St. Marys, Pa.: Zane Malogrino of Shinglehouse, Pa., and a student at the Oswayo Valley School District in Potter and eastern McKean Counties, was the featured artist at the 12th Annual Upland Bird Hunt in the PA Wilds on 11/6. Zane’s fine artwork specializes in laser engraving of wooden “home use” pieces, such as serving trays, hat racks, key racks, coasters, clocks, and bottle openers.
[Read more…] about Oswayo Valley Student Artist Featured at Upland Bird Hunt in the PA Wilds
Despite COVID disruptions, we are moving forward with our plans to increase wildlife-focused forest management at scale.
We have buckled down and worked hard over the past 8 months to ensure we can deliver and expand on our mission. Our ability to fill these positions reflects the incredible support of our members and donors and our confidence that such support will continue into the future.
[Read more…] about RGS & AWS Seeking to Fill Three New Forest Conservation Director Positions
Shop today with our partners at Madison Creek Outfitters. By using the promo code RGS25 you’ll save 25% and Madison Creek Outfitters will donate 10% of the sale back to the RGS & AWS conservation mission.
You’ll receive free shipping on orders of $150 or more.
Offer valid until December 31st, 2020.
Ruffed grouse hunting and conservation was recently featured as the focus of a political campaign video. As a result of this, and in light of the upcoming election, we feel compelled to remind our members that we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
RGS & AWS is a nonpartisan organization and did not sponsor the production, creation, or launch of this video. Our nonprofit status dictates that we are prohibited from participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. We work with a wide range of vendors and contractors with varying political affiliations. We are assessing our agreements with vendors/contractors to ensure we are within the bounds of our 501(c)(3) status.
The management of ruffed grouse and their forest habitats has risen in prominence as we face tough challenges. It should be no surprise that our cause is gaining national attention. Despite hardships of the past eight months and discord within our nation, we remain laser-focused on uniting conservationists.
Regardless of this election’s results, RGS & AWS will continue to engage partners from across the political spectrum on urgent issues. Above all else, our mission is: healthy forests, abundant wildlife, and conservation ethics.
RGS & AWS are deeply saddened by the loss of member, donor and conservationist John Ruthven who passed away earlier this month. Over the years, the Ruthvens made countless contributions to RGS & AWS through the Gilbert Symons Chapter based in Ohio.
An acclaimed wildlife artist, he regularly donated prints and original artwork along with his willingness to sign prints, hunt with other members and make personal appearances at RGS & AWS events.
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.
[Read more…] about RGS & AWS Support 30 by 30 Initiative
Monday, Oct. 19 – Friday, Oct. 23
See Complete Schedule Details Below
The second-year results for the Great Lake states’ collaborative West Nile Virus (WNV) study are in, and there’s good news, bad news and hope, for ruffed grouse in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
In total, hunters provided 786 samples in all three states from the 2019 hunting season: 281 from Michigan, 188 from Wisconsin and 317 from Minnesota. The total number of samples was up a bit from the 721 submitted the year prior, though Wisconsin’s individual sample total went down. In 2018, Michigan tested 213 samples, Wisconsin tested 235, and Minnesota tested 273. While some birds did test positive for WNV antibodies, the percentages were low. The results from 2018 and 2019 also showed that these birds can survive being infected.
[Read more…] about West Nile Virus in Ruffed Grouse and Test Kit How-To Video
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.
[Read more…] about Conservation is Not Cancelled – Fall Membership PromotionAs we strive to increase RGS & AWS’ conservation impact, there has been a recurring theme: we need to communicate better among our entire network – members, chapter leaders, staff, and the national leadership team.
I hear you and whole-heartedly agree! As a result, our team just completed a national Communications and Marketing Director search. Despite financial challenges of the pandemic, this is a position we simply could not afford to leave vacant.
The caliber of candidates was incredible and we would have been fortunate to have any one of them join us. Following many great discussions, we are thrilled to announce that Ashley Peters will be leading our communications programs beginning Monday, September 28. Her first order of business will be improving the connection with you all, the supporters and chapters who are the backbone of this organization.
Ashley comes to us from Audubon’s Upper Mississippi Flyway Initiative where she managed communications, policy, and engagement for a regional office that oversaw 30,000 members, 25 chapters, and dozens of partners. Her experience keeping members of a nonprofit well-informed is among the many reasons she rose to the top as a candidate. Not to mention her passion as a hunter and a conservationist.
With Ashley on board, we will have greater capacity to push towards these key goals:
Please join us in welcoming our new communications and marketing director Ashley Peters and, as always, thank you for your dedication to healthy forests, abundant wildlife and our conservation ethic.
Ben Jones
President and CEO
Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society
