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Western Great Lakes Regional Page

Western Great Lakes:
RGS & AWS Highlights

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. 
Currently Hiring -WI Integrated Forest Habitat Biologist

Regional Impact:

Explore Project Details

Additional Staff:

Jared Elm
Forest Wildlife Specialist
Spooner, WI 54801
(715) 450-2531
(715) 635-8288
jarede@ruffedgrousesociety.org
Josh Rasmussen
Forest Wildlife Specialist
Whitehall, WI 54773
(715) 538-4396
(715) 533-0442

joshr@ruffedgrousesociety.org
Stefan Nelson
Forest Wildlife Specialist
Antigo, WI 54409
(715) 623-5318
(715) 216-6981
stefann@ruffedgrousesociety.org

Regional Staff:

Jon-Steigerwaldt

Jon Steigerwaldt

Forest Conservation Director
(412) 720-6033
jons@ruffedgrousesociety.org

RGS_scott-johnson

Scott Johnson

Forest Conservation Coordinator
(412) 860-3481
scottj@ruffedgrousesociety.org

chad-bloom

Chad Bloom

Director of Regional Development
(Minnesota and Wisconsin)
(412) 852-8728
chadb@ruffedgrousesociety.org

gabe-stone

Gabe Stone

Engagement Coordinator
(Wisconsin and Western UP Michigan)
(412) 779-5441
gabes@ruffedgrousesociety.org

sam-snyder

Sam Tillman

Engagement Coordinator
(Minnesota and Iowa)
(412) 742-5144
samt@ruffedgrousesociety.org

Jared Elm

Forest Wildlife Specialist
Spooner, WI 54801
(715) 450-2531
(715) 635-8288
jarede@ruffedgrousesociety.org

 

Stefan Nelson
Forest Wildlife Specialist
Antigo, WI 54409
(715) 623-5318
(715) 216-6981
stefann@ruffedgrousesociety.org

 
Josh Rasmussen
Forest Wildlife Specialist
Whitehall, WI 54773
(715) 538-4396
(715) 533-0442

joshr@ruffedgrousesociety.org
 

Regional Summaries

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MN Success Stories August 2022

Screen Shot 2021-07-13 at 1.45.39 PM

MN Success Stories August 2021

Screen Shot 2021-07-13 at 1.45.39 PM

WI Habitat Success August 2021

Policy Statements

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Regional News

Youth camp, supported by local RGS chapter, sparks excitement for upland hunting

Ruffed Grouse Society September 2, 2022

Great Lakes/Upper Midwest Featured Habitat Projects

Jon Steigerwaldt May 19, 2022

Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society Hires Scott Johnson as State Conservation Coordinator

Ruffed Grouse Society May 6, 2022
VIEW REGIONAL ARCHIVES

Upcoming Events:

[tribe_events tag=”western-great-lakes” view=”photo” events_per_page=”3″ tribe-bar=”false”]

EXPLORE ALL EVENTS

This Region in the Media

Eastern Great Lakes Media

#93 | Ruffed Grouse, Timberdoodles and Timber Markets with Ruffed Grouse Society – Project Upland Podcast

February 28, 2020 No Comments
Eastern Great Lakes Media

#84 | Converting Hunters to Conservationist with the Ruffed Grouse Society – Project Upland Podcast

November 30, 2019 No Comments

Get Involved!

IA

IOWA

Eric Van Hook

Marion, IA

evanhook@hotmail.com

MI

Copper Country

Adam Rajala Co-President

Houghton, MI

arajala@sbcglobal.net

MI

EASTERN UPPER PENINSULA

Fred Strich

St. Ignace, MI

fstrich@earthlink.net

MI

GAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN

Troy Allen

Lowell, MI

troypallen@yahoo.com

MI

MID U.P.

Erik Strazzinski

Marquette, MI

estrazz@gmail.com

MI

NORTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN

Bruce W. Barlow

West Branch, MI

my41chev@yahoo.com

MI

ROBERT J. LYTLE

John Paige

Lapeer, MI

jhpaige@chartermi.net

MI

SAGINAW VALLEY

Brad W. Schuknecht

Saginaw, MI

goldtrocar@att.net

MI

SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN

Seth Wolthuis

Kalamazoo, MI

WOLT100@gmail.com

MI

THE AL LITZENBURGER

Scott Carbeck

Petoskey, MI

CaptainDScott@gmail.com

MI

THE JIM FOOTE

Peter J. McCutcheon

Elmira, MI

petermrgs@yahoo.com

MI

THUNDER BAY

Joel E. Bauer

Alpena, MI

joelebauer@hotmail.com

MI

ALPENA

Bill Bolyard

Curran, MI

bbolyard@allband.com

MI

HIGHLANDS

Larry Visser

Leroy, MI

rgsviss@gmail.com

MI

NORTH WOODS

Rick J. Bath

Iron Mountain , MI

rgsrjb@charter.net

MN

ASH RIVER

Mark Hraban

Orr, MN

info@ashkanam.com

MN

CRAZY FLIGHT

Dave Johnson Ely

Ely, MN

davej@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MN

DEEP PORTAGE

Jerry B Lamon

Backus, MN

MN

DULUTH/SUPERIOR

Nick Larson

Duluth, MN

nick@birdshotpodcast.com

MN

GRAND RAPIDS, MINNESOTA

Marty Niewind

Grand Rapids, MN

marty.n@mchsi.com

MN

NORTH SHORE

Dave Johnson

Grand Marais, MN

davej@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MN

NORTHCENTRAL MINNESOTA

Karl Leisenheimer

Bemidji, MN

MN

RUM RIVER

James Govednik

Cambridge, MN

james.govednik@gmail.com

Visit Website

MN

TWIN CITIES MINNESOTA

Gordon Wright

Minneapolis, MN

gordon.wright@hok.com

MN

VOYAGEUR

James & Joann Dornhecker

International Falls, MN

lacey24@frontier.com

MN

MISSI-CROIX

Mike Brown

Hastings, MN

MN

AITKIN AREA

Jim MacDonald

Aitkin, MN

MN

BLACKDUCK

Kurt Benson

Blackduck, MN

MN

DRUMMING LOG

Darrel Palmer

Nisswa, MN

darrelpalmer@sbcglobal.net

MN

LAKE OF THE WOODS

Chuck Lindner

Warroad, MN

WI

DAVID SALSMAN

Dave Johnson Superior

Superior, WI

davej@ruffedgrousesociety.org

WI

CHAIN O’LAKES

Dan Anderson

Eagle River, WI

hellmo@frontier.com

WI

CHIPPEWA VALLEY

Geoff Roznak

Chippewa Falls, WI

groznak@charter.net

WI

FLAMBEAU RIVER

James Teal

Phillips, WI

WI

GOLDEN SANDS

Treavor Oleson

Wisconsin Rapids, WI

toleson@daikin-america.com

WI

JOHN M. KEENER

James Shurts

Madison, WI

jfshurts@gmail.com

WI

MARINETTE COUNTY

Robert Zutter

Porterfield, WI

WI

NICOLET WILD RIVER

Craig Williams

Crandon, WI

williams10675@frontiernet.net

WI

NORTHEASTERN WISCONSIN

James E. Schuettpelz

Green Bay, WI

jkschuet@att.net

WI

RIB MOUNTAIN

Mark Zuiker

Boulder Junction, WI

zuikx2@centurylink.net

WI

SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN

Patricia Duffey

Muscoda, WI

dduffey@centurytel.net

WI

WISCONSIN RIVER

Jon Long

Tomahawk, WI

jonlongrealestate@gmail.com

WI

DAVID V. UIHLEIN – Fall

Paul E. Seul

Colgate, WI

paul@monchesconstruction.com

WI

DAVID V. UIHLEIN – Spring

Brian Klein

New Berlin, WI

bklein@dnesco.com

WI

LAKE SHORE

Paul Green

Sheboygan Falls, WI

paul.green@ifsws.com

WI

WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN

Richard Chronquist

Marshfield, WI

rchronquist@gmail.com

WI

WILDERNESS WINGS

Phillip Johnson

Hayward, WI

spilldog1@me.com

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