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03/05/18

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For Immediate Release

Ruffed Grouse Society/American Woodcock Society Hire Two New Wisconsin Forest Wildlife Specialists

Partnership with the USDA – NRCS and WI DNR improves forest wildlife habitat on private lands

Coraopolis, PA – Healthy forests are the centerpiece of the Ruffed Grouse Society/American Woodcock Society (RGS/AWS) mission, and their importance is recognized by multiple other conservation organizations. RGS/AWS has entered into a novel partnership with the U. S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WI DNR), collaboratively supporting two new, full-time staff dedicated to forest habitat development on private lands in Wisconsin. This coordination enables sharing of skills and resources to impact forest management and conservation beyond what would be possible by each partner organization alone.

By Brent A. Rudolph, Ph.D., RGS & AWS Director of Conservation Policy

Under budgets devastated by wildfire suppression costs, the Forest Service has reduced land management staff by 39% since 1998. Since 2001, vegetation and watershed management program funding has been reduced by 24%, and wildlife and fisheries management program funding by 18%.

On Dec 1, 2017, we asked supporters to ask Congress for a budgetary fix to help the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) deal with out of control annual fire suppression costs, and to enact other management reforms to address backlogged wildlife habitat needs.

The response from our supporters? Great!

The response from Congress? NOT great.

12/20/17

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RGS in the News

The original article Teaming up to save the Grizzled Skipper, by Kristen Beverage-Doss, The Pocohantus Times at https://pocahontastimes.com/around-the-forest/ was posted December 13, 2017.

CAT 299D, donated by RGS, in operation in West Virginia. Photo courtesy WVDNR

11/22/17

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Grush will engage Michigan chapters in fundraising and membership events that enhance healthy forests, abundant wildlife and sporting traditions.

Coraopolis, PA – The Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society (RGS/AWS) recently hired Scott Grush as regional director to enhance chapter engagement and fundraising efforts in Michigan. RGS/AWS regional directors work with local chapter volunteers to create and host chapter events including fundraising, sportsman’s banquets, shoots, educational activities, habitat days and recruitment/youth events.

10/17/17

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October 17, 2017

For Immediate Release

460 Peterson Road Grand Rapids MN 55744 218-326-1103 www.mndeerhunters.com	451 McCorminck Road Coraopolis, PA 15108 412-262-4044 www.ruffedgrousesociety.org

MDHA AND RGS PARTNER TO PROTECT FOREST HABITAT

In 2016, the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association (MDHA) and the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) formed a new partnership combining the resources of both organizations to better protect forest habitat. At last week’s RGS National Grouse and Woodcock Hunt in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, the parties celebrated their joint conservation successes including the recent donation of nearly 2,300 acres of forest lands to Cass and Hubbard Counties.

10/16/17
Media Contact:
Matt Soberg
(218) 232-6227
editor@ruffedgrousesociety.org

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October 16, 2017

For Immediate Release

Ruffed Grouse Society Reports 2017 National Grouse and Woodcock Hunt Results

Coraopolis, PA – The Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) held its 36th annual National Grouse and Woodcock Hunt (NGWH) on October 12 and 13, 2017 in and around Grand Rapids, Minnesota with harvest results, obtained by RGS wildlife biologists, showing decreases in ruffed grouse and American woodcock harvests compared to 2016.

Participating hunters (108) harvested 124 ruffed grouse during the two-day hunt (62 grouse on day 1 and 62 grouse on day 2), which is a 30 percent decrease from the 2016 harvest of 175 ruffed grouse and a 50 percent decrease from the average harvest. Each hunter harvested an average of 0.5 grouse per day in 2017, which is low compared to the average of 1.4. The recruitment ratio was 3.33 with 45 percent of harvested birds being adults, 55 percent being juveniles, 60 percent males and 40 percent females. The color phase breakdown was 9.6 percent gray, 20 percent intermediate, 11 percent brown, 44 percent red and 14 percent split. Dry weather and strong south winds provided difficult scenting conditions for hunters with bird dogs.