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Western Great Lakes Projects

UPM Blandin Hunter Walking Trail (Minnesota)​

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Grand Rapids, MN (Oct. 2020) – Thanks to a $5,000 investment from the MN State Drummer Fund to seed the project, the Snaptail Hunter Walking Trail Area is now open to non-motorized use thanks to a partnership between the Ruffed Grouse Society and UPM Blandin. In addition to the hunter walking trail area, which is 30 minutes north of Grand Rapids, Blandin has committed to creating more ruffed grouse habitat by managing a mature aspen stand surrounding the trails. In addition to furnishing time, labor, and materials on the project, Blandin will be sponsoring the local chapter with a $1000 gift...

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Mead Wildlife Area Alder Regeneration​ (Wisconsin)

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Project Map Funded in late 2019, this project is the sister project to RGS/AWS/DNR’s 2019 McMillan Wildlife Areas project.  In the Spring of 2021, a total of 11 acres of large, overly mature alder was sheared by a contractor off of Rangeline Road to provide excellent habitat for woodcock, grouse and other young forest dependent wildlife for many years to come.  Due to the ease of accessibility off the road and location to multiple communities, this area is also a popular spot used by many types of hunters. Background The Mead Wildlife Area is approximately 32,000 acres of heavily hunted public land with...

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McMillan Wildlife Area Alder Regeneration​ (Wisconsin)

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Project Map Funded by RGS in mid-2019, but facing setbacks due to COVID19 restrictions, this sheering project at the McMillan Wildlife Area was completed in early 2021. In total, 5 acres of large, overly-mature alder was sheared by a contractor at the end of Marsh Road.  Coming in under budget, plans are in place to use remaining funds to accomplish more acres in the winter of 2021-2022. This area is heavily used by hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts.  It is directly next to a heavily used parking lot and adjacent to a hiking/biking trail.  As it regenerates and responds to the treatment,...

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Silver Creek Hunter Walking Trail – Ashland Co​ (Wisconsin)

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In 2019, RGS/AWS partnered with the Ashland Co Forestry and recreation Dept to rehabilitate the Silver Creek Hunter Walking Trail system.  This included mowing/brushing 2 acres of wildlife openings and 2.5 miles of trails that became overgrown with trees on this walk-in only trail.  After brushing was completed, openings and trails were planted to a mix of winter rye, clover, chicory, and brassicas.  Labor and equipment for this project was donated by the Ashland Co Forestry and Recreation Dept.

The C.D. Buzz Besadny Fish and Wildlife Area Grouse and Woodcock Habitat Improvement Project (Wisconsin)​

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The C.D. Besadny Fish and Wildlife Area Grouse and Woodcock habitat improvement project was initiated in February 2019 to regenerate swamp brush to support grouse and woodcock habitat adjacent to recent clear cut aspen stands. To date, 8ac of mixed alder, willow, and winterberry brush have been mowed in these locations.  These mature alder stands have not been managed in the past and are showing more horizontal stem growth and a decreased stem density than younger alder stands.  By creating a patchwork of younger growth alder amongst these stands, we will provide woodcock with optimal feeding habitat, especially in drier...

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Ashland Co. Ruffed Grouse Management Area​ (Wisconsin)

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In 2019, RGS began a partnership with the Board of Commissioner of Public Lands (BCPL).  BCPL manages 77,000 acres of school trust lands across northern WI.  Because of their unique nature, being managed in trust to benefit public education, these lands largely get ignored from a wildlife habitat perspective and public funding perspective.  Working with BCPL Foresters, a 10-year backlog of forest inventory was identified across the ownership.  Simply put, without forest inventory, forest management doesn’t happen.  Looking beyond the small dot on the map habitat projects that don’t lend well to landscape level impacts, RGS/AWS decided to do something...

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