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Healthy Forests, Abundant Wildlife, Conservation Ethic

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Grouse Camp 2020 | Visits Minnesota and Wisconsin

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Countdown to Grouse Camp 2020

Highlights from Grouse Camp 2019

History

Since 2015 RGS & AWS members have followed along with our annual Grouse Camp Tour. From the organization’s roots, in Monterey, Virginia, to the far northern covers of Maine, the Grouse Camp Tour has traveled the country celebrating our beloved hunted traditions alongside our devoted membership.

This fall, Grouse Camp returns to Wisconsin and establishes a second location in Minnesota. We invite you to join us for the second year in a row at our Grouse Camp Meet-ups in Eagle River, Wisconsin, September 25th – 27th and Breezy Point, Minnesota, October 2nd – 4th (MN EVENT CANCELLED).

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RGS & AWS Shares USFS Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan Revision Fact Sheet and Position Statements

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Act Now: Submit Comments Here

Numerous forest wildlife are at-risk in the southern Appalachians due to lack of forest diversity and an unnaturally single-aged forest (i.e., lacking very young and very old forest interspersed across the landscape). Many, including ruffed grouse and American woodcock, are listed as species of greatest conservation need in North Carolina’s State Wildlife Action Plan. Some are even considered species of concern at the federal level (golden-winged warbler and Appalachian cottontail). The conservation needs of these species center mainly on habitat restoration and management.

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RGS & AWS announces Forest Conservation Director to lead forest wildlife conservation efforts in the southern Appalachians.

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Nick Biemiller

With funding donated specifically for the purpose, the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS) have moved forward with a new Forest Conservation Director position in the Southern Appalachian Region. The generous gift, from a donor who wished to remain anonymous, was placed in a restricted account late in 2019 as recruitment ensued. The Society announced today that Nick Biemiller was selected for the role from a highly qualified group of applicants. In the newly developed position, Biemiller will build and manage a network to achieve forest wildlife goals across several states. The region includes northern Georgia and South Carolina, western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia, and Kentucky.

“Having a dedicated person in the southern Appalachians has been a priority since my first day at RGS/AWS. Ruffed grouse are hanging on by a thread and we have to put our best foot forward. With his deep understanding of forestry and wildlife conservation, Nick is the right person for the job,” said Ben Jones, RGS/AWS President & CEO.

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CZ-USA Extends Commitment to Ruffed Grouse Society

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CZ-USA extends commitment to forest wildlife conservation in partnership with Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society.

CORAOPOLIS, Pa. – The Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society are proud to announce an extension of their corporate partnership with CZ-USA, an importer, manufacturer and distributor of shotguns. The partnership will directly fund the RGS & AWS mission efforts to expand forest wildlife habitat through working forests. In addition CZ-USA will play a key role in supporting membership growth along with hunter recruitment and retention efforts. 

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Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society Continue Support for Eastern Woodcock Migration Study

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Animation provided by: Alex Fish, University of Maine

Studying woodcock migration with RGS & AWS funded GPS technology.

The Virginia Chapters of the Ruffed Grouse Society have provided the latest commitment of member support for an international collaborative research effort examining American Woodcock migration. The H.C. Edwards Chapter, the James River Chapter, and the Ruffed Grouse Society Virginia State Drummer Fund (SDF) provided support for purchasing three additional GPS transmitters for deployment by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF).

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RGS & AWS Address with Ben Jones and Sean Curran

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Answering more of your questions related to this week’s announcements of organizational re-structure and our model of working forests conservation.

RGS & AWS President and CEO Ben Jones is joined by RGS & AWS Vice President of Mission Sustainability Sean Curran to discuss recent news related to organizational staffing and conservation delivery programs.

The team at RGS & AWS is committed to answering your questions and providing our membership the most up to date information on the organization and the status of our mission.

Upland Nation Podcast with Scott Linden features a conversation about RGS & AWS

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upland-nation-podcast

RGS & AWS President and CEO Ben Jones recently joined Scott Linden, host of the Upland Nation Podcast to discuss recent news of an organizational re-structure and changes to the conservation delivery program.

Listen on | Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Podbean | Stitcher | Spotify

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A Conversation About RGS & AWS with Ron Boehme on The Hunting Dog Podcast

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Ben Jones joins Ron Boehme of The Hunting Dog Podcast to discuss a new model for forest conservation.

In a recently released episode of The Hunting Dog Podcast, RGS & AWS President and CEO joins host Ron Boehme to discuss recent news regarding an organizational restructure and a new model for forest conservation.

LISTEN on | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Libsyn

Topics of conversation include analysis of the newly announced Ruffed Grouse Society Model of Working Forests as well as answers to many of the questions members have been asking about the news.

You’re Asking, We’re Answering

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We have received many thoughtful comments and questions from our members over the past 12 hours. Much of the feedback has been positive, it has been apparent for most of us that RGS & AWS needs to go in new directions to thrive. I share the heartfelt sadness at losing these three biologists who have done so much good work with us. It is always difficult to let people go—it has always been my least favorite part of my professional work.

We truly appreciate the engagement. The following is a first round of Frequently Asked Questions. More to come…Keep the questions coming and we will keep the conversation going.

– Ben Jones

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The Ruffed Grouse Society Model of Working Forests

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UPDATED | Information Center

The below resources and links provide new and updated information regarding the RGS & AWS Model of Working Forests as well as organizational changes to staffing and conservation delivery programs.

ruffed-grouse-working-forests

Creating a Scalable Model for Healthy Forest Management and Wildlife Habitat

When the RGS & AWS Board of Directors and I first met nearly two years ago, we focused on a central theme – the need to scale up forest conservation work. Great strides have been made over the Ruffed Grouse Society’s 60-year tenure and now, greater opportunity knocks. By scaling our successes, we can expand impact. To that end, we have been working towards a working forests model that can improve habitat across larger landscapes. Without a doubt, efficient and impactful conservation is more important now than ever!

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