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RGS & AWS Joins Conservation Community in Calling for Passage of Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Fund Bill

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The Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society has joined a broad coalition of conservation organizations urging Minnesota legislative leaders and Gov. Tim Walz to pass the Outdoor Heritage Fund appropriations bill before the legislative session adjourns on May 18. In a joint letter signed by leaders across Minnesota’s conservation community, organizations called on lawmakers to set aside ongoing governance disputes and advance the $191 million funding package that supports critical habitat and public access projects across the state. The proposed legislation would invest in land protection, wetland restoration, prairie and forest habitat, fish and wildlife habitat improvements and public outdoor access...

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From Storm Damage to Wildlife Habitat: Recovery Work Underway in Wisconsin

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When a devastating winter storm swept through northwestern Wisconsin in December 2022, it left behind a level of forest damage few had ever seen before. Dubbed the “Blue Blizzard” because of the heavy, moisture-laden snow that appeared blue in color, the storm caused widespread destruction across large portions of Douglas County. Trees snapped under the weight or bent permanently toward the ground, leaving thousands of acres of damaged forest that would never fully recover. The storm also blocked miles of forest roads and recreational trails, cutting off access for outdoor recreation, forest management and wildlife habitat work. Now, through a collaborative conservation...

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RGS & AWS Covers Magazine Honored with Multiple National Awards

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RGS & AWS is proud to announce that its quarterly membership publication, Covers magazine, received multiple national recognitions in 2025, earning top honors from the APEX Awards for Publication Excellence, the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers (AGLOW) and the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA). These awards highlight the continued excellence of Covers in delivering compelling conservation storytelling and high-quality outdoor journalism. At the 2025 APEX Awards for Publication Excellence, the Spring 2025 issue of Covers received a Grand Award, recognizing outstanding overall quality in editorial content, design and communication. The magazine also earned First Place in Publishing at the 2025 AGLOW Awards...

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RGS & AWS and Aldo Leopold Foundation Partner on 2026 Conservation Membership Initiative

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The Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS) has partnered with the Aldo Leopold Foundation to offer a special Conservation Membership package for 2026, highlighting the shared conservation values between the two organizations and the enduring legacy of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold. The collaboration centers on Leopold’s philosophy of a “land ethic,” first introduced in his landmark book “A Sand County Almanac,” which encourages people to see themselves as members of a broader ecological community with a responsibility to care for the land and wildlife. “RGS & AWS is thrilled to partner with the Aldo Leopold Foundation in offering...

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MeatEater Podcast Asks: Can Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock Be Saved?

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A recent episode of the MeatEater Podcast takes a thoughtful look at a question many upland hunters and conservationists are asking: What does the future hold for ruffed grouse and American woodcock? In Episode 845, host Steven Rinella explores the challenges facing these iconic upland birds and the landscapes they depend on. The episode also features insights from RGS & AWS VP of Conservation, Karl Malcolm, who discusses the critical role healthy, diverse forests play in sustaining grouse and woodcock populations. The conversation highlights how changes in forest age structure across the eastern U.S. have reduced the amount of early successional habitat...

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Congress needs to pass Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA)

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RGS & AWS strongly urge immediate passage of the bipartisan bill that will ensure funding for State Wildlife Action Plans and other important conservation needs Ruffed grouse by Timothy Flanigan The Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society recently signed a letter, along with many other conservation organizations, to encourage congressional leaders to pass the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) before the end of the 177th Congress. Read the RAWA letter here. RAWA (H.R. 2773/S. 2372) would provide the necessary funding to implement the congressionally mandated, but severely underfunded, State Wildlife Action Plans.* It would also support critical Tribal and Territorial wildlife conservation...

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