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Healthy Forests, Abundant Wildlife, Conservation Ethic

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Western Great Lakes Regional Page

Western Great Lakes:
RGS & AWS Highlights

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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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2025 Giving Tuesday Regional Update:

MAKE A YEAR END GIFT TODAY

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. 
OPEN POSITION: Forest Wildlife Specialist – Iowa
OPEN POSITION: Forest Wildlife Specialist – Minnesota

Regional Impact:

Project Profiles:

Featured Habitat Project – Wisconsin Forest Wildlife Specialist Program

Wisconsin Habitat Restoration Project Update

WI Coverts (Wisconsin)

WI NRCS Forest Wildlife Specialist Private Lands Program (Wisconsin)

Minnesota Hunter Walking Trails, Public Land Recreational Access (Minnesota)

East Zone Forest Habitat Management Project, Lemonade Timber Sale (Minnesota)

Arrowhead Collaborative Coordinator Challenge Cost Share (Minnesota)

Black Duck Ranger Distric Stewardship (Minnesota)

Deer River Ranger District Stewardship (Minnesota)

VIEW MORE WESTERN GREAT LAKES PROJECTS

Regional Staff:

Staff Coverage Map

Jon Steigerwaldt

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

Brett Edstrom

Director of Regional Development
(507) 993-5432 brette@ruffedgrousesociety.org

Scott Johnson

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

Jared Elm

Forest Conservation Coordinator (Wisconsin)
(715) 450-2531 jarede@ruffedgrousesociety.org

Jeremy Collard

Regional Engagement Coordinator
(MN, IA, WA)
JeremyC@ruffedgrousesociety.org

Luke Statz

Regional Engagement Coordinator
(WI, Western U.P.)
LukeS@ruffedgrousesociety.org

Seth Finkel

Western UP Project Coordinator
(412) 735-3674
sethf@ruffedgrousesociety.org

Stefan Nelson

Forest Wildlife Specialist
Minnesota
(412) 935-5906
stefann@ruffedgrousesociety.org

Ashley Strabel

Forest Wildlife Specialist
(920) 413-9702
ashleys@ruffedgrousesociety.org

Robert Nortman

Forest Wildlife Specialist – RGS/NRCS
Robert.Nortman@usda.gov

Amelia Shingle

Forest Wildlife Specialist – Wisconsin
amelias@ruffedgrousesociety.org

Emma Belling

Forest Wildlife Specialist
emmalineb@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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2024 MN Brood Survey Report

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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

Fourmile Management Coalition Support Letter

2024_OHF Coalition Support Letter

2023_RGS_AWS opposition to Assembly Bill 512 and Senate Bill

2023_RGS_AWS opposition to Assembly Bill 512

2023_RGS_AWS opposition to Senate Bill 545

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Regional News

Featured Habitat Project – Wisconsin Forest Wildlife Specialist Program

Ruffed Grouse Society April 2, 2026

RGS & AWS Adds Alyssa Roberts as Forest Wildlife Specialist in Minnesota

Ruffed Grouse Society March 20, 2026

The Wisconsin Forestry Revitalization Act Officially Passes

Ruffed Grouse Society March 19, 2026
VIEW REGIONAL ARCHIVES

Upcoming Events:

[tribe_events tag=”western-great-lakes” view=”photo” events_per_page=”3″ tribe-bar=”false”]
  • Lake Shore Chapter 34th Annual Banquet

    Kohler,
    April 23, 2026 05:00pm
  • Driftless Chapter Bingo Night

    Kellogg,
    April 26, 2026 12:00pm
  • Inaugural Bull Falls Chapter Banquet

    Wausau,Wisconsin
    April 30, 2026 05:30pm
EXPLORE ALL EVENTS

This Region in the Media

Announcements

RGS & AWS Adds Alyssa Roberts as Forest Wildlife Specialist in Minnesota

March 20, 2026
Announcements

The Wisconsin Forestry Revitalization Act Officially Passes

March 19, 2026
Coastal Plain and Piedmont Media

The Future of Upland Conservation: Dr. Ben Jones on Gamebird University

September 4, 2025

Get Involved!

IA

IOWA

Jeremy Collard

Dubuque, IA

jeremyc@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MI

Copper Country

Greg Putman President

Houghton, MI

gregoryallenputman@gmail.com

MI

MID U.P.

Gabe Stone

Marquette, MI

gabes@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MI

SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN

Gabe Stone

Kalamazoo, MI

gabes@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MI

THUNDER BAY

Gabe Stone

Alpena, MI

gabes@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MN

CRAZY FLIGHT

Jeremy Collard

Ely, MN

jeremyc@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MN

DAVID SALSMAN

Jeremy Collard

Virginia, MN

jeremyc@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

Jeremy Collard

Grand Marais, MN

jeremyc@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

Rudy Tilford

Minneapolis, MN

tilford1984@gmail.com

MN

VOYAGEUR

James & Joann Dornhecker

International Falls, MN

lacey24@frontier.com

MN

Red River Valley Chapter

Brian Hanson

Crookston, MN

bhanson@crookston.mn.us

MN

LAKE OF THE WOODS

Chuck Lindner

Warroad, MN

clindner@wiktel.com

MN

DRUMMING LOG

Jeremy Collard

Brainerd, MN

jeremyc@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MN

BLACKDUCK

Jeremy Collard

Blackduck, MN

jeremyc@ruffedgrousesociety.org

MN

Driftless Chapter

Mark Benscoter

Rochester, MN

rgsdriftlesschapter@gmail.com

MN

AITKIN AREA

Nick Wenzel

Aitkin, MN

Nwenzel34@gmail.com

MN

ASH RIVER

Jeremy Collard

Orr, MN

jeremyc@ruffedgrousesociety.org

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

Luke Statz

Wausau, WI

lukes@ruffedgrousesociety.org

WI

SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN

Gabe Stone

Muscoda, WI

gabes@ruffedgrousesociety.org

WI

WISCONSIN RIVER

Jon Long

Tomahawk, WI

jonlongrealestate@gmail.com

WI

MISSI-CROIX

Mike Brown

Prescott, WI

missicroixrgs@gmail.com

WI

MARINETTE COUNTY

Robert Zutter & Jim Hartman

Marinette, WI

hartmans5@yahoo.com

WI

GOLDEN SANDS

Brent Catura

Stevens Point, WI

brcatura@gmail.com

WI

FLAMBEAU RIVER

Tony Blattler

Park Falls, WI

blattler56@gmail.com

WI

CHIPPEWA VALLEY

Geoff Roznak

Eau Claire, WI

groznak@charter.net

WI

DAVID V. UIHLEIN – Fall

Paul E. Seul

Milwaukee, WI

paul@monches.net

WI

DAVID V. UIHLEIN – Spring

Paul E. Seul

Milwaukee, WI

paul@monches.net

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

WI

CHAIN O’LAKES

Jed Lechleitner

Eagle River, WI

jedlech@gmail.com

WI

JOHN M. KEENER

Brad Wagner

Madison, WI

brad.wagner@charter.net

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American Woodcock Society

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