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You are here: Home / Archives for action alert

action alert

Action Alert for Michigan

March 3, 2021 by Brent Rudolph

Deadline set for Monday, March 8 to ensure Improved Aspen Management on the Manistee National Forest

The Huron-Manistee National Forests (HMNF) have seen a decline in aspen harvest over the past few decades. This has led to an imbalance in the age structure of aspen stands that negatively affects habitat critical for ruffed grouse, American woodcock, and other forest wildlife.

[Read more…] about Action Alert for Michigan

Filed Under: Action Alert, Conservation Policy, Habitat, News, Read Tagged With: action alert

Action Alert: Join us TODAY in supporting a rule change by the USFWS

February 3, 2021 by admin

Photo by Ben Amstutz

Please take a minute to support federal forest management by commenting on a proposed U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule.

We support this rule, which will address a harmful court decision that has stalled many important forest and wildlife management projects. Numerous lawsuits have exploited the current lack of clarity, including one that we’re fighting on Indiana’s Hoosier National Forest where high quality habitat is needed to reverse severe declines in ruffed grouse populations.

Read more: http://bit.ly/fws-newrule

[Read more…] about Action Alert: Join us TODAY in supporting a rule change by the USFWS

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: action alert, healthy forests, policy, ruffed grouse, usfws

Take Action Now! Help Secure Conservation & Outdoor Recreation Funding: Support the Great American Outdoors Act

March 12, 2020 by Brent Rudolph

United States Capitol - The Great American Outdoors Act

The Great American Outdoors Act (S. 3422) was introduced this week by Senators Manchin (D-WV), Portman (R-OH), Warner (D-VA), Gardner (R-CO), Daines (R-MT), Heinrich (D-NM) and 50 other bipartisan cosponsors. The bill integrates the Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act (S. 1081 by Senators Manchin and Gardner) and the Restore Our Parks Act (S. 500 by Senators Portman and Warner), but with critical expansion to also address crumbling infrastructure on National Forests, National Wildlife Refuges, and lands under the Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Education schools.

The legislation would provide full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), dedicating $900 million annually to a program that has helped conserve some of the most important lands in our nation for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation. More than a year ago, the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society (RGS|AWS) celebrated Senate and House approval of the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (S. 47), which was then signed into law to include permanent reauthorization of LWCF. LWCF authorization had expired despite a 50-year track record of successfully conserving habitat and expanding recreational access. Permanent authorization was a big victory. However, even with permanent reauthorization, Congress has previously redirected approximately $22 billion of funds intended for LWCF implementation to instead pay for unrelated budget items. RGS|AWS staff, along with a coalition of our conservation and forest industry partners, has previously worked to increase individual year appropriations for LWCF and secured its future with permanent reauthorization. Now let’s score another win and secure annual, dedicated funding for the program!

With widespread infrastructure problems in the form of crumbling roads, trails, blinds, piers, campsites, parking lots, and boat ramps across public lands where millions of Americans hunt, fish, hike, and camp, expansion of S. 500 to address a broader public land base is also a significant accomplishment. The Restore Our Parks Act originally addressed only National Parks Service lands, but input from the hunting community has seen our needs considered in the Great American Outdoors Act. Your voices can help ensure Congress continues to see the nearly $10 billion the Great American Outdoors Act would dedicate to infrastructure maintenance on public lands over the next five years as an investment in your future ability to recreate and support conservation and local communities through your visits to these lands.

What You Can Do Find your Senators here, and track the list of S. 3422 cosponsors here. If your Senators are supportive, thank them for committing to this bipartisan effort. If they’ve not yet sponsored the bill, ask them to do so. You can reference our letter of support here. Add your own personal stories of how you’ve been affected by failing infrastructure, and simply how much it means to you that Congress supports conservation, recreation, and continued access to these priceless public lands. Placing a call to your local office can be more effective than writing an email, but any effort may help. Be firm but polite, thank them for their time, and assure them that these are top priorities that you will continue to track and follow up on accordingly

Filed Under: Action Alert, Conservation Policy, Read Tagged With: action alert, Congress, conservation, Great American Outdoors Act

West Virginia Ruffed Grouse Season Changes: Opportunity for Input

March 5, 2020 by Linda Ordiway



The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking input on potential ruffed grouse season changes that could begin with the 2021-2022 season. There is little information available now to assess the proposals, but there are opportunities for providing public input. Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) staff are in contact with West Virginia DNR personnel and will provide our members with additional information as this develops.
 
Questionnaire and Written Comments
 
Input on these potential changes and a variety of other hunting, trapping, and fishing regulations may be provided through a questionnaire or submission of written comments by April 3, 2020. Instructions and forms for submitting the questionnaire and comments are available HERE. The bottom of page 6 contains questions regarding the ruffed grouse season.
 
Public Meetings
 
Public meetings will also be held March 16 and 17, 6:00-8:00 pm, at the locations noted below. Since little additional information has been made available at this time, we encourage members and supporters to attend the nearest meeting location and voice your concerns regarding:
– Additional information that would support each option for regulation changes
– The need for habitat creation and enhancement to more comprehensively benefit ruffed grouse 

Monday, March 16, 2020, 6:00-8:00 PM
– Fairmont – East Fairmont High School (Commons Area) *RGS Regional Biologist Linda Ordiway will attend
– Martinsburg – Martinsburg Holiday Inn (Route 81, Exit 13)
– Summersville – Nicholas County High School
– Milton – West Virginia Pumpkin Park (Office Building)
– Spencer – Heritage community Building
– Princeton – Chuck Methena Center (Stafford Commons)

Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 6:00-8:00 PM
– Glen Dale – John Marshall High School (Commons)
– Moorefield – South Branch Inn (Route 220)
– Fayetteville – New River Gorge Canyon Rim Visitors Center
– Logan – Chief Logan State Park Conference Center
– Parkersburg – Lubeck Volunteer Fire Department (Route 68 South)

2020-2021 WV Ruffed Grouse Season Questionnaire

Filed Under: Action Alert, News, Read Tagged With: action alert, appalachia, public comment, ruffed grouse, west virginia

Call to Action: Public Hunting Lands in MI Under Threat

May 28, 2016 by Ruffed Grouse Society

Public input opportunity extended to all members:

If you hunt on state land in Michigan and feel strongly about maintaining our upland sporting traditions now is the time to let your voice be heard.

On Wednesday May 11, I testified on two Michigan Senate bills that could significantly affect wildlife conservation and hunting (read his written comments…).  We appreciate the Legislature’s interest in public recreation on public lands and there is language in these bills that we agree with but overall they would negatively impact the public land we need for hunting and active forest management required to maintain habitat for ruffed grouse, American woodcock, and other young forest wildlife.

[Read more…] about Call to Action: Public Hunting Lands in MI Under Threat

Filed Under: Action Alert, Events, Hunting Tagged With: action alert, MI, Michigan

Huron-Manistee National Forest – RGS Call To Action

February 9, 2016 by Ruffed Grouse Society

huron-manistee-USFS-icon

Do you hunt on the Huron-Manistee National Forests?  Are you concerned about how the Forest Service manages their land in Michigan?

If so, there is an opportunity to have your voice heard right now on a project that will significantly increase habitat for ruffed grouse, American woodcock, and many other game and non-game species.  It is vital for the Forest Service staff to know that you support what they are proposing not only so they will complete these activities but also so they will plan for more in the future.  This support also will help as we proceed with our legal action against the U.S. Forest Service to get them to meet their minimum young forest goals. Read More…

[Read more…] about Huron-Manistee National Forest – RGS Call To Action

Filed Under: Action Alert, Habitat Tagged With: action alert, Huron-Manistee, National forest, USFS

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