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Healthy Forests, Abundant Wildlife, Conservation Ethic

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Eastern Great Lakes Regional Page

Eastern Great Lakes:
RGS & AWS Highlights

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Do you want to see grouse and woodcock prosper in this region?

It starts with membership! Your support gives you a front row seat to our conservation efforts. Keep reading to see what’s progressing in this region and feel free to contact your local staff!

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2025 Giving Tuesday Regional Update:

MAKE A YEAR END GIFT TODAY
Some Great Lakes states like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan are well known for the bounty of grouse, woodcock, and forest wildlife. These states are leading the pack when it comes to population estimates and enthusiasm for wildlife pursuits like hunting, photography, and wildlife watching. However, we’re seeing steep declines elsewhere in the Midwest. States like Indiana, Ohio, and Iowa hardly have grouse to speak of today and we know this is because of a steep decline in suitable habitat. 

Below, you can read about how we’re moving the needle across the Midwest and Great Lakes states. 

Regional Impact:

Explore Project Details

Regional Summaries

Southern Appalachian Conservation Business Plan Executive Summary

Southern Appalachian Conservation Business Plan Executive Summary

Project Profiles:

Southern Michigan Woodcock Habitat (Michigan)

Pere Marquette Forest Habitat Collective (Michigan)

Huron-Manistee Stewardship Agreement (Michigan)

Hiawatha Early Successional Project (Michigan)

Copper Country Habitat Restoration Project (Michigan)

Big Wild Habitat Improvement Project (Michigan)

2024 Northern Ohio Chapter of The American Woodcock Society Tree Planting Project (Ohio)

Glinda Stewardship SPA (Michigan)

UP Wildland Enhancement Project – Ottawa National Forest and Hiawatha National Forest

VIEW MORE EASTERN GREAT LAKES PROJECTS

Regional Staff:

Zach Evans

Forest Conservation Director
(412) 463-8305
zache@ruffedgrousesociety.org

Gabe Stone

Engagement Coordinator
(Lower Peninsula & Eastern UP MI, IN, OH & IL)
(412) 779-5441
gabes@ruffedgrousesociety.org

Seth Finkel

Western UP Public Lands Project Coordinator Houghton, MI 49931
sethf@ruffedgrousesociety.org

Regional Summaries

Screen Shot 2021-07-13 at 1.45.39 PM

Habitat Success from Michigan

Policy Statements

Michigan: Senate Bill 860: A Bill to Amend 1994 PA 451

Fourmile Management Coalition Support Letter

Ohio Wildlife Council
Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center Military Land Use Expansion Proposal
The Winnie Sand Project

Blue Creek Salvage and Stream Restoration

FY25 Wetland Funding Coalition Support

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Regional News

Remembering Glen R. Blackwood: A True Conservation Champion

Ruffed Grouse Society January 13, 2026

Chapter Spotlight: H.C. Edwards Chapter

Ruffed Grouse Society December 12, 2025

New Forest Wildlife Specialists Join RGS & AWS in Kentucky and Michigan

Ruffed Grouse Society September 8, 2025
VIEW REGIONAL ARCHIVES

Upcoming Events:

[tribe_events tag=”eastern-great-lakes” view=”photo” events_per_page=”3″ tribe-bar=”false”]
  • Chicagoland T. Stanton Armour Chapter Birds and Brew

    Park Ridge,Illinois
    June 17, 2026 05:00pm
  • Andy Ammann Chapter Habitat Cleanup Day 2026

    Charlotte,
    June 20, 2026 08:00am
  • RGS Highlands Chapter Manton Fun Shoot 2026

    Manton,Michigan
    June 27, 2026 08:00am
EXPLORE ALL EVENTS

This Region in the Media

Covers Magazine

Chapter Spotlight: H.C. Edwards Chapter

December 12, 2025 No Comments
Covers Magazine

Member Spotlight: John Paige

December 10, 2025 No Comments
Coastal Plain and Piedmont Media

The Future of Upland Conservation: Dr. Ben Jones on Gamebird University

September 4, 2025 No Comments
Eastern Great Lakes Media

Michigan RGS Update with Zach Evans and Gabe Stone – Bird Camp Podcast

August 19, 2025 No Comments
Covers Magazine

Drumroll Please – The link between surveys and shells

July 9, 2025 No Comments
Announcements

Exciting News: Doubling Our Impact in the Great Lakes

April 9, 2025 No Comments

Get Involved!

IL

T. STANTON ARMOUR

Lance Buhrman

Mundelein, IL

lance@buhrmandesigngroup.com

IN

INDIANA

Perry M. Seitzinger

Indianapolis , IN

psforestry@yahoo.com

MI

ANDY AMMANN

Nick Buggia

Lansing, MI

Marty0127@peoplepc.com

MI

EASTERN UPPER PENINSULA

Marty Sarrault

St. Ignace, MI

Marty0127@peoplepc.com

MI

GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN

Troy Allen

Grand Rapids, MI

troypallen@yahoo.com

MI

GREATER SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN

Gabe Stone

Detroit, MI

gabes@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MI

ROGER MOORE

Brad Luchsinger

Flint, MI

bradluchsinger@gmail.com

MI

LAKESIDE

Gabe Stone

Warren, MI

gabes@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MI

LOWER CENTRAL MITTEN

Eric Vincent

Marshall/Jonesville, MI

ehvincen@mtu.edu

MI

NORTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN

Bonnie Michalski

West Branch, MI

Bjmichalski_04@yahoo.com

MI

ROBERT J. LYTLE

John Paige

Lapeer, MI

jhpaige@chartermi.net

MI

SAGINAW VALLEY

Randy Flathau

Saginaw, MI

RandyFPD17@gmail.com

MI

THE AL LITZENBURGER

Steve Chaffee

Petoskey, MI

Stevechaffee@hotmail.com

MI

THE JIM FOOTE

Scott Smith DVM & Blake Rentfrow

Gaylord, MI

JimFoote@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MI

TIP OF THE MITT

Gabe Stone

Onaway, MI

gabes@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MI

WEST MICHIGAN LAKESHORE

Troy VanGeison

Whitehall, MI

troy.vangeison@gmail.com

MI

ALPENA

Gabe Stone

Alpena, MI

gabes@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MI

HIGHLANDS

Les Vandrie

Cadillac, MI

Lvandrie47@gmail.com

MI

LE GRAND TRAVERSE

Paul Huffman

Traverse City, MI

Phuffman64.ph@googlemail.com

MI

NORTH WOODS

Matt Nees

Iron Mountain, MI

mtnees@gmail.com

MI

SUPERIOR

Will Corcoran

Ironwood, MI

wcorcoran@chartermi.net

OH

CHAGRIN VALLEY-RGS

Curtis Taylor and Luke Vadas

Chagrin Valley, OH

curt@process4.com and lukev@arborrehab.com

OH

GILBERT R. SYMONS

Gregory Goebel

Cincinnati, OH

gregohio2000@yahoo.com

OH

NORTHERN OHIO-AWS

James D. Inbody

Middlefield, OH

bonasahunter72@aol.com

OH

OHIO HILLS

Gabe Stone

Lancaster, OH

gabes@ruffedgrousesociety.org

OH

HOCKING RIVER VALLEY

Stephen E. Benson

Athens, OH

stephen.benson@austinpowder.com

OH

UPPER OHIO VALLEY

Harold L. Pickens

St. Clairsville, OH

pickensharold@yahoo.com

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