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RGS & AWS Congratulate Randy Moore on Appointment as US Forest Service Chief

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The Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS) are pleased to congratulate Randy Moore on his appointment as Chief of the USDA Forest Service by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

Randy Moore brings over 40 years of conservation experience and leadership to the appointment. His Forest Service experience includes service in multiple regions, and assignments as acting associate deputy chief for the National Forest System and as national deputy Soils Program manager in Washington, D.C. Mr. Moore will also take a unique place in Forest Service history as the first African American to hold the role of Chief of the Forest Service.

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RGS & AWS Northeast Forest Conservation Update: Part 2

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How the Northeast’s public and private landownership patterns influence RGS & AWS conservation approach.

By Todd Waldron, Northeast Forest Conservation Director

In the most recent RGS & AWS conservation update from the Northeast Region, we looked at the Northeast Upland Gamebird Technical Committee 2017 findings in terms of how diminishing forest habitat diversity is impacting grouse, woodcock and many other forest wildlife populations. One consideration for how RGS & AWS and our partners will need to approach this challenge is to consider land ownership patterns across the Northeast.

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RGS & AWS Northeast Forest Conservation Update: Part 1

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A primer for those curious about ecological issues impacting the Northeastern Region of the U.S.

By Todd Waldron, Northeast Forest Conservation Director

Photo by Todd Waldron

February 22, 2021 – If you and your dog have been covering countless miles through New England’s autumn woods and have only been flushing a fraction of the birds that you used to see – there is a reason for it.

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Timber Management in the George Washington and Thomas Jefferson National Forest

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The need for increased commercial timber harvest is at an all-time high. The Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS) were encouraged to see a recent highlight addressing this critical issue for providing diverse, healthy forest habitat for abundant wildlife.

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Gordon Gullion: Sage of the Ruffed Grouse

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Gordon Gullion played an integral role in the study of ruffed grouse as well as the history of the Ruffed Grouse Society.

People tend to take scientific discoveries for granted. There are laws of gravity, for example, that govern our world, but we don’t often think about Isaac Newton when we go about our day. When hunting ruffed grouse and scanning for the aspen trees they use as cover and sources of food in portions of their range, we’re probably not thinking of Gordon Gullion, the conservation scientist whose studies and observations enhanced our understanding of ruffed grouse and formally linked the bird’s welfare to aspen trees. Gullion’s research still has a major influence on the forest management practices the Ruffed Grouse Society promotes to benefit the bird and other species.  His untimely death at age 67 denied us the authoritative synthesis of his research, but his findings are immortal.

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Chris Dorsey Highlights RGS & AWS in Forbes Article and Sporting Classics Podcast

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RGS & AWS President and CEO Ben Jones talks healthy forests and abundant wildlife with Sporting Classics’ Chris Dorsey.

During a recent trip to Wisconsin, RGS & AWS President and CEO Ben Jones met with Chris Dorsey of Sporting Classics. The time spent together and conversation between the two ultimately led to the RGS & AWS mission being featured on two widely distributed media channels.

An article featured on Forbes.com outlines the issues and threats facing our forests and wildlife. And the conversation continues via the latest episode of the Sporting Classics Podcast.

Read | One Conservation Organization Warns Aging Forests Could Spell Doom For Many Species

Listen On | Apple | Spotify | Anchor | Google

America’s Forests Features RGS’ Jon Stegerwaldt

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National TV program America’s Forests with Chuck Leavell features RGS & AWS Forest Conservation Director Jon Steigerwaldt.

The segment featuring Jon Stegerwaldt and ruffed grouse begins at 11 mins and 55 seconds.

About The Show | “National TV program America’s Forests with Chuck Leavell travels to Wisconsin in the latest episodes of the multi-part series. In this two-part special, Leavell explores the forests of Wisconsin, fittingly on a Harley Davidson. Part one finds Leavell exploring Wisconsin’s Northwoods, taking viewers on a journey through Minocqua and Paul Bunyan country, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest alongside US Forest Service Job Corps members, Tomahawk for an up-close look at ruffed grouse, and the Menominee Tribal land for a lesson in sustainable forestry practiced for thousands of years.”

Modern Carnivore Podcast Features RGS & AWS

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Join Mark Norquist, host of the Modern Carnivore Podcast, for an interview with RGS & AWS President and CEO, Ben Jones.

LISTEN | Modern Carnivore Podcast – Episode #15

About The Episode | Modern Carnivore

“Just days before the pandemic required our country to close down I was able to sit down with Ben Jones who is the President and CEO of two hunting conservation organizations: The Ruffed Grouse Society and the American Woodcock Society. We were at Pheasant Fest which is the annual meeting of the organization Pheasants Forever, and great conservation partner of both Ben’s organizations and Modern Carnivore. We talk about forest health and how proper management can help replicate natural disturbances that have been eliminated as the human population continues to expand across our continent.”

COVID-19 Impacts on Timber Markets and Forest Wildlife

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How COVID-19 Could Affect Grouse Habitat

It’s safe to say that 2020 has been a bit of a whirlwind and things haven’t gone as planned. With all the stay-at-home orders, shutdowns, and disruptions, you’re likely looking forward to the fall hunting season more than ever and getting back into the grouse woods to unwind a bit. Unfortunately, coronavirus and COVID-19 still have some potentially nasty consequences in store for timber markets and subsequently ruffed grouse, in the form of habitat impacts. Here’s how the two are surprisingly connected, and some potential ways that the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS) could help.

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Forest Management is Not Deforestation

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Debunking the Myths of Deforestation

When an average person today sees images of a recent timber harvest, it’s quite possible they may have a negative reaction to it. Fueled by stories of “greedy timber companies” destroying vast swaths of rain-forests, many people start to associate any tree cutting with ruining the environment. But there are some very big differences between deforestation and scientifically-based forest management. Given the decline of young forest stands in North America and the effect that it is having on many wildlife species, we hope to clear up some of those misconceptions below.

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