fbpx

RGS

Healthy Forests, Abundant Wildlife, Conservation Ethic

You are here: Home / Archives for conservation

conservation

What We Can Learn from Grouse Drumming Surveys

by

ruffed grouse drumming - Steve Oehlenschlager
Photo Credit | Steve Oehlenschlager

What exactly does a drumming survey tell us…or not tell us?

There’s something special about that feeling you get in the grouse woods in springtime – that moment when you pause and can’t quite hear anything, but actually feel something thumping in your chest (besides your heart). Finally it becomes clear that it’s actually a grouse drumming from a hundred yards away. Drumming is done by male grouse as they beat their wings from an elevated log, stump, rock, or other platform. Contrary to what many people believe, they’re not hitting their wings against their breast – it’s actually caused by the vacuum of air left behind from their rapid wingbeats. Scientists use this behavior to conduct drumming surveys each spring.

Most hunters keep tabs on drumming surveys when they come out each summer, and get excited (or dismayed) about the results. The surveys have been used reliably for several decades. But in recent history, there seems to be somewhat of a disconnect between spring drumming counts and fall harvest numbers/observations. So what is their purpose and what can we still learn from them?

[Read more…] about What We Can Learn from Grouse Drumming Surveys

Your Voice Improving National Forests through RGS | AWS

by

[Read more…] about Your Voice Improving National Forests through RGS | AWS

Ben Jones featured on East To West Hunting Podcast

by

Earlier this month, RGS/AWS President & CEO, Ben Jones was featured on the East To West Hunting podcast.

Joining host Todd Waldron, the two discuss all things RGS/AWS from wildlife and habitat conservation to recruiting new upland bird hunters.

[Read more…] about Ben Jones featured on East To West Hunting Podcast

New Jersey Grouse Season Closure

by

Ruffed Grouse - Photo Credit: Steve Oehlenschlager
Photo Credit: Steve Oehlenschlager

At their regular meeting on July 17, the New Jersey Fish and Game Council unanimously voted to close the ruffed grouse hunting season statewide.

The Ruffed Grouse Society was disheartened to hear of the New Jersey ruffed grouse hunting season closure announced last week. The NJ Department of Fish & Wildlife’s population monitoring clearly justifies the move. Ruffed grouse are a bellwether of forest health. Their decline mirrors that of other forest wildlife in New Jersey including golden-winged warbler, blue-winged warbler, cerulean warbler, wood thrush, and American woodcock.

[Read more…] about New Jersey Grouse Season Closure

Why Fire is So Important for Wildlife and Habitat

by

Fire habitat management
Photo Credit | Jon Steigerwaldt

Looking Back on Fire History to See the Future

What’s the first thing most people think about when they hear the word fire? It often has a bad reputation as a purely destructive, terrible force that ruins the environment and drives out all wildlife. You see it represented that way in popular culture (e.g., Bambi) or even on the news. It’s true – wildfires can be very dangerous and often threaten lives and property. But even when it comes to prescribed fire, many people are still cautious. So how can we turn that negative perception around? I chatted once again with Jon Steigerwaldt, Ruffed Grouse Society Regional Biologist for Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa. It turns out Jon’s Master’s thesis was on fire history, ecology, and implementation. So who better to talk to about this topic? 

[Read more…] about Why Fire is So Important for Wildlife and Habitat

RGS/AWS Seeking COVERS Magazine Editor

by

Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society Logo

Are you or someone you know interested in supporting the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society mission via the production and coordination of our award winning COVERS magazine? If so, we would love to hear from you. See below for complete details.

Request for Proposal: Managing Editor/Magazine Production Coordinator 

The Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society seek a qualified individual to serve as an independent contractor to oversee production of their quarterly magazine, Covers. 

[Read more…] about RGS/AWS Seeking COVERS Magazine Editor

Conservation Policy Update | July 2019

by

Maine grouse hunting

A look into the current habitat, wildlife and conservation issues that matter to RGS/AWS members right now.

RECENT VICTORIES

John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act

In February, the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society celebrated Senate and House approval of the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (S. 47). The president later signed S. 47 into law on March 12, 2019. The bill included permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). LWCF has invested over $16 billion in conservation and outdoor recreation since originally passed in 1964. RGS/AWS staff, along with a coalition of our conservation and forest industry partners, worked to secure a $425 million LWCF appropriation in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, a 6.25% increase over the previous year. However, LWCF authorization expired despite a 50-year track record of successfully conserving habitat and expanding recreational access.

[Read more…] about Conservation Policy Update | July 2019

Ben Jones Featured on the Project Upland Podcast

by

The Story of a Conservation Leader…

RGS/AWS President and CEO, Ben Jones was recently a guest on the Project Upland Podcast. Hosted by RGS/AWS member Nick Larson, the two were joined by Creative Director of Northwoods Collective and Project Upland, A.J. DeRosa.

[Read more…] about Ben Jones Featured on the Project Upland Podcast

In the Time of Ruffed Grouse…

by

ruffed grouse hunting in New Hampshire

Hunting ruffed grouse through the golden age, whenever it may be for you.

“Golden Ages” come and go. Consider for a moment why the term even exists. The idea itself can be relative. My ‘Golden Age’ can be different than it might be when examining a larger timeline. The individual elements that define my Golden Age may vary greatly compared with those of others. This story reflects some of those moments, but the term relative seems to be a much more relevant word . . . 

[Read more…] about In the Time of Ruffed Grouse…

RGS | BHA Pint Night on the Hunting Dog Podcast

by

Just in case you missed it, RGS/AWS president and CEO, Ben Jones was featured on the Hunting Dog Podcast, along with Heather Shaw, RGS/AWS regional biologist.

The two conversed with host, Ron Boehme, and BHA regional director, Jason Meekhof. Topics covered included the mission of both organizations, their unique differences as well as how they overlap and collaborate.

Don’t miss this episode of The Hunting Dog Podcast!