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Western Great Lakes Regional Page

Western Great Lakes:
RGS & AWS Highlights

Do you want to see grouse and woodcock prosper in this region?

It starts with membership! Your support gives you a front row seat to our conservation efforts. Keep reading to see what’s progressing in this region and feel free to contact your local staff!

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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. 

Regional Impact:

Explore Project Details

Regional Staff Continued:

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

Forest Habitat Biologist

saml@ruffedgrousesociety.org

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

joshr@ruffedgrousesociety.org
Jim Woodford
Forest Habitat Biologist
(715) 499-3744

jimw@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

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MN Success Stories August 2021

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WI Habitat Success August 2021

Policy Statements

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Regional News

Scott Johnson Appointed to the Minnesota Forest Resources Council

Ruffed Grouse Society June 2, 2023

Minnesota Spring ’23 Update

Ruffed Grouse Society April 10, 2023

Conservation Action Alert: Pelican River Forest Conservation Easement

Ruffed Grouse Society March 31, 2023
VIEW REGIONAL ARCHIVES

Upcoming Events:

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

  • Lake of the Woods Chapter Birds & Brew

    Warroad,Minnesota
    June 16, 2023 05:30pm
  • Twin Cities Chapter Birds & Brew

    Minnetonka,Minnesota
    June 19, 2023 06:00pm
  • Wausau, WI Area – RGS, BHA, & NAVHDA Birds & Brew

    Wausau,Wisconsin
    June 22, 2023 05:30pm
EXPLORE ALL EVENTS

This Region in the Media

Western Great Lakes Media

BIRDSHOT PODCAST 223 | Forest Conservation and Management with Scott Johnson

June 2, 2023 No Comments
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

Sam Tillman

Dubuque, IA

samt@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MI

Copper Country

Greg Putman President

Houghton, MI

gregoryallenputman@gmail.com

MI

EASTERN UPPER PENINSULA

Fred Strich

St. Ignace, MI

fstrich@earthlink.net

MI

GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN

Troy Allen

Grand Rapids, MI

troypallen@yahoo.com

MI

MID U.P.

Gabe Stone

Marquette, MI

gabes@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MI

NORTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN

Bonnie Michalski

West Branch, MI

Bjmichalski_04@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

Jake Huntman

Petoskey, MI

jhuntman@prestonfeather.com

MI

THE JIM FOOTE

Craig Shaw

Gaylord, MI

grousehaven1@hotmail.com

MI

THUNDER BAY

Nick Buggia

Alpena, MI

nicholasbuggia@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MI

ALPENA

Nick Buggia

Alpena, MI

nicholasbuggia@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MI

HIGHLANDS

Less Visser

Cadillac, MI

Lvandrie47@gmail.com

MI

NORTH WOODS

Matt Nees

Iron Mountain , MI

mtnees@gmail.com

MN

ASH RIVER

Sam Tillman

Orr, MN

samt@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MN

CRAZY FLIGHT

Sam Tillman

Ely, MN

samt@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MN

DAVID SALSMAN

Sam Tillman

Virginia, MN

samt@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MN

DEEP PORTAGE

Jerry B Lamon

Hackensack, 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

Sam Tillman

Grand Marais, MN

samt@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MN

NORTHCENTRAL MINNESOTA

Karl Leisenheimer

Bemidji, MN

bemidjirgs@gmail.com

MN

RUM RIVER

James Govednik

Cambridge, MN

james.govednik@gmail.com

Visit Website

MN

TWIN CITIES MINNESOTA

Gordon Wright

Minneapolis, MN

gordonpwright@gmail.com.com

MN

VOYAGEUR

James & Joann Dornhecker

International Falls, MN

lacey24@frontier.com

MN

AITKIN AREA

Nick Wenzel

Aitkin, MN

Nwenzel34@gmail.com

MN

BLACKDUCK

Kurt Benson

Blackduck, MN

samt@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MN

DRUMMING LOG

Sam Tillman

Brainerd, MN

samt@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MN

LAKE OF THE WOODS

Chuck Lindner

Warroad, MN

clindner@wiktel.com

MN

Red River Valley Chapter

Brian Hanson

Crookston, MN

bhanson@crookston.mn.us

WI

CHAIN O’LAKES

Jed Lechleitner

Eagle River, WI

jedlech@gmail.com

WI

CHIPPEWA VALLEY

Geoff Roznak

Eau Claire, WI

groznak@charter.net

WI

FLAMBEAU RIVER

Tony Blattler

Park Falls, WI

blattler56@gmail.com

WI

GOLDEN SANDS

Brent Catura

Stevens Point, WI

brcatura@gmail.com

WI

JOHN M. KEENER

Brad Wagner

Madison, WI

brad.wagner@charter.net

WI

MARINETTE COUNTY

Robert Zutter & Jim Hartman

Marinette, WI

hartmans5@yahoo.com

WI

MISSI-CROIX

Mike Brown

Prescott, WI

missicroixrgs@gmail.com

WI

NICOLET WILD RIVER

Craig Williams

Crandon, WI

williams10675@frontiernet.net

WI

NORTHEASTERN WISCONSIN

Gabe Stone

Green Bay, WI

gabes@ruffedgrousesociety.org

WI

RIB MOUNTAIN

Gabe Stone

Wausau, WI

gabes@ruffedgrousesociety.org

WI

SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN

Gabe Stone

Muscoda, WI

gabes@ruffedgrousesociety.org

WI

WISCONSIN RIVER

Jon Long

Tomahawk, WI

jonlongrealestate@gmail.com

WI

DAVID V. UIHLEIN – Fall

Paul E. Seul

Milwaukee, WI

paul@monchesconstruction.com

WI

DAVID V. UIHLEIN – Spring

Paul E. Seul

Milwaukee, WI

paul@monchesconstruction.com

WI

LAKE SHORE

Dave Lukaszewski

Sheboygan, WI

Rgsdave.dl@gmail.com

WI

WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN

Jamie Kuhn

Marshfield/Neillsville, WI

griffman@tds.net

WI

WILDERNESS WINGS

Phillip Johnson

Hayward, WI

spilldog1@me.com

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