area on state forest in the Shin Hollow area of Gaines Township, Tioga County. In addition, the grant will be used to purchase brood cover seed mix and seedlings, as well as hard and soft mast seedlings that will be planted within the project area.

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Voice Your Support for Sunday Hunting in Pennsylvania – RGS

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sunday-hunting-for-ruffed-grouse

The Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society previously notified members of a chance to gain Sunday hunting opportunities in Pennsylvania through Senate Bill 147.

This week, the House Game and Fisheries Committee added an amendment to SB 147, primarily to require written landowner permission for Sunday hunting. This amendment has alleviated some lingering concerns and created the best chance yet to allow hunters that want the opportunity for Sunday hunting to have that choice. The rundown of votes that passed the amended version of SB 147 out of the House Game and Fisheries Committee can be found here.

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Ben Jones Addresses West Nile Virus Testing in Ruffed Grouse – RGS

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Grouse enthusiasts are abuzz this week with hunting seasons in full swing and recent press releases from key states. Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan shared 2018 West Nile Virus testing results after an unexpected laboratory delay (details can be found here).

I read the reports, completed phone interviews with reporters and braced myself. When West Nile Virus appears in the news, it can even eclipse dog breed and shotgun choice “discussions” in level of interest and disagreement. Justifiably so. The appearance of a new disease threatening our beloved ruffed grouse is reason for concern.

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Earliest Test Results of West Nile Virus Sampling in Upper Great Lakes Ruffed Grouse Now Available – RGS

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ruffed grouse
Photo Credit | Steve Oehlenschlager
  • Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan Departments of Natural Resources recently announced results of the first year of coordinated West Nile Virus (WNV) sampling efforts for ruffed grouse in their state
  • Rates of WNV antibodies in ruffed grouse varied from around 13 percent in Minnesota and Michigan, and 29 percent in Wisconsin
  • Ruffed Grouse Society continues to emphasize habitat management as the “solution” for WNV, and aid in coordinating surveillance efforts in all 3 states

October 22, 2019
For Immediate Release

Coraopolis, Pa. – The Departments of Natural Resources in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan recently announced results of West Nile Virus (WNV) testing of hunter submitted samples from the 2018 hunting seasons.

Results are the first in a three-year study conducted through a partnership among the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) and each state agency. The coordinated effort was planned to better understand ruffed grouse exposure to WNV in the region. Results already demonstrate that some grouse survive exposure to WNV and are not sick when harvested in the fall.

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